This
week we resume our visits to various Scottish towns and visitor attractions
with a look at, and around, the ancient Royal Burgh of Kinghorn in the
Kingdom of Fife. Kinghorn was created as a Royal Burgh in 1285 by Alexander
III, King of Scots, and ironically a year later he met his untimely death
just outside the burgh. After a long council meeting in Maiden Castle, now
known as Edinburgh castle, discussing problems with England, Alexander the
Peaceable safely crossed the gurlie waters of the Forth and landed in
Inverkeithing. Accompanied in the pit mirk night by two guides he set off
for Kinghorn Castle to join his wife of six months, Yolande. Unfortunately
this great Scottish King never reached his goal and fell to his death at
Pettycur, within sight of his goal. His death resulted in the long Wars of
Independence as King Edward I of England cast covetous eyes on the kingdom
to his north. Alexander III had striven to build a secure, prosperous and
united Scotland, and the sound foundation he laid ensured that Sir William
Wallace and then Robert I, King of Scots, bore the gree and Scotland
maintained her long held independence. No visit to Kinghorn, or indeed
neighbouring Burntisland, would be complete without a visit to the superb
Alexander III Monument, which stands at Pettycur between the two burghs,
with magnificent views over the Forth and miles of golden sand.
The Royal
Burgh of Kinghorn has long had association with the Scottish monarchy,
although all trace of the Royal Castle has long since gone, but the
association is recorded in many of the street-names – David the First
Street, Queen Margaret Street, Alexander the Third Street, Baliol Street,
Macduff Crescent, Strathmore Street, Glamis Road, Bruce Street and Canmore
Street. A wander up and down the town reveals many hidden delights and
secrets. Cuinzie Neuk, for example, a fairly recent Tudor style building,
just off the High Street, stands on the site of where a Royal Mint stood in
days gone by. Down towards the sea from Cuinzie Neuk stands Kinghorn Parish
Church, reconstructed in 1774, which contains remains of what is thought to
be the church consecrated by David de Bernham, Bishop of St Andrews in 1243.
Near the church lies Kinghorn beach, on a sheltered bay, a major attraction
to families seeking a good day out at the seaside. On a more gruesome note
you can visit Witches Hill in the local cemetery where local witches were
burnt – the last witch to be burned in Kinghorn was Katherine Wallenge on 24
March 1644.
Kinghorn,
like its nearby larger neighbour Kirkcaldy, once suffered from a well-known
‘smell’ – in the case of Kirkcaldy linoleum and in Kinghorn’s leather. These
days are passed but near where the Kinghorn leatherworks once stood is the
Craigencault Ecology Centre at Kinghorn Loch. At the Ecology Centre is the
Earthship House, a unique building made entirely from recycled materials.
Old car tyres, glass jars and drink cans are among the reclaimed material
used in a house which is self-sufficient in electricity, water and sewage
treatment. The Ecology Centre and Earthship House are among the many
buildings open in Fife during Doors Open Days 2008. Sunday 14 September is
the date for your diary to visit Kinghorn and the opening times, free entry,
is from 10am to 4pm.
Fife, like
Angus and Perthshire, is famous for strawberry and raspberry growing, and
you have just time before the end of the present season to use either in
this week’s recipe – Apple and Berry Compote.
Apple and
Berry Compote
Ingredients:
4 medium eating apples, peeled, cored and bruises removed: 100ml orange or
apple juice; handful of strawberries or raspberries; a pinch of cinnamon
Method:
Put the apples, orange juice and cinnamon into a heavy based pan and cook
over a low heat for about 10 minutes or until just tender, stir in the
berries and serve with dropped scones (see last week’s recipe).
