Newburgh,
in north Fife, on the banks of the River Tay, has had a settlement
or a village on the present site from a period much earlier
than the end of the twelfth century, but it was at this time
that the village grew in importance, due to the founding of
Lindores Abbey, and was
named in a Royal Charter as Newburgh.
Until the end of the Eighteenth Century, there were no made
up roads in Newburgh, wheeled carriages were seldom seen.
The main industries at this time were farming and handloom
weaving. In the 1800's there was a boom in municipal building
and in the mid 1800s the railway came to Newburgh and the
social life of the town grew with no less than thirty five
pubs. The harbor was extremely busy, the main employment being
salmon and sprat fishing. Forty boats were in service at that
time. The village boasted of no less than four schools.
40 years later Newburgh was enjoying a reputation as a holiday
resort. Pleasure steamers came from Dundee and many people still
remember the town echoing with the noise of holiday makers.
After the second world war the pleasure steamers went into decline
with the advent of the touring bus and the post war population
boom meant that less houses were available as holiday homes.
A tradition which started in 1864 is the annual procession
of the Caledonian Lodge of Oddfellows. The Oddfellows parade
by torchlight through the town, wearing costume, mask and
creating merriment by their antics. A more communal event
which was revived in 1962 after a gap of 14 years, is the
Highland games, held annually in the Tayside Park.
Rushes
are to be found growing all along the banks of the Tay and once
they were utilized as roofing material for many of the cottages
in Newburgh. Sadly today there remains only one example at 165
High Street.
In the past it was the custom among handloom weavers on marrying
to have their initials and a heart cut in the lintel of their
door. The Stone to be seen at No. 60 High Street, bears the
names of Janet Williamson and Thomas Anderson who was a sea
captain, as can be seen on the design.
The stone, from which the Bear Tavern takes its name, was
originally set into the abbots residence at Lindores Abbey.
The 'bear and ragged staff is a device of the Earls of Warwick,
and as a crozier or pastoral staff is evident above the now
obliterated arms of Warwick, it may he assumed that the stone
was caused to be made by Guy, the first Abbot who was a cadet,
brother or son,of that family.
The origin of the legend of the bear goes back to the time of
Arthur and the round table. One of his knights was Arthgal whose
name in the British language was Arsh meaning bear. The ragged
staff is attributed to Morvidus, an earl of the same family
who slew a giant with a young tree which he had pulled up by
the roots.
An extract from Westwood's Directory for the counties
of Fife & Kinross published 1862.
"Newburgh parish forms the boundary of the county at its
northwest corner. It is bounded by the River Tay, Abdie, Abernethy,
Auchtermuchty and Collessie. The parish enjoys good seaward
communication through the port of Newburgh, is traversed by
the turnpike road from Cupar to Perth, and has a station on
the Perth fork of the E P & D Railway.
The main part of the Royal Burgh consists of one long street,
a range of houses fronting the harbour, and a number of lanes
leading down to the shore. A modern suburb on the south, Mount
Pleasant, is in Abdie parish. Both the shops and the principal
dwelling houses indicate considerable taste and prosperity on
the part of the owners. Its situation on the Tay is exceedingly
pleasant. The town house, with spire, was erected in 1808. The
linen trade is the chief employer in the town. Much trade in
grain is carried on, with a weekly fair for corn.
The harbour consists of a long pier parallel to the river with
4 jetties at right angles to it. There are 20 vessels belonging
to the port, of the aggregate burden of 1256 tons; and one packet
is regularly engaged in conveying raw material and manufactured
produce between the town and Dundee. The principal exports are
lime, grain and potatoes; while coal, timber and other miscellaneous
goods form the imports. There is a parish church in the burgh,
and also 2 UP Churches. There is a Free Church for Newburgh
and Abdie situated in Abdie parish."
Newburgh is ideally located for easy trips to the St Andrews,
Dunfermline, Culross, Perth, Edinburgh, Falkland Palace,
and all of historic Fife and Perthshire.
If you would like to visit this area as part of a highly personalized
small group tour of my native Scotland please e-mail me:
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