This MedLibrary.org supplementary page on Cowdenbeath is provided directly from the open source Wikipedia as a service to our readers. Please see the note below on authorship of this content, as well as the Wikipedia usage guidelines. To search for other content from our encyclopedia supplement, please use the form below:
Related Sponsors
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2008) |
| Cowdenbeath | |
| Scottish Gaelic: Coilltean Beithe | |
| Cowden | |
  Cowdenbeath shown within Scotland |
|
| Population | 11,680 (2006 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Council area | Fife |
| Lieutenancy area | Fife |
| Constituent country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | COWDENBEATH |
| Postcode district | KY4 8, KY4 9 |
| Dialling code | 01383 |
| Police | Fife |
| Fire | Fife |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| European Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath |
| Scottish Parliament | Dunfermline East |
| Mid Scotland and Fife | |
| List of places: UK • Scotland | |
Cowdenbeath (Coilltean Beithe in Scottish Gaelic, literally meaning 'birch woods'; is a burgh in west Fife, Scotland. The town was awarded burgh status in 1890. Before the growth of the coal and iron industries, it was just a collection of farms. Today, almost 12,000 people live in the town. It was awarded the 'Best Kept Small Town In Fife' award in 2008.
The motto of Cowdenbeath is: "Stent Nae Stent", from the Scots, meaning: "Effort always effort" or "Don't stint, always give your best". Cowdenbeath grew up around the extensive coalfields of the area and became a Police Burgh in 1890. The arms are partly a conventionalising of the device on the seal adopted by the Burgh in 1892 which showed a pit head scene. The silver field and the black chevron recall that this was once country owned by the Balfour family, but with it's golden wheel the chevron also symbolises the pit head hoist just as the black barrulets denote the coal underground. It is also intended to indicate that the days of feudalism are long past and that coal mining is the major interest of the town. The birch trees are for Beath (the name of the Parish) which is a Gaelic word meaning, "birch tree".[1]
A new housing development is being built at the more upmarket endclarify of Cowdenbeath. Bellway's 'Birchwood' development will add a further 400 homes to the town.
Contents |
History
The earliest indication of human activity in the immediate vicinity of the current site of Cowdenbeath was provided by the discovery of late bronze-age vessels containing the incinerated human remains in 1928. An article by A.D. Lacaille F.S.A Scot [2] details the find of a late bronze-age cemetery near Tollie Hill. One of the urns found contained fragments of processed Arran pitchstone, indicating the presence of some economic activity & commerce.
Whittington [3]Cowie & Yeoman in their abstract on Bronze Age activity in West Cartmore [4] refer to a tumulus site excavated 1.4km SW of Wester Cartmore on Tollie Hill (NT19SE001). They also confirm the presence of a Bronze Age cemetery along with a major cropmark site of a possible henge (NT19SE009) and iron & coal workings.
However, there is no evidence of a permanent settlement establishing itself until the building of the original Beath Kirk in the 13th century to act as a focal point to serve the surrounding area. By 1790 the records show that the parish of Beath had about 100 families whose livlihood came mainly from the soil. The fact that Beath Church served a very large area led to the creation of many "kirke roads", roads that form right-of-way even today.[5]
Cowdenbeath first came into prominence around 1820 as a stop on the north-bound coaching route to Perth. Indeed, Queen Victoria's entourage stopped at the Cowdenbeath Coaching Inn to change horses, on her first trip to Scotland in 1842, en route for Balmoral. The coaching inn, the Old Inn, was established at the junction of roads from North Queensferry, Perth, Dunfermline and Burntisland. The building still survives today as the Bruce Hotel. When the new turnpike road from Queensferry to Perth was constructed, the Inn gained more importance.
Prior to 1850, Cowdenbeath was just a collection of farms. However, around 1850 the Oakley Iron Company, who had blast furnaces at Oakley, came on the scene. Shafts were sunk in the vicinity of the old Foulford Washer. It was in the mining for ore that the discoveries of the coal seams were made, and pits were sunk at every corner of the town. Prior to this, coal had been mined at Fordell for over a century, but the discovery of the coalseams at the depth they were found came as a pleasant surprise, considering the dip in the coal strata at Fordell, as it was previously thought that the seams at Cowdenbeath would be at such a depth as to be almost unworkable.[6]
By 1850, the flourishing coal pits of Kelty, Lochgelly, Donibristle, Fordell and Hill of Beath surrounded the small town of Cowdenbeath. Within the area, which later became the Burgh of Cowdenbeath, there was little mining activity. Gibson, of Hill of Beath, and the Symes, of Cartmore, had opened small pits in the vicinity of Jubilee Park at the southern border of the Burgh, and other small pits appear to have been worked in the vicinity of Union Street. However, the situation was about to change when (contrary to earlier speculation) the Oakley Iron Company proved the area was rich in iron and coal. The opening of the Dunfermline-Thornton railway, via Cowdenbeath, in 1848, enhanced the prospects for mining and pits were literally sunk in every corner of the area, primarily for ironstone, but when this became uneconomic around the late 1870s, for coal alone. The Forth Iron Company took over the Oakley Iron Company around 1860 then amalgamated with the Cowdenbeath Coal Company in 1872. When the Fife Coal Company subsequently took them over in 1896, the Cowdenbeath Coal Company's pits were listed as: Lumphinnans Nos. 1, 2, 7, 11; Cowdenbeath Nos. 3, 7, 9; Foulford No. 1 and Mossbeath. This effectively made the Fife Coal Company one of the largest coal mining concerns in Scotland. Such was the upsurge in mining activity that the population of Cowdenbeath doubled (4,000 - 8,000) in the ten years between 1890 and 1900 and gave rise to the nickname "Chicago of Fife". [7]
Such was the extent of the importance of Cowdenbeath to coal mining at the turn of the century (circa 1900) that several institutions essential to mining became established there. The headquarters offices of the Fife Miners’ Association were opened in Victoria Street on 8th October 1910, the first Mine rescue station opened at Cowdenbeath on 4th November 1910 on Stenhouse Street, opposite Beath High School. [8]
The Central Works, Cowdenbeath, (commonly referred to as "The Workshops") were built in 1924 by the Fife Coal Company Limited in order to centralise its supervisory staff and to cope with the greater amount of manufacturing and maintenance work caused by the intensive mechanisation programme which was being introduced in its mines.[9]
The town quickly grew with the development of the coal and iron industries which was crucial to the town for nearly 100 years. At its height, 25,000 people lived in Cowdenbeath, however this has declined since the mines closed in the 1960s.
Geography
Cowdenbeath lies in south-western Fife, near to the larger town of Dunfermline. Its precise coordinates are 56.11°N 3.35°W. As the mining legacy of the town suggests, Cowdenbeath lies near the southern ridge of hills running through Fife.
Amenities
Shopping
In its formative years, the retail sector in Cowdenbeath was dominated by the Co-op (or "The Store" as it was affectionately known). The Co-operative movement in Cowdenbeath began in 1871 under the auspices of the Dunfermline Co-operative Society, and 4 years later became the Cowdenbeath Co-operative Society. From an initial membership of 75 it grew to become the largest trading organisation in the area. It's initial success was due in no small part to its principals of enabling ordinary members of The Store to effectively become shareholders. Each member had their own unique store Number, and as such was entitled to a dvidend (or "Divvy") which was paid out each quarter, based upon how much an individual had spent in The Store. Having dominated shopping habits in Cowdenbeath until the 1960s, through the provision of grocers, bakers, butchers, haberdashers, funeral services amongst others, the Store went into decline with the advent of large supermarkets in the 1970s, which changed shopping patterns away from provincial town centres to large retail parks on the fringes of larger towns. Ironically, the only service which the Co-op continues to provide in Cowdenbeath is its funeral service.
Today, the High Street running through the town centre has many different shops. A Somerfield supermarket is located at the southern end of the High Street. Raith Centre is a small shopping development next to the supermarket, with a pet shop, pharmacy and renowned Tom Courts Butchers and its cafe. A small David Sands supermarket, Chinese take-away, newsagents and a post office (soon to be closed down) are situated on Dalbeath Crescent in the Moss-Side housing scheme in the south-west of the town.
A weekly market is held within the grounds of Central Park, every Thursday between 10.00am and 3.30pm.
Leisure
Cowdenbeath Leisure Centre is situated next to Central Park (see below) in the centre of the town and boasts a swimming pool, gym, indoor sports facilities and three all-weather pitches for tennis or football. A small skatepark is situated outside the leisure centre. There are a number of playing fields situated around the town. The expansive 'Public Park' is situated in the more affluent north of the town.
Cowdenbeath also boasts a golf club which was originally built as a 9 hole course on the old Dora Coal mine site. Work began in 1988 and the course was completed and ready for play in 1991. The length of the course was 3315 Yards. The course was extended to 18 holes and opened by Sir Michael Bonallack in 1996. The length of the course is now 6207 yards with a standard scratch score of 71. A new clubhouse was built and officially opened on 6th december 1998 by ex-provost James Cameron who had opened the first clubhouse. [10]
Central Park
Central Park is a rather dilapidated stadium in the centre of Cowdenbeath. It is home to Cowdenbeath F.C. and has a maximum capacity of 5,270 (1,620 covered seating). The stadium has a tarmac track encircling the football pitch, one of Britain's fastest, used for stock-car racing. It has recently been announced however that the stadium has been sold for redevelopment (possibly a new retail park) with a new one being built nearby for the football club, complete with an all weather pitch, and presumably including stock cars too although nothing has been announced regarding their future as yet. Central Park is the site of Britain's most northerly speedway track. The team based in Cowdenbeath were known as the Fife Lions and featured riders from Edinburgh Monarchs and Glasgow Tigers. The speedway track was unusual in that it featured a brick wall safety fence.
Other Amenities
The Medical Practice and Police Station are situated on Stenhouse Street. There is a library is situated at the north end of the High Street. There is a post office situated at the southern end of the High Street. The red sandstone Town House building is situated in the centre of the High Street.
Industry
Since the end of the coal and iron industries, there has not been a lot of industry in Cowdenbeath, other than the three industrial estates, situated on the outskirts the town – Glenfield, Thistle and Woodend. Glenfield Industrial Estate is home to Stagecoach East Scotland's headquarters.
Glenfield Industrial Estate is also home to the Kingdom Cheese Company , who are one of the longest established pizza and cheese manufacturers operating in the UK today. Created 15 years ago in 1992, Kingdom Group has grown to employ around 90 people.
Double-glazing retailers/manufacturers have their production facilties located in Cowdenbeath. CR Smith was the first company in Scotland to advertsie replacement windows on TV (in 1981).It was also the first company in Scotland to sponsor a Premier Dividion Football Club (both Rangers and Celtic at the same time in 1984). [11]
The eastern skyline of Cowdenbeath is dominated by the Mossmorran Ethylene Cracking plant. This fractionation plant processes Natural Gas Liquid, piped to it from the St Fergus Terminal (near Aberdeen) and effectively cracks these long-chain hydrocarbons into their constituent parts. The resulting products of ethane, propane, butane and gasoline are subsequently piped to the marine terminal at Braefoot Bay, for onward distribution by tanker.
Education
Primary Schools
There are three primary schools in Cowdenbeath.
- Cowdenbeath Primary School - serving the south of the town.
- Foulford Primary School - serving the north of the town.
- St Bride's Primary School - Roman Catholic school serving Cowdenbeath as well as Crossgates, Hill of Beath and Lumphinnans.
Some pupils in the north east and south west of the town attend Lumphinnans and Hill of Beath primary schools respectively.
Beath High School
Main Article - Beath High School
Beath High School was founded in the late 19th century as a grammar school, mainly for the children of local mine executives. It was an imposing building built of red sandstone and stood on Stenhouse Street. Unfortunately, the mine-works emanating from the No. 7 pit, whose, original pit-head was in close proximity to the school, caused significant subsidence in latter years. Such was the extent of this subsidence, that a framework of steel girders was erected, girdling the building in an attempt to prevent further sinking. The west wing of the building sank at a greater rate than the east wing, and a common practice amongst teachers, when inducting new pupils into the school, was to demonstrate the incline of the building by gently placing a marble at one end of the classroom and slowly watch it overcome inertia and roll towards the other end.
In the 1950s the level of scholarship was highcitation needed, with eight languages taught: Hebrew, Latin, Ancient Greek, French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Russian. The headmaster of the time is said to have told pupils at the start of each assembly "Scottish education is the best in the world, Fife education is the best in Scotland, and Beath education is the best in Fife. I"m not going to let any of you lot mess that up."citation needed
A modern school was opened in 1964, built in Kirkford next to Kirk of Beath Church and cemetery. At this point the school was split, with the old building becoming the lower school, and subsequently commonly referred to as "Old Beath", whilst the modern school was referred to as "New Beath". The old building was demolished in the 1990s and in 2003 the 'new' school, itself, was closed due to subsidence and a new Public Private Partnership school was built. It is maintained by Sodexho.
On 25th March 1983, Mrs Jane Cosans of Cowdenbeath changed discipline in Scottish schools. She was awarded £11,846 by the European Court of Human Rights, plus costs, in her protesting against her son’s being suspended from Beath High School for refusing to be belted. This much contributed to the banning of the use of the belt in Scottish schools.[12]
Famous People
Alumni of Beath High School include Nobel Prize winner, Sir James Black, whose work is behind the drug Ranitidine.
Another noteworthy student of Beath was one James Curran Baxter, or "Slim Jim" Baxter, one of Scotland's most prolific football players. A statue commemorating Jim Baxter can be found in adjacent Hill of Beath, outside the working men's club.
Ian Rankin, the celebrated author of the Inspector Rebus novels also attended Beath High School.
Dennis Canavan, the Scottish politician and Member of Parliament for Falkirk West was born in Cowdenbeath in 1942 and attended St Brides Primary School.
Harry Ewing (Baron Ewing of Kirkford) was born in Cowdenbeath in 1931. Son to miner, William Ewing, Harry served as a Member of Parliament for 21 years before being made a life peer.
Donald Findlay QC, born in Cowdenbeath on March 17, 1951 is a well known senior advocate and Queen's Counsel in Scotland. He has also held positions as a vice chairman of Rangers Football Club and twice Rector of the University of St Andrews.
Transport
Road
The A92 Fife Regional Road is a motorway-standard dual carriageway road running from the M90 motorway (which runs from Edinburgh to Perth) in Dunfermline to Kirkcaldy (and further to Glenrothes, Dundee and Aberdeen). The A92 bypasses the east of the town with a junction at Bridge Street.
Rail
Cowdenbeath railway station is situated just off the High Street, via a steep ramp off each platform. It is on the Fife Circle Line with a half-hourly service to Edinburgh (Monday to Saturday daytimes).[13]
Bus
Stagecoach In Fife operate bus services throughout the town, including the flagship Service 19, which runs from Ballingry to Rosyth through Lochgelly, Cowdenbeath and Dunfermline at up to every 10 minutes. Services 17, 17A and 17B run through most residential areas of the town.
References
- ^ Fife Motto Origins
- ^ Archaeology article
- ^ St Andrews University Geography Department
- ^ Society of Antiquaries in Scotland 1998
- ^ Black Diamonds and the Blue Brazil by Ronald Ferguson
- ^ History of Cowdenbeath by Robert Holman
- ^ Fife Pits and Memorial Book by Michael Martin
- ^ Dunfermline Press Archives
- ^ Fife Pits and Memorial Book by Michael Martin
- ^ Cowdenbeath Golf Club
- ^ CR Smith Facts
- ^ Hansard article
- ^ http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/cow/details.html National Rail Enquiries
External links
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 28 August 2008, at 21:25.
Wikipedia Authorship and Review
Wikipedia content provided here is not reviewed directly by MedLibrary.org. Wikipedia content is authored by an open community of volunteers and is not produced by or in any way affiliated with MedLibrary.org.
Wikipedia Usage Guidelines
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article on "Cowdenbeath".
The URL for this specific entry is:
All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. (See Copyrights for details). Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.