This door will open to the public at 156 High Street at 10 – but only for 4 hours and with only a limited selection of what Hajni and Liviu Vasilescu will be offering in future.
More on their plans in the FFP.
The May 2020 edition is not going to be available in print.
In these extraordinary times the editorial team decided that it wouldn’t be fair to expect the team of volunteer delivery people to visit all the doorsteps in Burntisland.
The way things are, it’s too early to predict whether the next issue will appear in print.
Burntisland’s summer 2020 will be very different – no Games Day, no Civic Week, no Shows etc.
Many groups and businesses are unable to carry on ‘as normal’. It’s hoped the next issue can be full of news of planned (and actual) resumption of many of the activities that (normally) keep Burntisland busy.
Meanwhile, stay safe, enjoy the weather (even the rain when it decides to resume!). If you’re not completely ’locked in’ why not explore bits of Burntisland you’ve never been to.
It’s not a big town, but have you visited every street? In streets you know well, do you stop to look around? Consider the buildings, watch how gardens grows, listen to the birds – easier now with less traffic.
If you want to see Burntisland’s most accessible doocot survive, just email development.central@fife.gov.uk (by Thursday) and say why. More information.
In February plans appeared on Fife Council’s Planning Portal for a housing development on the Ged’s Mill site. This has been offered for sale for several years and is still owned by Collinswell Land. The developers applying for permission are SIPS Homes Scotland Ltd of Dalgety Bay.
In March a “Listed building consent for demolition of Listed building” application was made. Some local people say they received no notification of this and only heard about the plans for demolition recently.
Historic Environment Scotland is a statutory consultee and has responded. (“By email to: development.central@fife.gov.uk“) –
“We object to the application because no attempt has been made to incorporate the listed doocot within the proposed development, and its demolition has not been justified.
“The rectangular ‘lectern’ doocot dates from the eighteenth century, and contained over 500 stone nesting boxes. It is said to have been connected with the Colinswell estate to the west. It was listed Category C in 1979, and has been on the National Buildings at Risk Register since 2007.
“The larger site appears to have been approved for housing in 2004, and much of the wider Alcan site to the west has been developed. It is not clear when the current applicants bought the site, but there have been two withdrawn applications for housing (2008), and one successful application for a care home (2012). It would be interesting to know what allowance was made for the doocot within the applications / approval. Unfortunately, the planning portal is currently showing no documents from these dates.”
Most of the remains of Ged’s Mill have disappeared including Ged’s Mill Dam and parts of the Kirkton Burn (now housing in Glebe Place) and also another doocot by the dam. Even the apostrophe has been taken away from the street name (photo below).
The proposed housing development will remove most of what remains. One existing section of the Kirkton Burn (currently hidden behind the high fence) is due to be visible, with two driveways on bridges.
The doocot has been neglected by owners over many years. Enlightened owners and developers elsewhere would regard this unusual (and increasingly rare) building as an asset that would attract housebuyers to the area.
Comments – objections or in support of this proposal – should be emailed by Thursday.
There will be objections from many local residents, the Community Council and the Heritage Trust.
“It is unfortunate that so many doocots have disappeared over the years. However, they are also great survivors. It is frequently found that the doocot is the only remaining residual reminder of a great estate the rest of which has long before been wiped out by change.
This is possibly due to fact that they were often converted to other uses during the 19th century. Another possible reason for their survival may be associated with the old superstition that the demolition of a doocot would result in a death within the year in the family of the person responsible for its removal.”
“Fife Council Conservation Officer Matthew Price reckons they offer a “window into the past”.
“Each doocot tells a story of its time and place,” he reflects. “They were built using local materials, forms of construction and skills embodying traditions and history.
“Ultimately, doocots give an insight into former ways of life and add to the richness of our heritage and history.”
Doocots: a history worth saving (Courier)
Thursday update
Fight to save historic Fife doocot which threatens plan for 37 homes
Still from video
Inchkeith is 3 1/2 miles off The Lammerlaws (though it may appear to be closer).
Danny MacAskill was born on a larger island (Skye), but he left (partly) due to falling out with the local police for riding on and off benches.
He moved to Edinburgh, got a job in a bike shop and continued practicing and developing his special skills. His flatmate, Dave Sowerby, videoed some of the tricks, and Danny found a small following on YouTube.
Eleven years ago Danny and Dave produced a longer video called “Inspired Bicycles”. This was much more than just a collection of clips of tricks, it was a fine film and also launched an international career. It includes scenes of riding off the bike shop’s roof and went viral – now with 40 million views.
Inchkeith used to be owned by Tom Farmer (founder of Kwik Fit). It’s now owned by a company backed by another Edinburgh based entrepreneur who has a high profile history in the video games industry.
Skatepark
Good social distancing at the Coop
Dry cleaners
Chemist
Fish shop
Chipshop
Bank
Optician
Chinese takeaway
Post Office
Baker
Waiting room
Ship
Cafe
The 2012 DVD expertly contrasts old photos in the Heritage Trust’s collection with modern ones taken (as near as possible) from the same spot. It combines nostalgia with entertainment and enlightenment.
Ian Archibald took the newer photos and produced the DVD. Now because of the Coronavirus situation, and the mothballing of this year’s Summer Exhibition, he has decided to make this DVD available to the whole world via YouTube.
Trust member George McLauchlan has created a new Channel which is expected to host other converted DVDs and, perhaps, new material.
https://www.burntisland.net/heritage-trust-activities.htm
https://www.facebook.com/BurntislandCivicWeek/posts/2948767131849311
Sad, but inevitable.
Good idea to carry the “Festival of the Sea” theme over.
Still waiting to hear if the Shows are cancelled, or if there is a plan to ‘hope it can happen in August’.
Burntisland’s plans for making 2021 memorable have begun.
https://twitter.com/burntislandhg/status/1245090629593501696
First time in 367 years. (Apart from during both World Wars.)
A further timetable revision means that the town bus will no longer run.
“Service B1 – No service until further notice.“
“Service 7/7A – A special timetable will run from Monday-Sunday.”
Burgh.Buzz - News & Info 