Kincardine Village

Overview

Kincardine, an outstanding conservation area with many fine buildings and lanes, was developed on reclaimed land. The village best known for its famous swing bridge and towering Longannet power station, has a rich history, becoming a Burgh of Barony in 1663.

Once a thriving port with active boat building and salt pan industries, Kincardine today is an attractive village with a good range of businesses and facilities. Kincardine Bridge, opened in 1936, was designed as a swing bridge but has been in a fixed position since 1988.

Among Kincardine's notable buildings are the Gothic Tulliallan Parish Church, home to the Scottish Police College since 1952, designed by William Atkinson. The seventeenth century Mercat Cross, with its Corinthian pillar, bearing the arms of the Earls of Kincardine carved on the capital can be seen in the High Street. Tulliallan Churchyard is the finest preserved example from mediaeval times.

Important sons of the village are James Dewar, best known for inventing the vacuum flask, born in 1842, and Sir James Wylie, physician to three Russian Tsars, whose importance is reflected in a major statue in St. Petersburgh.

Kincardine recently lost its active link to Fife's mining heritage with the closure of Longannet, Scotland's last remaining deep mine.

West Fife Villages
updated 03/2012 by Action for Change Scotland