A COLLECTION of unique historical photographs taken in Dunfermline and West Fife has been published in a new book by a Limekilns author.

Kate Park (right), who was born in the city, has put together ‘Dunfermline and District from Old Photographs’, which features 200 previously unseen pictures taken by her great-grandfather, James Russell.

Mr Russell, who was an artist and owned his own shop in Abbot Street, captured images from as far back as 1880 in the early history of photography and includes the arrival of the 9th Kings Liverpool regiment in Dunfermline when they were posted to West Fife to defend the River Forth after the outbreak of World War One 100 years ago.

But the collection, which consists of more than 800 negatives, was nearly lost when they were left in a damp cellar after his death only for Kate’s mother, then 16, to save them.

Kate said, “It started back in 1988/89 when we were living up in Aberdeen and my mum had a slight stroke. I came back down to look after her and found she had rescued the images, so I decided to investigate where they had been taken. The thoughts then were for a book but it was shelved until three or four years ago when I decided to do it with the centenary of the war coming up.

“This is totally unique and to know that my great-grandfather took them is amazing. Because there were so many and some of them were not local, you had to be a bit of a Miss Marple to find out where they were from so there was a lot of work involved. But I wanted to find out more information to bring him and the stories to life and to bring recognition to him. I think it’s a wonderful story.” Kate, who is on the committee of the Dunfermline and West Fife Family History Group, explained that the family’s ties to the Great War were strengthened further by Sir George McCrae, who famously raised the 16th Royal Scots – which became known as the footballers’ battalion – that included Dunfermline Athletic’s Davie Izatt and Jimmy Morton.

McCrae married James’ sister, Lizzy, and Kate continued, “He had come across from Edinburgh to work in Robert Nicol and it was there they met and fell in love. They were married in Dunfermline and, of course, George McCrae was famous for his battalion that included people from Dunfermline. James’ great-nephew, Robert, was the first fatality in McCrae’s and Sir George wrote a letter that was published in the Dunfermline Press expressing how sorry he was at Robert’s death.

“James was quite an eccentric character but was a really good artist, although we are unsure what happened to his paintings. Photography was a hobby and it’s wonderful that they have lasted until now. I felt I owed it to him and my mum but I feel it is important for the people of Dunfermline to see the unique work of a local man.” The book, published by Amberley Publishing, is available to buy from Waterstones and online retailers.