With the very popular and successful Khushi's restaurant sadly being heavily damaged in a devastating fire in the centre of Dunfermline, the photographs in this week’s trip down West Fife’s Memory Lane look at some other major fires down through the years in Dunfermline.

The first image from 1925 is of a fire that destroyed the Caledonia Linen Works of 'Hay and Robertson' that was situated on Carnegie Street (now Carnegie Drive).

The photograph was taken from round the corner in Damside Street. This area is now the site of Tesco and its adjoining car park. The building in the distance, constructed as a lodging house, still stands today on the corner of Chapel Street and the top of Bruce Street.

‘Hay and Robertson’ were described in the 1914 edition of ‘Who’s Who in Business’ as being ‘Linen and Cotton Damask Manufacturers and Embroiderers with Specialities in Hem Stitching and Fancy Sewing’.

The national and international importance and popularity of Damask Linen produced in Dunfermline can be gauged from the list of agencies the company had operating at that time that included London, Manchester, Glasgow, Belfast, New York, Toronto, Adelaide and South Africa.

After the fire destroyed their Caledonia premises ‘Hay and Robertson’ bought over the Pilmuir Works just across the road from their main factory, the St Margaret’s Works.

Dunfermline Press: St Margaret's Hall was destroyed by fire in 1961 after an evening of boxing.St Margaret's Hall was destroyed by fire in 1961 after an evening of boxing. (Image: Contributed)

The next photograph shows St Margaret’s Hall which was Dunfermline’s primary multi-purpose venue until it was destroyed by fire in 1961 after an evening of boxing.

A fire engine can be seen to the left of the photograph and the bill board on the corner of the building still has the poster for the previous night’s boxing contest displayed on it.

The Hall was used for dances, exhibitions, film shows and concerts, and had a large number of rooms that could be rented for meetings. An extension to the Dunfermline Carnegie Library was later built on the cleared site.

Dunfermline Press: Regal Cinema in the High Street was burnt down in 1976.Regal Cinema in the High Street was burnt down in 1976. (Image: Contributed)

Our next photograph shows the aftermath of the fire that destroyed the Regal cinema in the High Street in 1976. This image is looking up from the New Row. Many people remember watching the blaze.

Pat Anderson was one of those who saw it happen: “I remember the night it burned down. We were in Dunfermline and the flames were huge. I think half the town was out on the streets watching it – I used to go to a lot of films there in my teens."

Carol Jenkins also watched the fire from the top of Dunfermline: “I remember this. I saw it from our veranda at Broomhead flats. It was a great picture house.”

Dunfermline Press: Fireman from the City of Dunfermline Fire Brigade.Fireman from the City of Dunfermline Fire Brigade. (Image: Contributed)

Our final photograph is an old one showing a fire engine with markings on the side of ‘City of Dunfermline’.

It’s doubtful if any modern day fireman, like the one walking alongside the vehicle, would be pictured today smoking a cigarette while on duty!

More photographs like these can be seen in Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries as well as at facebook.com/olddunfermline.

With thanks to Frank Connelly