In this week’s trip down West Fife’s Memory Lane we look at some of the linen mills that operated in Dunfermline and hear of the experiences of some of the people that worked in the industry.

Our first photograph shows the Abbey Garden Works that was built on St Margaret’s Street in 1860. This grainy view of it is from where Stephens Bakery was once situated looking north. The same view today would see Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries and St Margaret’s House dominating the skyline with two car parks in the foreground on the left.

Dunfermline Press: Pilmuir Works, situated across from Carnegie Baths.Pilmuir Works, situated across from Carnegie Baths. (Image: Ian Ross)

Our next photograph, courtesy of Dunfermline Press reader Ian Ross, shows Pilmuir Works, situated across from the Carnegie Baths, which is credited as being the first of Dunfermline’s power loom linen mills, opening in 1849. It was purchased by Dunlops in 1947 to weave tyre fabric before closing in 2005.

Our next image is of Harriebrae Mill, near Castleblair Park, built as a flax spinning mill around 1817. Dunfermline Press: Harriebrae Mill near Castleblair Park.Harriebrae Mill near Castleblair Park. (Image: Contributed)

Our final photograph shows a girl working in a factory. In earlier days working conditions in the factories were extremely bad and the following extracts that were gathered from the 1833 Factory Commission Report capture the experiences of two young Dunfermline girls.

“Agnes Anderson, an orphan twelve years old, solemnly depones that she has worked at Mr Kirkland’s mill in Knabbie Street (this street is today named Carnegie Drive) for a few months past; that she works at spinning flax in the lowest floor of the mill, paved with stone; that the stones where they stand are continually wet with water from the frames; only parts of which are so boxed that the water falling is not scattered over them; that from this cause their feet are generally wet and cold, and the front part of their gown or frock wet. That she is much tired for some time before the work stops in the evening, and she wishes that she should not work for more than 10 hours per day. That she goes on Sabbath nights to school, but has no time for school during the week.

Dunfermline Press: One of the young factory workers.One of the young factory workers. (Image: Contributed)

"Margaret Methven, eleven years old, is employed in preparing flax at Mr Kinnell’s mill, and has been there for eight months. She complains of nothing but the long hours which tire her and make her sleepy and she would rather have shorter hours and less wages than the present hours and the present rate of 2s 3d per week. Her feet and legs often swell and give her pain. She does not go to school in the evening after leaving the mill because she is so much tired. She would like half an hour for breakfast instead of a quarter of an hour allowed; and the only other time allowed, from a quarter before six am to eight pm, is half an hour for dinner. No seats are allowed to the workers at any time. No corporal punishment is allowed at the works, but the workers are fined for being absent or late."

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

With thanks to Frank Connelly