In this week’s trip down West Fife’s Memory Lane we look at some of the buildings at the bottom of Bridge Street in Dunfermline at its junction with Chalmers Street and see how much the area has changed over the course of 100 years.
The first photograph from 1927 is a view looking up Bridge Street with the ironmongers shop ‘Coull and Matthew’ just visible on the right. The ‘Cash Stores’ building is where the ‘Seven Kings’ pub is situated today across from the entrance to Pittencrieff Park.
Our next photograph shows the area after the building’s demolition, with tram lines clearly visible on the cobbled street outside. The ‘Coull and Matthew’ building was about to be demolished to make way for the construction of a magnificent new entrance to Pittencrieff Park.
A set of wrought-iron gates was designed as a suitably grand entrance to the Glen and was funded by the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust as a tribute to the widow of Andrew Carnegie, Louise Whitfield Carnegie.
The design incorporated her initials as well as the three letters ‘M’ for Margaret Morrison his mother, Margaret Carnegie their daughter, and Margaret Miller their grand-daughter.
As a result of the building works, ‘Coull and Matthew’ relocated to the other side of the road, and our next image shows them operating in 1963 in the building that would later be home to the ‘Seven Kings’ pub.
John Cumming remembers their shop: “That’s where l bought most of my tools from when l was an apprentice joiner.”
Jim Miller also recalls visiting for other reasons: “I used to go upstairs where they had loads of fireworks to choose from for bonfire night. At Christmas there were loads of toys and games etc."
The photograph also brings back memories for Maico Chiappa: “There was a trick shop next to ‘Coull and Matthew’ in the late sixties. We bought fake blood, stink bombs, trick fags and a host of things that were great fun for young kids.”
Our final image is a view looking down Chalmers Street towards the bottom of Bridge Street when Comet had a shop in the street.
Alistair McBay remembers Chalmers Street: “Up the street on the right was Noel Henderson's newspaper/tobacco and gift shop. I was a paperboy for them for three or four years in the late 60s and early 70s”
Graham Lindsay stayed in the area. “I lived in the flat above Noel Henderson's when I worked at the Courier office next door in the late 80s. Alari's chip shop, Stephens the Bakers and a Chinese further down. Best flat I ever had.”
Shona Cunningham Dryburgh also remembers this area before the church in Chalmers Street was demolished to create an entrance in to the car park that was built behind the City Hotel: “Either the church was, or was next to, a masonic lodge, which also housed a dancing school called the Silver Slipper School of Dancing. That's where I first got blistered toes!”
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.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel