Fife Forge

30/08/2026

Singer Sewing Machines & Kirkcaldy

Like many people I love researching and remembering the history of buildings and gaining a glimpse of the people who came before us. In the case of the High Street it’s the shops and businesses who previously occupied a place.

As a Linen Town, Singer sewing machines were very important to Kirkcaldy, to the linen mills and to homeworkers; the women who undertook piece or outwork for linen mills and other businesses.
The linen industry in Kirkcaldy began in 1672, reaching a golden age from the 1860s to the 1890s. The last mill, founded in 1825, Peter Greig and Co Ltd operated at the Victoria Linen Works on St. Clair Street for nearly 200 years until its closure in 2021.

The Singer Sewing Machine story in Kirkcaldy could be said to have started at 69 High Street, Kirkcaldy; at the very least 69 High St. played an important part in the story. There were already shops on the block of land that eventually became Whytehouse Mansions (built in 1898); Singer Co. occupied 69 High Street, Kirkcaldy in 1884. After Whytehouse Mansions was built Singer re-opened at 77 High Street (now Speedy Snaps) and also spent time at 49 High Street (now occupied by Ramsay World Travel).

As a salute to our shops history, the Kirkcaldy linen industry and Singer sewing machines we have two vintage singer machines in our Lang Toun Little Museum at the back of Fife Forge (kindly donated by Geraldine and Liz) and a lovely dolls diorama of two women home-working on singer sewing machines. We also have various other Kirkcaldy linen industry artefacts on display, also kindly donated.

The history of 69 High Street, Kirkcaldy so far:

1867: The Singer Manufacturing Company opens a small Glasgow factory to assemble imported American parts.

1880: John Turner Grocer and Wine Merchant ('Half-Crown Whiskey & Tea; funeral letters & intimations of death and memorial cards printed on an hours notice; light wines for summer').

1884: The Singer Manufacturing Company factory in Clydebank opens, eventually becoming the largest sewing machine factory in the world.

1884: Singer Co. ('Sewing machines taken as part exchange from 10s')

1885: The Spinners (Yarns).

1895-1898: Whytehouse Mansions built.

1898: B. Morgans General & Fancy Drapery ('Immense reductions in cuffs, braces, scarfs, white & coloured shirts’).

1919: Thomas G. Blyth, Wholesale & Retail Stationer & Tobacconist.

1933: John Heddle, Newsagent & Stationer.

1936: Farquharson & Son, Newsagents & Tobacconists: ('Fly Fifer Safety Razor Blades; toys, games, children’s picture books; holiday cases, writing paper').

1953 / 1955 / 1957 / 1974: Nobles & Co. ('Santa Clause will visit Nobles Friday and Saturday, Bring the Kiddies along to see him; electric railways, flying helicopters, push and go toys, dolls, something to please every child; Christmas Club now started; Mechano and Triang toys, tricycles, model cars').

1979 / 1980: FA Toys & Sports. ('Cindy Dolls, Action Men, Slazenger dresses, football boots').

1988: Oxfam (charity shop).

2019: Komandor (walk in wardrobes).

2024: Fife Forge (antiques, art, books, collectibles & local museum (Lang Toun Little Museum)).

29/08/2026

Kirkcaldy's Best Kept Secret?

A cavern of movie & music memorabilia treasures at Fife Forge. JD

27/08/2026

'It (Ravenscraig Castle) was a place suited in every way to the high spirit of this lordly line. The St. Clairs were a war-like family, fighters for many a lost cause, leaders of many a forlorn hope. From Flodden onward, where Lord Henry fell with his King* through all the perilous periods of Scottish history till the Commonwealth, Ravenscraig was the home of the Sinclairs.' - Souvenir of the Opening of Ravenscraig Park, Saturday 29th June, 1929

This wonderful souvenir was donated by Alice on behalf of her Grandmother (Margaret Pillans). Margaret Pillans was the daughter of James and Jane Pillans, who owned and ran the Bakehouse on 163-165 St Clair Street. Alice kindly donated a wealth of Kirkcaldy’ artefacts and they and her ancestors will be the subject of a separate story and exhibition in the Lang Toun Little Museum (at the back of Fife Forge) at a later date. Thanks again Alice!

St Clair Street and the former neighbourhood of Sinclairtown are named after the Saint Clair or Sinclair family who once occupied Ravenscraig Castle.

The souvenir programme gives us some new valuable insights into Ravenscraig Castle and Kirkcaldy social history and the St. Clair (Sinclair) family.

According to the account in the souvenir, there is no record of the castle ever being besieged or battle damaged. At the time of Cromwell’s invasion of Scotland in 1651, Lord Sinclair was a staunch loyalist and ended up imprisoned until the end of the war. On his return to Ravenscraig Castle he was almost financially ruined and found the castle partially dismantled (likely to inhibit its further use in an uprising). The castle's neglect may have been exacerbated later by John, Master of Sinclair’s allegiance to the Jacobite uprising of 1715.

People, as a reminder we are attempting to restore Ravenscraig castle and holding our first meeting of the Guardians of Ravenscraig Castle TODAY AT FIFE FORGE AT 6.00PM to this end.

Please join the FB page to help show community support and spread the good word:)

John Sanders of Simpson Brown Architects will be our featured speaker. He has project managed and been the lead architect on similar projects throughout Scotland.

Meeting details: Thursday 27th August 2026 at 6PM at Fife Forge 69 High Street, Kirkcaldy (opposite Exchequer Pub). Meeting invitation: https://fb.me/e/222BmehDtH

page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61592230875819

Thanks

The Guardians of Ravenscraig Castle

* King James IV was the last British monarch to die in combat.

25/08/2026

https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/community/dysart-trust-appeals-for-volunteers-to-extend-museum-opening-times-8937597

Dysart Trust is appealing for volunteers to help run the town’s museum.

25/08/2026

New Renderings of Ravenscraig Castle, Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland

Here are some new renderings of what a restored Ravenscraig Castle could look like, from John Sanders of Simpson Brown Architects.

As a reminder we are holding our first meeting of the Guardians of Ravenscraig Castle Kirkcaldy at Fife Forge this coming Thursday. It would be great if you could make it. John Sanders of Simpson Brown Architects will be our featured speaker.

Please join the FB page to help show community support and spread the good word:)

Meeting details: Thursday 27th August 2026 at 6PM at Fife Forge 69 High Street, Kirkcaldy (opposite Exchequer Pub).

Meeting invitation: https://fb.me/e/222BmehDtH

page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61592230875819 See less

23/08/2026

1914 Map of Kirkcaldy, Seafield and Abden

There are maps and then there are Maps. This beautiful huge map was generously donated to our Lang Toun Little Museum (at the back of Fife Forge) by Tam of The Auld Wemyss Ways Heritage Centre / Mining Museum (65 Main Street, West Wemyss, Kirkcaldy, KY1 4SP open on Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM).

The map features Link Town; The Poor House, WestMills Dairy, West Bridge Spinning Mill, Aerated Water Works, Old Quarry, Kirkcaldy Steam Laundry, Kirkcaldy Pottery and Linen Works amongst others.

'Abden is a historic locality and street name in Kinghorn, Fife, deriving its name from the old Gaelic term for church or abbey land. It is most notable for Abden House, local coastal residential areas like Abden Avenue, and its past association with the 19th-century Kirkcaldy and Dysart Poorhouse (later renamed Abden Home) and the former Abden Shipyard.'. John

23/08/2026

23/08/2026

Beano, Dandy, Cheeky, Sunny Stories, The Topper, Action, Knockout, Shoot, Beezer, Tiger, Battle, Oor Willie, The Broons, Buster, Girls World, Whizzer & Chips, Warlord, Cor!! & More

If you recognise these names we all likely shared similar Christmases past, without electronic games and mobile phones.

We have a great selection of the old annuals at Fife Forge. Revisit your childhood or buy one for a surprised young-in to unwrap at Christmas then steal their present:). Oor Willie would approve.

These pics are from a 1974 TV Comic Annual.

John

22/08/2026

Hans Christen Anderson - "The view from there (Ravenscraig Castle) across to Edinburgh was so magnificent as to be unforgettable."

Who are we to argue with the Danish Master of Fairy Tales Hans Christen Anderson? During his 1847 visit to Scotland, Hans Christian Andersen visited Kirkcaldy and Ravenscraig Castle. Of Ravenscraig Castle he wrote:

“The actual ruin with its gloomy prison vaults and the luxuriant evergreens covering what remained of its walls like a close carpet and clinging to the rock which jutted over the sea, was especially picturesque and strange, for the tide had ebbed and the sea retreated. The view from there across to Edinburgh was so magnificent as to be unforgettable.”

I imagine the weather for his visit would have been much like today; it's a cracker.

There is literary licence and imagination is his words for the Ravenscraig Castle walls still largely stand proud and formidable. Sadly, the vantage point where he stood and looked over the Firth Of Forth to Edinburgh is usually inaccessible behind closed gates. Let's change that:)

BECOME A GUARDIAN - Guardians of Ravenscraig Castle Kirkcaldy! - INAUGURAL MEETING - THURSDAY 27th August 2026 AT FIFE FORGE 69 HIGH STREET, KIRKCALDY

Our goal is to restore Ravenscraig Castle, protect it for future generations, tell its fascinating story and return it to working use as a treasured community asset.

Thanks

George and John

* Hans Christian Anderson Poster by Anne Grahame Johnstone

20/08/2026

A Trove of Treasures

Here's a glimpse of a trove of treasures just in.

We've received some wonderful things generously donated by Alan, Tam, Geraldine, Alice and others which will be the subject of later stories.

We also managed to secure a Victorian era Fife Mounted Rifles helmet (the subject of an earlier story here) for our Lang Toun Little Museum.

Some items are for museum display only, which I appreciate can be frustrating if you want to buy, but our intent is that everyone can enjoy seeing them for a good spell at least.

Remember we are primarily a shop selling antiques, books, collectables (including film posters & other memorabilia) and art. All sales support the Museum and keep our doors open, so drop in and see us anytime. Christmas is coming!

Thanks John