(pronounced kirkaudi, with emphasis on the second syllable) is currently the largest town in
Fife ,
Scotland . Known as ''The Lang Toun'' (Long Town) in
Scots , it has a population of, according to Scotland's Census Results Online, 46,912 ''Langtonians'' - the name for Kirkcaldy's residents.
(Do not confuse with Auchterarder - known as "The Lang Toon")
The town lies on the north bank of the
Firth Of Forth . The former burghs of
Dysart , Linktown and Pathhead, and the villages of Sinclairtown and Gallatown are now incorporated into Kirkcaldy. The name 'The Lang Toun' derives from the proximity of these burghs and villages to Kirkcaldy and the subsequent spread of the town along the shores of the
River Forth .
Kirkcaldy was formerly famous for
Linoleum manufacturing, linen production and for its annual week-long
Links Market - Europe's longest street
Market - that celebrated its 700th anniversary in
2004 . The town still has one of the longest developed sea-fronts in Europe, overlooking the
Firth Of Forth . In the
17th Century it boasted one of the earliest
Latvian Consulates .
In addition to the "Father of Modern Economics"
Adam Smith (1723-90), the "Demarcator of Standard Time" (
Universal Standard Time )
Sandford Fleming (
1827 -
1915 ), and one of Scotland's most famous
Architect s,
Robert Adam (1728-92), Kirkcaldy has been the birthplace of a great many famous sons and daughters.
Reformation figures
Henry Balnaves and
George Gillespie both hailed from the town as did, in more recent times,
Frederick Coutts , 8th General of the
Salvation Army . In politics, Kirkcaldy counts sixth
Governor-General Of Australia ,
Ronald Munro-Ferguson and
Sir David Steel (
1938 -). Among its sons, the current British
Chancellor Of The Exchequer ,
Gordon Brown (
1951 -), although born in Glasgow, moved to Kirkcaldy at an early age and is the local UK Parliamentary Constituency's MP. In sport, twice World
Darts champion
Jocky Wilson was born in the town and lives in the Lauder Road area. From popular culture,
Coldplay Bassist Guy Berryman comes from Kirkcaldy.
Jack Vettriano (
1951 -), the
UK 's most popular living artist, was born close by.
Val McDermid , journalist and author (titles include: ''Wire in the Blood'' and ''Distant Echo'') was born and raised in Kirkcaldy, though her books' liner notes refer only to a 'small Scottish mining town'.
Colin Cameron Professional footballer (soccer player)
The local
Football team in the town is
Raith Rovers F.C. who play at ''
Stark's Park ''. The oldest existing
Ice Hockey team in the
United Kingdom -
Fife Flyers - are based in the town, playing at ''Fife Ice Arena''. There is also a local Rugby Club, Kirkcaldy RFC, who play at Beveridge Park. Rugby player Matthew Harvey (1986) was born and raised in the Smeaton area of Kirkcaldy. He has played for the Kirkcaldy rugby team for a number of years but has not received full international recognition despite several apearances for Scotland's under 21s.
Adam Smith College has several campuses throughout the town, the main one being the St Brycedale Campus. They provide training and education for over 15,000 people. Actors
Ewan McGregor ,
Dougray Scott and the artist
Jack Vettriano are some of the famous people that have attended the College.
Kirkcaldy is home to four high schools and eleven primary schools, they are as follows:
- Capshard
- Dunearn
- Dunnikier
- Fair Isle
- Kirkcaldy North
- Kirkcaldy West
- Pathhead
- Sinclairtown
- St Maries R C
- Torbain
- Valley
The local paper, the ''Fife Free Press'' is published every Thursday containing all the latest news from the town. The daily ''Dundee Courier'' also provides local news in its Fife edition. Since February 2002, the local hospital radio station ''Classic VRN'' began broadcasting 24 hours a day on 1287 Medium Wave. However, "Kingdom FM" is the nearest major radio station.
From 1975 gave its name to a local government district in the
Fife region of
Scotland . Since 1996 it has been included in the
Fife unitary area.
(See:
Subdivisions Of Scotland )
There is a
Kirkcaldy Constituency Of The Scottish Parliament and a former
Kirkcaldy Constituency Of The House Of Commons .
Kirkcaldy is
Twinned with
Ingolstadt ,
Germany .
Areas of Kirkcaldy include:
- Balsusney
- Bennochy
- Boreland
- Chapel
- Dunnikier
- Dysart
- Gallatown
- Hayfield
- Linktown
- Longbraes
- Newliston
- Overton
- Pathhead
- Raith
- Sauchenbush
- Sinclairtown
- Smeaton
- Templehall
- Valley
At one time the 4th Kirkcaldy Company of the Boys Brigade was the largest company in this organisation.
