This project seeks to help create a larger audience for the Society’s photograph archive which is currently housed in the village library. Sadly the collection was being depleted even during the imaging exercise (2016/17). About 150 photographs from the collection’s 800 or so catalogued entries were missing. To arrest this loss of Falkland’s commonweal and heritage, this digital archive was created.
Since publishing, our historical knowledge of some of Falkland’s families has been enlarged by kind contributions. These are not only important in themselves but unearth facts, insights and connections that would not be otherwise known outside a small and diminishing group of people.
New material is always welcome.
The galleries are designed so that comments or new images can be added. Social media links are also included.
The image filenames contain the catalogue reference of the original photographs.
Image Search
This feature, at the bottom of each page, allows images that are connected with similar caption key words to be retrieved and it works well for terms like Balmblae or a building or street name. It is a particularly good way to group pictures of people who may be featured across several categories (for example try Bryce or Venters).
The feature can also be used to return any details that were written on the back of the photographs.
Most (but not all) photographs had some details written on the back. To keep the site visually appealing these text images are not included in the photo galleries but they are easily accessible. Simply enter the file name of the photograph (minus the last character – normally an “a” – into the image search box and the back image of the photograph will be returned (if it had additional information). Use this method for group shots like the class photo’s of Falkland Primary or cricket and football team shots. Alternatively entering some or all of a particular photograph’s caption text will return a single or related group of photograph and detail images.
A lovely collection of photo’s. I especially like the shots of the former Smith Anderson factory at the back of the village. Parts of that building should have been preserved to remind us of the culmination of the weaving tradition in this area and Fife’s domination of the floor cloth and linoleum industries.
Ilona Bryan writes on Balmblae. “The house at the rear [Castleshotts, at the tree line] with the roof half off was called ‘Jerusalem’, and was lived in by Mr. Pratt – a very tall unmarried retired soldier from Scots Guards. He went for a daily walk up past our house on Castle Shotts until in his 80s, I believe”.
My ancestors Whytes (White) lived in Balmblae, they also lived in Rotten Row. My grandfather worked at the palace.
My great grandfather – George Gavin was The Factor at the palace . Love the Pathe video of him meeting The Queen .
I have a copy of a reference written by Major Woods for my grandfather.
Slowly but surely a more detailed picture is being drawn on the Miller (village carpenter and joiner) family. A family tree, a New Zealand connection and the identity of “Mrs Macarcie’s little parcel of land” as described in Scottish sasine records.