Thesis
Industrial archaeology of Fife 1790-1914
- Creator
- Rights statement
- Awarding institution
- University of Strathclyde
- Date of award
- 1975
- Thesis identifier
- T10(1975)
- Qualification Level
- Qualification Name
- Department, School or Faculty
- Abstract
- This thesis examines industrial change in Fife from 1790 to 1914 and the expression of change in the landscape of the county. Beginning by sketching in the background of the county as an isolated and fragmented peninsula, the first chapter goes on to discuss the distinctive character of Fife. Central to the thesis is the change in population distribution. In 1755 the south-western half of the county, held 48% of the population and now has 82% of the larger whole. The twin pillars of the nineteenth century industrial economy of Fife - coal and textiles - are then examined for their distinctive features. Questions are then posed for answer in later chapters. Chapter 2 examines some of the early published sources on the county with a view to establishing the main areas in which change occurred between the 1790s, and the 1840s. The theme of Chapter 3 is agriculture and rural industry. The following specific topics are considered in some detail - drainage and reclamation, the division of commonties, the cessation of flax culture, the nature and distribution of farm power generation and rural processing industries. Quarrying is dealt with in Chapter 4, particularly the exploitation of the meagre resources of ironstone and the plentiful supplies of limestone. A detailed study is made of the limestone industry, its seasonal nature and the community and ancillary activities which evolved at its biggest centre, the village of Charlestown. Chapter 5 is concerned with coal-mining and in particular the questions of drainage and its cost, social and working conditions in the first half of the nineteenth century, the great expansion of output at the end of the century and the population influx associated with this. The chapter concludes with a survey of the surface evidence testifying to former mining activity in the county. Industries firmly based on coal are the subject of the next chapter. These include salt-panning, ceramics, shale processing and the range of engineering activities which grew up, particularly in and around Kirkcaldy. Textiles, in effect the linen industry, are the subject of Chapter 7. Particular areas examined are the contrast between town and country spinning mills in the nineteenth century, the differences in working conditions in the mills and at the hand-loom, and the contrasting textile activities and associated architecture of Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline. The last two chapters are concerned, with transport. Chapter 8 examines the dual nature of the road network in serving local and national needs and looks at the organisation and archaeology of statute labour and turnpike roads, including a report on excavations conducted on a stretch of eighteenth century road. In the context of rail transport two attempts to break the North British monopoly in Fife are studied in detail. Chapter 9 studies transport by water; in some detail the ferry ports on Forth and Tay are studied, as well as the nineteenth century development of trading posts and the tracing of the Burnturk Canal.
- Resource Type
- DOI
- EThOS ID
- uk.bl.ethos.473793
- Date Created
- 1975
- Former identifier
- 157723
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