Falkland
Falkland from the Palace
Falkland is located in Fife
Falkland
Falkland
Location within Fife
Population1,120 (mid-2020 est.)[1]
OS grid referenceNO253077
Community council
  • Falkland & Newton of Falkland [2]
Council area
Lieutenancy area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townCUPAR
Postcode districtKY15
Dialling code01337
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament

Falkland (Scottish Gaelic: Fàclann[3]), previously in the Lands of Kilgour (c. 1200), is a village, parish and former royal burgh in Fife, Scotland, at the foot of the Lomond Hills. According to the 2008 population estimate, it has a population of 1,180.

Etymology

The earliest forms of this name include Falleland (c. 1128) and Falecklen (c. 1160), with the second element being the Scottish Gaelic lann (enclosure) or possibly its Pictish cognate, but the exact etymology is unclear since the first element could be the Gaelic falach (hidden), failc (wash), or falc (heavy rain).[4] The later folk etymologies "falcon land" and "folkland" are not plausible.[5][6]

In the Middle Ages, the name Falkland only applied to the Castle; the burgh and parish were known as Kilgour, which may mean "church/cell of Gabrán".[7]

History

The lands of Kilgour existed at Falkland prior to the 12th century. However, this was not until the erection of Falkland Castle some time after 1160 which was the crucial factor in the birth of the village. The site of Falkland Castle now lies within the grounds of the present Falkland Palace. The donation of the royal hunting estate of Falkland by King Malcolm to Duncan, Earl of Fife in 1160, may actually have led to any previous hunting lodge being replaced by the castle.[8]

The church of Kilgour was to west of the present town.[9] The benefice was counted as part of the Priory of Saint Andrews.[10] It is known that an African servant of Anne of Denmark was buried in the kirk yard there in July 1591.[11] The benefice was counted as part of the Priory of Saint Andrews.[12] It is known that coffins rested at a spot called the "Pillars of Hercules" on the way to Kilgour.[13][14] A replacement church was built in Falkland town about thirty years later by the master mason John Mylne and his son,[15] and the site of the old church at Kilgour is now a farm.[16][17] Today, the parish church of Falkland is a Destination Hub on the St Margaret Pilgrim Journey.[18]

Despite being granted royal burgh status in 1458, Falkland had developed as a medieval settlement dependent on Falkland Palace and the Falkland Castle and therefore did not function in the same way as other royal burghs did.[8]

Falkland was the birthplace of the famous 17th century Covenanter Richard Cameron who was the town schoolmaster before he became a field preacher. His house still stands in the main street of the village. Another Covenanter, Robert Gillespie was arrested for preaching here before being imprisoned on the Bass Rock.[19] The American country and western singer Johnny Cash traced part of his family ancestry to this district of Fife.[20]

A considerable proportion of the village (including the Palace) was restored by John, Marquis of Bute who inherited much of the land in the late 19th century. He employed the architects John Kinross and Robert Weir Schultz to undertake the works required.

The Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic are named after Anthony Cary, 5th Viscount Falkland.[21]

Landmarks

The gatehouse at Falkland Palace
Falkland Town Hall

Scotland's first conservation village is best known as the location of Falkland Palace, begun in 1500 by James IV, and the best example of French-influenced Renaissance architecture in Scotland. The palace was built to accommodate the royal court when they came to Falkland to hunt in the nearby forests; Mary, Queen of Scots, was a frequent visitor. The palace houses a Roman Catholic church which was used for the undertaking of mass.

As at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, a fire broke out during the occupation of the buildings by Oliver Cromwell's troops in 1654. The fire destroyed the East Range. The Court never returned to Falkland Palace after 1665 and until the 19th century the village and palace were neglected. In the late 19th century extensive rebuilding and restoration work began. Today the palace and gardens are open to the public through the National Trust for Scotland.

Falkland contains a number of Listed buildings, including five at Category A:

Culture

Other features of the village include an old horse market, also including the Falkland Cricket Club, and the Falkland Golf Club. One of the country's leading environmental festivals, The Big Tent, was held for several years up to 2012 in the grounds of Falkland Estate in July. Organised by the Falkland Centre for Stewardship, the 2012 festival was headlined by the Proclaimers and the 2010 event by Rosanne Cash. Since 2016 the main event of the year has been the Craft Symposium. The 2018 Symposium, held in August, celebrates traditional crafts and craftsmanship through talks, discussions, workshops, demonstrations, networking and site tours.[27]

The Falkland Library and Falkland Community Hall are run on behalf of the community by Falkland Community Development Trust, an organisation established to maintain, develop and/or operate a centre or centres providing facilities for a wide range of community activities and accommodation for community groups, and for public sector agencies which provide services of benefit to the community. All residents of Falkland can become members of the trust.

The Falkland Society holds regular meetings with speakers, and has published several books about the village.[28]

Sport

Falkland has one of the oldest real tennis courts, which was built for James V of Scotland in 1539. It is the oldest tennis court in use today, and the only active tennis court without a roof. Play is organized by the Falkland Palace Royal Tennis Club.

Forming in 1860, Falkland Cricket Club are the oldest cricket club in Fife.[29][30] The club have played at Scroggie Park since 1948.[31]

Local running groups include Falkland Trail Runners, Get Fit Falkland, and the Lomond Hill Runners. Falkland Trail Runners organise the Falkland Hill trail race in conjunction with the annual village gala.[32]

Notable residents

References

  1. ↑ "Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  2. ↑ "Home - Royal Burgh of Falkland and Newton of Falkland Community Council". Royal Burgh of Falkland and Newton of Falkland Community Council.
  3. ↑ Taylor, Iain (2011). Place-names of Scotland. Edinburgh: Birlinn Limited. p. 67.
  4. ↑ admin. "Home". Royal Burgh of Falkland and Newton of Falkland Community Council. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  5. ↑ Taylor, Simon (2005). The Place-Names of Fife: Central Fife between the Rivers Leven and Eden. Donington: Shaun Tyas. ISBN 978-1900289-93-1., p. 158.
  6. ↑ "Falkland". Fife Place-name Data. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  7. ↑ Taylor, Simon (2005). The Place-Names of Fife: Central Fife between the Rivers Leven and Eden. Donington: Shaun Tyas. ISBN 978-1900289-93-1., p. 168.
  8. 1 2 "Falkland Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan" (PDF). Fife Council. April 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
  9. ↑ Simon Taylor, Place-Names of Fife: Central Fife between the Rivers Leven and Eden (Donington: Shaun Tyas, 2005), p. 168.
  10. ↑ James Kirk, The Books of Assumption of the Thirds of Benefices: Scottish Ecclesiactical Rentals at the Reformation (Oxford, 1995), p.9.
  11. ↑ National Records of Scotland, Treasurer’s Accounts July 1591 E22/8 fol.121r., "Item be his maiesties spetiall command for the buriall of a moir in Falkland & expensis thairupoun, vij li vj s viij d", See REED transcriptions, edited by Sarah Carpenter, Royal Court of Scotland 1590-1592, includes the costume records The burial record is cited in DOST: Mor(e), Moir
  12. ↑ James Kirk, The Books of Assumption of the Thirds of Benefices: Scottish Ecclesiactical Rentals at the Reformation (Oxford, 1995), p.9.
  13. ↑ Falkland Old Parish Church, POWIS
  14. ↑ Falkland, Parish (aka Kilgour), Saints in Scottish Place-Names
  15. ↑ Deborah Howard, Scottish Architecture: Reformation to Restoration 1560-1660 (Edinburgh, 1995), pp. 186-8.
  16. ↑ Kilgour Parish Church, Corpus of Scottish Medieval Parish Churches
  17. ↑ Viator, 'Fifoaeana', Blackwood's Magazine, Volume 10 (Edinburgh: August 1821), p. 68.
  18. ↑ Falkland Parish Church, Scotland's Churches Trust and see external links.
  19. ↑ Wilson, Rev. A. (1845). The New statistical account of Scotland. Vol. 9. William Blackwood And Sons: Edinburgh And London. p. 933.
  20. ↑ Brocklehurst, Steven (6 March 2020). "The Scottish roots of Johnny Cash". BBC News. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  21. ↑ Paine, Lincoln (2000). Ships of Discovery and Exploration. New York: Mariner Books. p. 45. ISBN 978-0-395-98415-4.
  22. ↑ Historic Environment Scotland. "Falkland Palace Royal Stables And Tennis Court Or Caichpule (LB8800)". Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  23. ↑ Historic Environment Scotland. "House Of Falkland, Bridge Over Roaring Or Mill Burn And Adjoining Gatepiers (LB8766)". Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  24. ↑ Historic Environment Scotland. "Falkland Town Hall, High Street (LB31277)". Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  25. ↑ Historic Environment Scotland. "Moncrief House, High Street (LB31274)". Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  26. ↑ Historic Environment Scotland. "Brunton House, Brunton Street (Including Garden Walls) (LB31328)". Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  27. ↑ Falkland Craft Symposium.
  28. ↑ Falkland Society: Publications
  29. ↑ "Facebook: Falkland Cricket Club". Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  30. ↑ "Falkland Cricket Club". Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  31. ↑ "Strathmore & Perthshire Cricket Union: Falkland Cricket Club". Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  32. ↑ "Falkland Trail Runners: Club Races". Retrieved 11 July 2023.
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