Mining in West Fife The Crossgates Area: Fordell and Halbeath Collieries
For the area of West Fife in Scotland an attempt is made to analyse the nature of the coal deposits and to give a detailed history of their exploitation over many centuries. Emphasis is on the two collieries of Fordell and Halbeath with an examination of the different economic management employed in these cases. Of historic importance is the development of waggonways from the pits down to ports on the Forth. Description is given of the conditions endured by workers and of their organisations (e.g. 'brotherings and the darg') and unions which somehow gave mining communities a remarkable feeling of solidarity and self-reliance
History of West Fife,
the Crossgates Area
The Crossgates area in West Fife is at a junction of two important roads, and an analysis of early records is made showing its development from a smithy plus an inn to a service centre for various local activities. The increase in size of the village followed the large-scale exploitation of coal in the neighbourhood , and this is examined in terms of street-structure, of road and rail progress, and of the social advances made over time in this vibrant village. For example, both education and church changes over the centuries are significant areas of study
The Beath Names of West Fife
In West Fife in the east of Scotland there is an area which, for many centuries, has been characterised by its unusual form of place-names. This involves the 'half' name of 'Beath' in conjunction with a very large number of other appellations which normally are those of associated families. This occurs elsewhere but in this location it is extremely common. Most date from the 17thC or earlier. A detailed analysis of the name is followed by a short history of the parish of Beath with particular emphasis on early church development.
The Surname Hunter
A detailed examination of the origins of the surname Hunter. This is mainly in Scotland, but also covers the name in England and regionally compares the two names Hunt and Hunter. A short look at the spread world-wide. Full analysis is given, chapter by chapter, of the families in the various Scottish counties. The second part of the book is given over to biographical examination of Hunters in a variety of fields, e.g. Medicine, Education, Religion, etc. Famous names are there with brief coverage of their lives, e.g. John Hunter in Medicine, John Hunter in Australia and so on.
Sea Trade around 1600 between Fife and the Wash Ports
Around a date of 1600 there was considerable coastal trade between England and Scotland. The Union of Crowns was in 1603. This was concentrated between ports in Fife and those in Norfolk and the Wash. A fairly detailed examination is given here of the various relevant factors: sections are on cargoes, on families involved, on the ships, and on the extensive dangers involved to seamen at this time. Concentration is on the Fife port of Kirkcaldy and the Wash port of King's Lynn..
News from the American War of Independence: What Scots Read of the American War
A huge amount of published work is available on the American War of Independence. However, one area given rather scant attention is that describing and analysing the public reaction in the colonial power, Britain. This little book tries to look at two aspects of this reaction: viz. (a) the extent of coverage given in a typical newspaper, and (b) the particular analysis presented to readers in Scotland.
This latter question is relevant because Scotland, since the Union with England earlier in that same century (1707), had assumed a large contribution to the military and thus to 'empire-building'.
The method chosen is to use "extracts". The year of 1779 is examined in the "Edinburgh Advertiser". This was a serious if popular newspaper which was published every four days with some ten pages being typical.
Steam Power and Robert Burns
This short piece describes how the poet Robert Burns was on a small steam-boat with several of the financiers
behind the development of steam power in Scotland. His relationship with Alexander Nasmyth and with Patrick Miller is briefly introduced.
Assisted by James
This is an analysis of an individual in his struggle with a deep belief system which takes him towards the worship of death. The manner in which he can be used by others and the way they manipulate him is the theme of this description of a subject of much present social interest.
KILLING FOR JUSTICE
The book has its basis in an estate in industrial Scotland in the late 18thC. It is fiction and does not involve any actual historic figures (a few are mentioned in a purely peripheral manner) or locations. It is centred on a murder which occurs under very unusual circumstances. The illegitimate, and unrecognised, son of the estate is responsible, with the involvement of foreign owners of another large coal-based property. (Throughout, the story is based on the actual history of the times which the author has written on.) The next large section reveals his connection to money in Holland and his involvement with both the insurrection in that country and with a secret Scottish society of considerable age and commitment to deep changes in governance. The role of this society, and details of its actions, are a significant presence in all parts of the book. Another section comes from a romantic connection between this individual and a daughter of a nearby estate and how they meet in Paris,and are involved in the protest movements and the revolution there. Again the story is pure fiction but involves situations of historic accuracy. The last part of the book describes back in Scotland and the advance of real protest towards insurrection. The organisation of the local miners, plus other groups, etc, leads to a serious clash with the Dundas regime. Throughout the whole book there is a subsidiary plot associated with the mother of the central character and her struggle with authority, her simple banishment, and her attempts to help her son. Her name is Grise, a significant character in the whole plot. The above gives some indication of the background events and happenings, but the actual reading is much more about the emotional experiences of the several heroes and anti-heroes involved.
ME AND MINE
Verses, Poems, Thoughts, Etc
Simply a few verses or poems representing a my thoughts.
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