519:
485:
560:
471:
74:
457:
503:
his work is now visible. The south wall was rebuilt from mainly 12th century masonry when the church was enlarged in the 17th century. Further enlargements to the north took place in the 19th century (1807 and 1884). The octagonal spire on the Norman tower dates from 1807 and is now lacking its four corner pinnacles. 19th century
Brunton Church and Balbirnie Church have both been converted for domestic use and the parishes of Thornton and Markinch have been merged.
630:
81:
58:
448:. Fife's early medieval place of legal assembly is listed as Dalgynch in early Scottish law books and charters. The original site of Dalginch is now believed to have been on the cemetery mound at Northhall, 500m northeast of Markinch Church. This has led to Markinch's designation as "The Capital Place of Fife".
497:
The provincial importance of
Markinch under the MacDuff Earls of Fife is likely to account for the very high architectural quality of the early 12th century church tower. The church was originally dedicated to St Drostan but later in the 13th century a re-dedication to St John the Baptist took place.
544:
was based until
October 2016. Haig's operated here for over a century until 1983 before moving to modern premises at Banbeath, Leven. It provided employment to a large workforce drawn from the town and from various parts of Fife. A queue of buses would be waiting for them at finishing time. Even in
514:
in Scots Gaelic). The height of this ridge is greater at its northern and southern extremities than at the centre. Markinch Hill has six terraces on the northern side cut into the sand and gravel. These are thought to be either medieval or
Neolithic in origin. Recent rhododendron clearance has made
502:
tower and the east and west gables date from this early period and chip-cut stone carving can be seen surrounding the tower as well as in reset stones on the south wall. The
Hepburn coat of arms was inserted into the west gable by Prior John Hepburn in the early part of the 16th century but none of
539:
in the form of paper mills, bleach mills and ironworks. Papermaking was an important local employer based on the town's close proximity to the River Leven, until one of the two paper mills in the town, Sappi
Graphics, closed down in 2001. The Tullis Russell paper mill, however, was still in
225:
688:
Way, after
Glenrothes' German Twin Town. Another section of the branch line which linked to Tullis Russell paper mill was still in use until the early 1990s, but this has now also been removed and converted into a cycleway linking to Glenrothes.
784:, it has long been a significant line of communication and transport, heightened by the expansion of the coal and limestone industries to its south and demand for their products to its north. There is a high concentration of ancient monuments at
530:
in the middle of the 19th century, the village started to adapt to spinning and weaving production. The use of water wheels of the corn and meal mills encouraged new industries to begin along the River Leven on land between
Auchmuty (now part of
540:
operation, with a 474 strong workforce, until it went into administration in April 2015. Markinch's former Haig's Whisky bottling plant is now used as a business park and is split into small units. This is where Fife radio station
439:
is the Gaelic for a meadow or an island, here probably meaning a piece of land rising out of or above a body of water or a bog. The earliest written reference is a charter of around 1050 transferring ownership of the church to the
692:
Markinch has frequent bus services to
Glenrothes and Levenmouth provided by a number of bus service providers. Markinch station was redeveloped to create an interchange for passengers travelling between
400:, Scotland. According to an estimate taken in 2008, the village has a population of 2,420. The civil parish had a population of 16,530 (in 2011). Markinch is east of Fife's administrative centre,
809:
684:
and
Markinch. The line was closed to passengers in 1935, but remained open to freight until 1967. The former branchline now forms part of the Fife Cycle Network and has been named
716:
has made this bus link redundant for rail passengers travelling southbound, there is still a demand for connections to northbound destinations, as the new rail link only has a
515:
them visible once more, and the view from the top of the hill to the south has been restored. The trees on the hill were planted by General Balfour of Balbirnie around 1820.
506:
On the northern outskirts of the town beside the East Lodge of Balbirnie House stands the ancient Stob Cross which may be a Pictish Class II symbol stone defaced during the
291:
522:
Former headquarters of John Haig & Sons whisky. This building has latterly been used as general industrial and office space but is now threatened with demolition
283:
599:
726:
provide the Markinch circular bus service, which links all areas of the village, with Glenrothes, as well as a rural service which meanders through Glenrothes,
265:
120:
1122:
420:, in an area now incorporated into the new town of Glenrothes, but formerly part of Markinch Parish. They are said to date back to 3,000 BC from the
249:
1010:
324:
273:
211:
1092:
705:. Passengers can catch frequent buses from Leven town centre to Markinch railway station, then onwards to towns served by the
545:
1983 the workforce comprised some 500 employees. Many local residents still have connections with the firm, now absorbed into
1044:
621:
The town is a key destination on the Fife Pilgrim Way- a historic walking route for pilgrims making their way to St Andrews.
518:
237:
677:
facilities. Regular bus services link the station with Glenrothes and Leven town centres and the surrounding villages.
594:, and parks. Markinch's park is dedicated to Provost John Dixon who presented it to the burgh in 1919. The much larger
861:
Census of Scotland 2011, Table KS101SC – Usually Resident Population, publ. by National Records of Scotland. Web site
578:
658:
309:
242:
1078:
199:
165:
680:
The station was once a terminus of a branch line, which ran through the land now occupied by Glenrothes between
484:
598:, formerly the property of the Balfour family, lies nearby to the northeast. The park includes a golf course,
147:
113:
559:
813:
510:. The town is built on the top and sides of a low ridge, which was once high ground surrounded by marshes (
470:
73:
490:
Markinch Parish Kirk from the cross roads of Stob Cross Road/School Street/Kirk Street/Commercial Street
654:
314:
254:
1172:
662:
1132:
179:
129:
42:
1106:
606:
Development Corporation, before its latest reincarnation, and craft centre. The popular Markinch
1167:
417:
24:
764:
The short valley of the Markinch Gap runs northwest of the village, between the basin of the
591:
527:
937:
e.g. Berne Manuscript (NAS PA5/1, Regiam Majestatem (Bute manuscript version) (NLS MS 21246)
913:
727:
713:
706:
650:
445:
1127:
983:
844:
709:, such as Edinburgh and Kirkcaldy in the south, as well as Perth and Dundee in the north.
8:
865:
retrieved March 2016. See “Standard Outputs”, Table KS101SC, Area type: Civil Parish 1930
499:
717:
595:
666:
536:
404:
and preceded Cupar as Fife's place of warranty and justice prior to the 13th century.
1040:
874:
Berne manuscript, Bute manuscript and Cromarty manuscript, see fuller reference below
765:
574:
670:
363:
204:
1060:
618:, Scottish National Party, Member of the Scottish Parliament, is in the village.
590:
The town enjoys a range of local facilities including football, bowling, tennis,
393:
230:
607:
553:
413:
1161:
777:
745:
674:
615:
611:
339:
326:
773:
769:
681:
556:. Further names were added to the memorial following the Second World War.
946:
Dr Simon Taylor. Place-Names of Fife (PNF) 2012 pp 224-227 & pp395-400
810:"Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland"
685:
602:, formerly the Balfour family's home and subsequently the headquarters of
749:
735:
694:
507:
456:
629:
753:
731:
603:
541:
532:
401:
1142:
893:
862:
780:. Providing the path for the Edinburgh–Aberdeen railway line and the
739:
723:
698:
646:
498:
Both saints fair days were celebrated up until the 19th century. The
421:
189:
1147:
781:
642:
171:
17:
785:
441:
702:
638:
546:
412:
The earliest indications of human activity around Markinch are
435:
is the Gaelic for horse, specifically a steed or charger, and
614:
has previously opened the games. The Constituency office of
552:
Markinch war memorial was erected in 1920 to a design by Sir
396:: Marc Innis) is both a village and a parish in the heart of
384:
369:
397:
155:
137:
94:
57:
1137:
834:
Place-Names of Fife. Dr Simon Taylor Vols II & V (2012
1152:
563:
A John Haig whisky flagon from Markinch, Fife Folk Museum
378:
1079:"The early churches of Fife : A gazetteer of sites"
637:
Markinch has good transport links being well linked to
756:
bus service, as well as evening and Sunday services.
381:
375:
1093:"The development of the Fife road system, 1700 1850"
1034:
673:with a new station building, longer platforms, and
427:The name Markinch derives from the Scottish Gaelic
372:
366:
973:Markinch Heritage Group Newsletter, March 2013 NLS
964:A. S. Cunningham, Markinch and its Environs (1907)
955:Richard Fawcett, Scottish Medieval Churches (2002)
1000:Dictionary of Scottish Architects: Robert Lorimer
718:only has a southbound connection to the main line
1159:
901:Glenrothes and Surrounding Villages 2007/2008
882:
880:
577:(1783-1852) minister of Markinch 1818–1852.
16:Not to be confused with the similarly named
1061:"St Andrews in Focus Issue 66 Sep Oct 2014"
714:opening of the Levenmouth rail link in 2024
1153:Markinch Amateur Operatic Society website
877:
628:
585:
558:
517:
1128:Its entry in the Gazetteer for Scotland
984:"Fife Place-name Data :: Markinch"
581:of the Free Church of Scotland 1847/48.
1160:
1035:Taylor, Simon; Gilbert Markus (2012).
855:
1037:The Place-Names of Fife, Volume Five
567:
13:
1015:fifecoastandcountrysidetrust.co.uk
863:http://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/
14:
1184:
1116:
579:Moderator of the General Assembly
1143:Markinch Heritage Group Web site
483:
469:
455:
362:
80:
79:
72:
56:
1099:
1085:
1071:
1053:
1028:
1003:
994:
976:
967:
958:
949:
940:
759:
23:For the village in Canada, see
1148:Markinch Parish Church website
931:
906:
868:
837:
828:
802:
1:
988:fife-placenames.glasgow.ac.uk
791:
610:are held in John Dixon park.
814:National Records of Scotland
624:
32:Human settlement in Scotland
7:
114:OS grid reference
10:
1189:
1039:. Shaun Tyas. p. 63.
655:Edinburgh to Aberdeen Line
407:
22:
15:
300:
282:
264:
260:
248:
236:
224:
220:
210:
198:
188:
178:
164:
146:
128:
112:
104:
67:
55:
37:
796:
776:, to the west, from the
633:Markinch railway station
284:Scottish Parliament
1138:Markinch Scouts website
724:Moffat & Williamson
292:Mid Fife and Glenrothes
62:Markinch from the south
20:, an area of Inverness.
1123:Markinch on FifeDirect
634:
564:
523:
462:Balbirnie Stone Circle
418:Balbirnie Stone Circle
200:Postcode district
46:
25:Markinch, Saskatchewan
665:, the latter via the
632:
600:Balbirnie House Hotel
586:Sports and recreation
562:
528:Industrial Revolution
521:
148:Lieutenancy area
1011:"Leslie to Markinch"
918:Fife Place-name Data
728:Coaltown of Balgonie
707:East Coast Main Line
651:Markinch Interchange
340:56.20262°N 3.13504°W
180:Sovereign state
1133:Its GENUKI{tm} page
336: /
746:Stagecoach in Fife
669:. The station was
667:Highland Main Line
635:
565:
537:Milton of Balgonie
524:
345:56.20262; -3.13504
266:UK Parliament
212:Dialling code
1046:978-1-907730-08-5
772:, separating the
575:James Sievewright
568:Notable residents
355:
354:
130:Council area
108:2,400 (2022)
1180:
1173:Parishes in Fife
1111:
1110:
1103:
1097:
1096:
1089:
1083:
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1075:
1069:
1068:
1057:
1051:
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866:
859:
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841:
835:
832:
826:
825:
823:
821:
806:
732:Star of Markinch
671:upgraded in 2007
657:and connects to
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473:
459:
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351:
350:
348:
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333:
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329:
306:
174:
124:
123:
93:Location within
83:
82:
76:
60:
35:
34:
1188:
1187:
1183:
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1179:
1178:
1177:
1158:
1157:
1119:
1114:
1107:"Balfarg Henge"
1105:
1104:
1100:
1091:
1090:
1086:
1077:
1076:
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1058:
1054:
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968:
963:
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950:
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936:
932:
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869:
860:
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843:
842:
838:
833:
829:
819:
817:
816:. 31 March 2022
808:
807:
803:
799:
794:
788:and Balbirnie.
762:
627:
588:
570:
495:
494:
493:
492:
491:
488:
479:
478:
477:
474:
465:
464:
463:
460:
410:
394:Scottish Gaelic
365:
361:
344:
342:
338:
335:
330:
327:
325:
323:
322:
321:
304:
296:
278:
170:
160:
142:
119:
118:
100:
99:
98:
97:
91:
90:
89:
88:
84:
63:
51:
43:Scottish Gaelic
33:
28:
21:
12:
11:
5:
1186:
1176:
1175:
1170:
1156:
1155:
1150:
1145:
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1135:
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1125:
1118:
1117:External links
1115:
1113:
1112:
1098:
1084:
1070:
1052:
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993:
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836:
827:
800:
798:
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790:
761:
758:
626:
623:
608:Highland Games
596:Balbirnie Park
592:a curling club
587:
584:
583:
582:
569:
566:
554:Robert Lorimer
489:
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454:
453:
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409:
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305:List of places
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184:United Kingdom
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49:
39:
31:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1185:
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1168:Towns in Fife
1166:
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1151:
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989:
985:
979:
970:
961:
952:
943:
934:
919:
915:
909:
902:
899:Fife Council
896:
889:
883:
881:
871:
864:
858:
850:
846:
840:
831:
815:
811:
805:
801:
789:
787:
783:
779:
778:Riggin o Fife
775:
771:
767:
757:
755:
751:
748:run the main
747:
743:
741:
737:
733:
729:
725:
721:
719:
715:
710:
708:
704:
700:
696:
690:
687:
683:
678:
676:
675:park and ride
672:
668:
664:
660:
656:
652:
648:
644:
640:
631:
622:
619:
617:
616:Jenny Gilruth
613:
612:Dougray Scott
609:
605:
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593:
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571:
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513:
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501:
486:
472:
458:
449:
447:
443:
438:
434:
430:
425:
423:
419:
415:
414:Balfarg henge
405:
403:
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389:
359:
349:
318:
316:
313:
311:
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111:
107:
103:
96:
75:
66:
59:
54:
48:
44:
41:
40:
36:
30:
26:
19:
1101:
1087:
1073:
1064:
1055:
1036:
1030:
1018:. Retrieved
1014:
1005:
996:
987:
978:
969:
960:
951:
942:
933:
921:. Retrieved
917:
908:
900:
895:
888:Old Markinch
887:
870:
857:
848:
839:
830:
818:. Retrieved
804:
774:Lomond Hills
770:Howe of Fife
763:
760:Markinch Gap
744:
722:
711:
691:
679:
653:lies on the
636:
620:
589:
573:Very Rev Dr
551:
525:
511:
505:
500:Norman-style
496:
436:
432:
428:
426:
411:
357:
356:
29:
1020:16 December
766:River Leven
649:via rail.
526:During the
508:Reformation
343: /
1162:Categories
923:9 December
914:"Markinch"
845:"Markinch"
792:References
754:Glenrothes
712:While the
604:Glenrothes
542:Kingdom FM
533:Glenrothes
476:Stob Cross
446:Loch Leven
429:Mark Innis
402:Glenrothes
328:56°12′09″N
274:Glenrothes
194:GLENROTHES
105:Population
47:Marc Innis
740:Buckhaven
699:Edinburgh
686:Böblingen
663:Inverness
647:Edinburgh
625:Transport
422:Neolithic
331:3°08′06″W
250:Ambulance
190:Post town
849:ed.ac.uk
820:31 March
782:A92 road
768:and the
643:Aberdeen
424:period.
358:Markinch
315:Scotland
255:Scottish
243:Scottish
231:Scotland
172:Scotland
121:NO296016
87:Markinch
38:Markinch
18:Merkinch
890:pp.3-4.
786:Balfarg
442:Culdees
408:History
166:Country
1043:
738:, and
703:Dundee
682:Leslie
639:Dundee
547:Diageo
535:) and
226:Police
1065:Issuu
886:Fiet
797:Notes
750:Leven
736:Leven
695:Leven
659:Perth
512:innis
437:innis
216:01592
1041:ISBN
1022:2020
925:2020
903:p.8.
822:2022
697:and
661:and
645:and
433:Mark
416:and
398:Fife
238:Fire
156:Fife
138:Fife
95:Fife
752:to
720:.
444:of
370:ɑːr
205:KY7
1164::
1063:.
1013:.
986:.
916:.
879:^
847:.
812:.
742:.
734:,
730:,
641:,
549:.
431:.
392:,
385:tʃ
310:UK
45::
1109:.
1095:.
1081:.
1067:.
1049:.
1024:.
990:.
927:.
851:.
824:.
701:/
388:/
382:n
379:ɪ
376:k
373:ˈ
367:m
364:/
360:(
27:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
