Falkland, Fife

Falkland
Falkland
Falkland shown within Fife
Population 1,160 [1]
OS grid reference NO253077
Council area
Lieutenancy area
Country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town Cupar
Postcode district KY
Dialling code 01337
Police Scottish
Fire Scottish
Ambulance Scottish
EU Parliament Scotland
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament

Falkland (Scottish Gaelic: Fàclann[2]) 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.

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

Etymology

The earliest forms of this name include Falleland (c. 1128) and Falecklen (c. 1160), with the second element being Brythonic lann ("enclosure"), but the exact etymology is unclear since the first element could be falach ("hidden"), failc ("wash"), and falc ("heavy rain").[3] The later folk etymologies "falcon land" and "folkland" are not plausible.[4]

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".[5]

History

A settlement is believed to have 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.[6]

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.[6]

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. The American country and western singer Johnny Cash traced part of his family ancestry to this district of Fife.

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.

Landmarks

Gatehouse of Falkland Palace

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 the United Kingdom. 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.

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.

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.[7]

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.

Falkland's recent success in British and international horticultural competitions includes a gold medal win in the RHS Britain in Bloom large village category, receipt of Britain in Bloom's Champion of Champions award two years running (2009-2010) and success in the British village category of the European Entente Florale.

Sport

In 2018, Falkland Cricket Club progressed to the quarter-final of the National Village Cup.[8]

Notable Residents

Film

In October 2013 filming for the US science fiction series Outlander transformed the village in appearance to film scenes set in the second world war.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Mid-2008 Population Estimates – Localities in alphabetical order" (PDF). 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-16.
  2. ↑ Taylor, Iain (2011). Place-names of Scotland. Edinburgh: Birlinn Limited. p. 67.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ 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.
  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. 168.
  6. 1 2 "Falkland Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan" (PDF). Fife Council. April 2010. Retrieved 2011-02-16.
  7. ↑ Falkland Craft Symposium.
  8. ↑ Falkland Cricket Club.
  9. ↑ Outlander TV news website and pictures of village filming
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