Kirkcaldy High Street | How times have changed
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.ย. 2024
- Today, myself and Jayden took a walk from Kirkcaldy Harbour and through the High Street.
Great to see how times have changed but is it for the better?
Let us know in the comments about anything you can remember and tell us about some things maybe we've missed out.
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I completely agree with you that it's a very sad state of affairs.
Just how many empty shops there are across many large towns in Scotland and the UK.
They have ripped the soul out of our town centres.😭☹💔
Woolworths, pick n mix and records are my memories on a Saturday! very busy shop 70's and 80's. Also getting into the picture house for a pound.
Fond memories of the green cockatoo and the picture house back in the day…..!
I remember the Marks and Spencer store in Kirkcaldy it was a real good sized store.
I remember when M/S reallocated to the new retail park opened up by Sainsburys , to me that was the start of the decline . after that all the big names started to disappear one by one .
Thank you for the walk along I've not been in Kirkcaldy for at least 30 years but it is unrecognisable but it's the same every where else i hope you are both well
Evening George, we're all good thanks 👍🏻 Hope you're well 👍🏻 It's definitely changed over the years. I first started going down in the early 90s. I stayed in Glenrothes so would be down in Kirkcaldy maybe once a fortnight or so with my parents. It's a real shame High Streets everywhere are going like this but a mixture of online retailers and people using contactless payments i think are at the heart of it.
Brilliant video well done guys very interesting can’t wait for the Burntisland fair vlogs 😃
Yeah we agree, going to be good 👍🏻😃
Unfortunately Kirkcaldy High Street is usually empty most days -the John Smith retail park has killed the town centre
Opposite old burtons corner of whytes causeway was the maypole (60 years ago) a deli with marble counters loved the smell in there! Young lad you are making some really intelligent comments keep it up!
When I was a kid I use to fish where your situated at the harbour and the flour mill was called Hutchinson's the end shop with wine coloured paint was called tacklemart as your walking to begin with heading to high street
Wm. Low occupied 42 High Street ( now Blind Davie) and moved along to 251 High Street.
Does anyone remember Fernie's ? With its wonderfull ground coffee aroma and the hams hanging.
The harbour looks very different to how it did before the built the flats alongside it. I think this is because it wasn't tidal - the way in, by the end of the pier - which until the early 1980s had railway lines running almost to the seaward end of it - was the same as now, but the inner parts were constantly kept full of water, thanks to the existence of gates between the piers (are the west and middle piers even still there?). You used to be able to walk across these when they were closed, on wee fenced paths... The railway left the main line almost immediately east of the bridge over Dunniker Road and started dropping down the gradient almost immediately before curving sharply downhill. With a ruling gradient of 1 in 40, it was the steepest part of the entire British Rail network, and needed special small locomotives to cope with the gradients - latterly Class 06 shunters, of which three existed and were to be found in either the goods sidings at Kirkcaldy (now the station car park on the north side, which also had at least one signalbox), or at Markinch, as they also served the Tullis Russell mill at Achmuty, which had the further complication of extremely limited clearances through the A92 underbridge! It crossed over the foot of The Path on a girder bridge (where just pipes on a spindly metal frame were left to cross the road at roughly the same level, after the bridge was demolished in the late 1980s,) and at one time, had three or four sidings between the dock and road, along with a whole fan of sidings behind the grain mill, accessible by reversing on the pier. I do recall seeing what must have been one of the last trains crossing that bridge - in 1983, I think, as the branch was officially closed in 1984 and the rails lifted soon afterwards. I did once manage to walk down it from Dunniker Road, but even then it was extremely hazardous because lots of stuff had been dumped in the cutting...
I think I'm right in saying that the Istanbul Kebab shop (the first you see in the now somewhat truncated High Street) used to be known as the Port Brae cafe. Betty Nicol's used to be the Victoriana, which in the early 1980's was advertised as "mixed gay / straight," by some of the gay men's publications of the day. (The Penny Farthing, at the other end of the High Street, was also listed!). "The Green Cockatoo," which was a high-class restaurant above a baker's shop, was in the building opposite the old ABC cinema, just before the pavement widens and the next shops up are set back from the road a little; was invariably filled with middle-aged women, dressed in their tweedy twin-sets and pearl necklaces - from the big detached houses near Beveridge Park and such like, throughout the 1970s (all very genteel, I'd imagine). Also, all the kids of my generation and more got referred to the dentist whose entrance was in the alleyway at the side of the cinema as plooky teenagers - as ordinary dentists didn't do braces in those days. With the cinema on the right it was entered on the left and then was upstairs - probably above the High Street shops on that side of the road. The big store where the Advice Hub is now, was the Co-op. The original one got burnt down about 1974, and although they did rebuild it (partly in the most featureless concrete block imaginable, as much of the old building had to be demolished), it was never the same afterwards and it went out of business - along with countless Co-op stores elsewhere - in 1982. Nickel & Dime used to be a supermarket - I want to say Fine Fare, but I'm not certain. The Kirkcaldy Indoor Market was indeed F.W. Woolworths - closed along with most of their other main town centre stores in 1984, when it left the ownership of the Woolworth family and joined the Paternoster/Kingfisher Group, who opened a new store named Woolworths, in the then newly-opening Mercat Centre - not, incidentally, the most recent one, which was a good deal smaller...! As with BhS and one or two others on thaat side, it was possible to enter/leave the store at the back via a long straight staircase down to the Esplanade. I don't recall it ever having a Cafeteria there, which was odd, as most of their major stores did back then - and both BhS and Littlewoods did, too! If you look at the roofline, the three shops including Kokuoshi and the Post Office is relatively new: back in the early 70s this was the Odeon, and I think previously, the Gaumont and prior to that, the Rialto Cinema. It was burnt to the ground on Christmas Day, 1973. Also back in the 70s and somewhere on that side of the road before Tollbooth Street, was an Arnotts store, which I can only recall as being very narrow at the front, and very long inside, widening in places - a very odd shape! WHSmith was of course John Menzies at that time - and I can remember that store when it was new! Littlewoods had the entire block next to that - again, look at the roofline to work it out. It was only half as deep before The Postings was built, and it was extended; however it always had a Self-service Cafeteria at the back where you could buy proper cooked meals, snacks and drinks quite cheaply. Marks & Spencer's, British Home Stores and Boots were all considerably enlarged when Phase 2 of the Mercat was opened, during the 1980s. Before that, M&S and BhS had back entrances down to the Esplanade - as the entire length between the two sea walls was car parks at that time - save for the bit just left of the foot of Charlotte Steet, which was the country bus station (Only town services used a much smaller bus station where the present, combined one is)! The three or four shops looking up Whytescauseway used to be just one - and it was the Co-op grocery department, with what became a small supermarket on the ground floor, and there was a rather nice cafe upstairs that I well remember sitting in the window of with my mother once, watching the parkie issuing tickets to all the illegally parked vehicles, and arguing with all the returning drivers who'd just stopped there for five minutes... LOL! As for all the smaller shops - there were six or seven shoe shops, several tailors, ladies and mens outfitters, electrical shops, tv rental shops, Electricity and Gas showrooms (both were nationalised industries at the time, so there was only one supplier of each), fancy jewellers, quite a lot of banks and building societies, bakeries (some, but not all of which also had cafes), butchers, greengrocers, haberdashery and fancy goods, hat shops, tobacconist & confectioner shops, gift and china shops - you name it, Kirkcaldy had it - and on Saturday afternoons, "The Street" was invariably crammed with what like the whole of Fife, their mums, grannies and all: it really was as booming then as it is declining now... But then, you must remember, retail parks were unheard of - many families didn't have cars. There was no by-pass: the A92 came right down St Clair Street, past Ravenscraig Flats and the Harbour, then all the way along the 1930's built Esplanade, before turning off to follow the coast to Kinghorn, Burntisland, etc. - the main trunk road then being the now B-road via Bernard's Smithy and Dalgety Bay;and so it was very, very busy. Fife still had sixteen deep coal mines in production and emplying many thousands, Nairn's was still fully open, plus there were good quality fuirniture factories (and shops) and much else besides - and it was as difficult to imagine then how it could ever get into that state it's in now; as I'm sure it is for both of you to imagine it as I'm describing it to you!!
Hi Paul, I've just read this and it's amazing so thank you! It's great to hear so much history of the town by someone who is able to remember the last so clearly. Having only moved to Kirkcaldy in 2000 - aged 15, I am still getting to grips with the history of Kirkcaldy so to hear these great stories etc, is simply amazing. I want to say thank you for taking so much time to leave this in the comments for us to read. I've read it all out to my youngest son - Jayden and he was in disbelief about everything you've mentioned.
Again on behalf of us all, thank you so much
Where the new flats are now use to be the coop if I think 😉 m right.where you went up the escalator.big store.
That exact spot you started filming at called Deas wharf, I take the kids fishing there often. It's perfect with the 4 ft fence. Works as a rod rest and stops the bairns falling in 😂
@@steve323f brilliant 😂👌🏻
@@AWalkOnTheFifeSide I've subscribed. If I see you round kdy I'll buy the bairns a sweetie, (I have 4 sons). I've watched some of the links market ones. Me and a few mates get free ride tickets for advertising for them, so we do upside down Mondays. First we get a bit drunk then we go on all the biggest rides. It's a yearly tradition.
@@steve323f really appreciate you subscribing mate 🤝🏻 Hopefully see you around town at some point. We're hoping to upload a couple of videos by this the weekend so keep your eyes peeled 👀👌🏻2 of my lads have additional support needs so it can be quite challenging at times but it's good we've found something they enjoy doing 👍🏻
Kirkcaldy cinema had 3 screens.
In fact I can remember seeing Mission Impossible 2 there with my cousin. Which starred Glenrothes actor Dougray Scott as the villain and rogue IMF agent.
Kirkcaldy cinema was run by a few different companies such as ABC, Cannon Cinemas and MGM.
And directly across from the Cinema was Pinnacle Mountain Sports which was co-owned and run by my cousin's husband.
Unfortunately places like Tiso and Mountain Warehouse did much more business than Pinnacle could, so had to close.
You are absolutely spot-on about the former Littlewoods store.
They also had a small record section and a cafeteria.
The internet has a lot to answer for.
I think that the big store was a Co-op Furniture store.
I know for sure that the Kirkcaldy Indoor Market was a big Woolworths store for many years.
I used to really love the record department in Woolworths.
Kirkcaldy is one of the places ive not had the pleasure of visiting yet but it looks really nice looks a wee bit like Eyemouth or Berwick
@@garrycowan4394 I've lived in Kirkcaldy for 24 years and i can't honestly complain. 3 parks - Beveridge Park, Ravenscraig Park and Dunnikier Park. Also, there's about 1.5 miles of walkway along the esplanade which is great, especially in summer weather. It has everything you'd need and is ideally located about midway along the Fife Coastal Path
Great from Jimmy murkirk
The only thing that keeps Kirkcaldy on the map is the 'Links Market' which comes to town about Easter time for about a week. There is absolutely nothing else in Kirkcaldy.
Well done guys…..a few comments I’ve added….hope they help with identifying some of the buildings along the street……try the Stenlake books on old Kirkcaldy…library maybe has copies…..
Dunfermline glen and abbey guys would be good history learning lol 😊
Great shout 🙌🏻 definitely some great history there 👍🏻
Boots the chemist has lasted well ?
Mercat was the cause of the high street demise….as the high street was a linear shoping area, bus stop led people down to the mercat…under cover shopping, this stopped people heading to the east and west end….anyone remember the Arcade ( it’s now Olympia) on the west end? Franks Army store….mr Frank a former polish Paratrooper. Took part in the airborne operation Market, Jumped into Driel September 1944.
I have been to the Gurkha restaurant a couple of times in the past.
But a real family favourite is a wee bit further up the High street and that is the Amritsar Indian restaurant where we have often enjoyed very good food and customer service.
A shadow of its former self Wimpy x 2 one at the Halifax and one near opposite Old Woollies 1978 the High Street is a disgrace Fife Council has a lot to answer for
Wilkies was the old Dunns clothing store
The store that was WH Smith was also John Menzies Newagents before.
John Menzies was a very similar to WH Smith but a lot better and brighter.
It had a far greater diversity of stock than WH Smith and was also a Scottish company.
Menzies closed all their High Street stores because the son tookover the running of the business and he wanted to take Menzies in a different direction. So, he still did newspapers and magazines but just as a Wholesaler and the Menzies Group has even moved into airport services like providing the air bridges for passengers getting on and off an airliner.
Betty Nicol's has certainly been well visited by my Dad, brother as well as myself and my uncles.
Montagues was once a John Collier mens outfitters.
Think bows and bells shop you had a glimpse of was the original pet shop when I was a kid 1970’s
@@Dave-gf6ur interesting 👍🏻 I only ever remember the other pet shop in the high street that recently closed
Nice video, I saw you on Walk on the wildside live the other night. I used to help out sometimes when Ian Joy camera shop was up by McD's when staff were off
Hi David, appreciate it 👍🏻 Yeah, Stephen's brilliant on A walk on the wild side. The guy's full of great information and is always interesting to listen to and watch.
@@AWalkOnTheFifeSide I've watched Stephen for years now, great guy. I'm in Fife too, Rosyth, might bump into you sometime. Take care
Cool mate 😎 if you see us be sure, be sure to come and say hi 👍🏻
COOP Store went on fire…. April 1975….
Just passed my old flat near the former ABC cinema
@@Dave-gf6ur nice 👍🏻 Did you stay there when the cinema was still open?
@@AWalkOnTheFifeSide yes I got the flat in 1984, so the ABC very active then….
John Menzies before it was WH Smith’s
I was born in Kirkcaldy and still have at least 4 different lots of family in the town.
When I say lots, I mean that they stay in different houses in different parts of Kirkcaldy.
I also have relatives living in Inverkeithing, Methil, Glenrothes; Guardbridge and Strathkinness (approx 2-3 miles outside of St Andrews).
George hairdresser above the old Macdonalds
Ahhh the home of the pish stained vests and the aroma of old man’s toilet … luvly place 😂
@@ukmedical4206 now now, it's not all that bad 😂
Super cuts …wimpy bar…
Thank You Both for an interesting video - have you done a video on Anstruther.
@@joyceaitchison5900 you're very welcome 😊 We haven't yet done an Anstruther video as yet but we'll definitely add it to our list 👍🏻
What I enjoyed was you both made comments which I found really natural - and Jayden you have a lovely voice - polite - clear - Thank You Both for giving up your free time to make these videos for everyone.
There used to be a Chinese restaurant above what used to be Johnnys arcade many moons ago. Across the road and up a bit was Mr Bojangles clothes shop. Sad to see the place as dead as it is now. Used to be a thriving high street.
Big store was the co-op