Fife
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223906656
2008-07-06T13:09:13Z
Keith D
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[[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 223861484 by [[Special:Contributions/76.70.112.201|76.70.112.201]] ([[User talk:76.70.112.201|talk]])
{{about|the area in Scotland}}
{{redirect|Fifeshire|the radio station in New Zealand|Fifeshire FM}}
{{infobox Scotland council area|
|Council= Fife Council<br />Fìobh
|Image= [[Image:Fife council.PNG|250px]]
|SizeRank= 13th
|Size= [[1 E9 m²|1,325]] [[square kilometre|km²]]
|Water= 1%
|AdminHQ= [[Glenrothes]]
|ISO= GB-FIF
|ONS= 00QR
|PopulationRank= 3rd
|PopulationDate= [[2004]]
|Population= 354,600
|PopulationDensity=268 / km²
|CouncilDetails= Fife Council<br />[[Image:Fife Council Crest.jpg|150px]]<br />http://www.fife.gov.uk/
|Scottish council Gaelic Speakers = N/A
|Control= <!-- Edit (with refs per WP:VERIFY) at [[Template:Scottish council control]] -->
|MPs= [[Gordon Brown]]<br/> [[Menzies Campbell|Sir Menzies Campbell QC]]<br/> [[John William MacDougall]]<br/> [[Willie Rennie]]
|MSPs= [[Scott Barrie]]<br/> [[Helen Eadie]]<br/> [[Marilyn Livingstone]]<br/> [[Tricia Marwick]]<br/> [[Iain Smith (Scottish politician)|Iain Smith]]<br/> [[Jim Tolson]]<br/>
}}
'''Fife''' ([[Scottish Gaelic language|Gaelic]]: ''Fìobha'') is a [[council area]] of [[Scotland]], situated between the [[Firth of Tay]] and the [[Firth of Forth]], with inland boundaries to [[Perth and Kinross]] and [[Clackmannanshire]]. It was originally one of the [[Picts|Pictish]] [[monarchy|kingdoms]], known as ''Fib'', and is still commonly known as the '''Kingdom of Fife''' within Scotland.
It is a [[Lieutenancy areas of Scotland|lieutenancy area]], and was a [[county of Scotland]] until 1975. It was very occasionally known by the [[anglification]] ''Fifeshire'' in old documents and maps compiled by [[England|English]] cartographers and authors. A person from Fife is known as a ''Fifer''.
From 1975 to 1996 Fife was a [[local government (Scotland)|local government]] [[region (Scotland)|region]] divided into three [[district (Scotland)|district]]s — [[Dunfermline]], [[Kirkcaldy]] and [[North-East Fife]]. Since 1996 the functions of the district councils have been exercised by the [[unitary authority|unitary]] Fife Council.
Fife is Scotland's third largest local authority area [[Demographics of Scotland|by population]]. It has a resident population of just under 360,000, almost a third of whom live in the three principal towns of [[Dunfermline]], [[Kirkcaldy]] and [[Glenrothes]].
The historical town of [[St Andrews]] is located on the east coast of Fife. It is well known for one of the most [[Medieval university|ancient universities in Europe]], and as the home of [[golf]].
==History==
Popularly known as 'The Kingdom of Fife', legend has it that upon the death of Cruithne, the [[Picts|Pictish]] realm - known collectively as '[[Pictavia]]' - was divided into seven sub-kingdoms or provinces, one of which became Fife. The name is recorded as '''Fib''' in 1150 and '''Fif''' in 1165. It was often associated with [[Fothriff]].
Fife, bounded to the north by the [[Firth of Tay]] and to the south by the [[Firth of Forth]], is a natural peninsula whose political boundaries have changed little over the ages.
King [[James VI of Scotland]] described Fife as a 'beggar's mantle fringed with gold' - the golden fringe being the coast and its chain of little ports with their thriving fishing fleets and rich trading links with the [[Low Countries]], ironic given the much later development of farming on some of Scotland's richest soil and the minerals, notably coal, underneath. Wool,linen, coal and salt were all traded. Salt pans heated by local coal were a feature of the Fife coast in the past.The distinctive red clay "pan tiles" seen on many old buildings in Fife arrived as ballast on trading boats and replaced the previously thatched roofs. In [[1598]] King James VI employed a group of 12 men from fife, who became known as the [[Fife adventurers]] to colonise the [[Isle of Lewis]] in an attempt to begin the "civilisation" and [[anglicisation]] of the region. This endeavour lasted until [[1609]] when the colonists, having been opposed by the native population, were bought out by Coinneach, the clan chief of the [[Clan MacKenzie|MacKenzies]].
Historically, there was much heavy industry in the century or so following the Victorian engineering triumphs of the Forth and Tay rail bridges, The Fife coalfields were developed around [[Kirkcaldy]] and the west of Fife reaching far out under the Firth of Forth. Shipbuilding was famous at [[Methil]] and [[Rosyth]]. The world centre for linoleum production was in Kirkcaldy (where it is still produced), and flax grown in Fife was transformed into linen locally too. [[Post-war]] Fife saw the development of Scotland's second [[New town#United Kingdom|new town]], [[Glenrothes]]. Originally to be based around a coal mine the town eventually attracted a high number of modern [[Silicon Glen]] companies to the region. Fife Council also centered their operations in Glenrothes.
There are many notable historical buildings to be seen in Fife, some of which are managed by the National Trust for Scotland or Heritage Scotland. They include Dunfermline abbey (last resting place of Scottish Royalty), the Palace in Culross, Ravenscraig Castle in Kirkcaldy, Dysart Harbour area, Balgonie Castle near Coaltown of Balgonie, Falkland Palace (hunting palace of the Scottish Kings), Kellie Castle near Pittenweem, Hill of Tarvit (a historical house), St Andrews Castle (with a gruesome bottle dungeon), St Andrews Cathedral and St Rules' Tower.
==Geography==
{{Expand-section|date=June 2008}}
Fife is a [[peninsula]] in eastern Scotland bordered on the north by the [[Firth of Tay]], on the east by the [[North Sea]] and the [[Firth of Forth]] to the south. The route to the west is partially blocked by the mass of the [[Ochil Hills]]. Almost all traffic into and out of Fife has to pass over one of three bridges, south on The [[Forth Road Bridge]], west on the [[Kincardine Bridge]] or north east via The [[Tay Road Bridge]], the exception being traffic headed north on the [[M90 motorway|M90]]. Tolls were abolished on the Tay Road Bridge and Forth Road Bridge on [[11 February]] [[2008]]
There are a number of extinct [[volcanic]] features, such as the [[Lomond Hills]] which rise above rolling farmland, and [[Largo Law]], a [[volcanic plug]] in the east. At 522 m (or 1713 feet), the [[West Lomond]] is the highest point in Fife. The coast has many fine but small harbours, from the industrial docks in [[Burntisland]] and [[Rosyth]] to the fishing villages of the [[East Neuk]] such as [[Anstruther]] and [[Pittenweem]]. The large area of flat land to the north of the Lomond Hills, through which the [[River Eden, Fife|River Eden]] flows, is known as the [[Howe of Fife]].
[[Image:Northeast Fife.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Looking across the farmland of North East Fife to the distant [[Lomond Hills]]]]
North of the Lomond Hills can be found many villages and small towns in a primarily agricultural landscape. The areas in the south and west of Fife, including the towns of [[Dunfermline]], [[Glenrothes]], [[Kirkcaldy]] and the [[Levenmouth]] region are much more lightly industrial and densely populated. The only area which could claim to be heavy industry is that of [[Rosyth]], around the naval dockyard.
The east corner of Fife, generally that east of a line between [[Leven, Fife|Leven]] and [[St Andrews]] is recognised throughout Scotland as the "East Neuk" (or corner) of Fife, small settlements around sheltered harbours, with distinctive vernacular "Dutch" or craw(crow)stepped gabled and stone-built architecture - an area much sought after as second homes of the [[Edinburgh]] professional classes in the 30 years since the Forth Road Bridge was built. The [[Fishing industry in Scotland|fishing industry]] on which the East Neuk settlements were built has declined in recent years with the main fishing fleet now operating from Pittenweem and the harbour in Anstruther being used as a marina for pleasure craft.
==Towns and villages==
* [[Abercrombie, Fife|Abercrombie]], [[Aberdour]], [[Anstruther]], [[Arncroach]], [[Auchterderran]], [[Auchtermuchty]], [[Auchtertool]]
* [[Balfarg]], [[Ballingry]], [[Balmalcolm]], [[Balmerino]], [[Balmullo]], [[Benarty]], [[Blairhall]], [[Blebo Craigs]], [[Buckhaven]], [[Burntisland]]
* [[Cairneyhill]], [[Cardenden]], [[Carnbee Parish, Scotland|Carnbee]], [[Carnock]], [[Cellardyke]], [[Ceres, Scotland|Ceres]], [[Chance Inn]], [[Charlestown, Fife|Charlestown]], [[Cluny, Fife|Cluny]],[[Coaltown of Balgonie]], [[Collessie]], [[Comrie]], [[Cowdenbeath]], [[Craigrothie]], [[Crail]], [[Crombie]], [[Crossford]],[[Crossgates]], [[Crosshill, Fife|Crosshill]], [[Culross]], [[Cupar]], [[Cupar Muir]]
* [[Dairsie]], [[Dalgety Bay]], [[Donibristle]], [[Dunfermline]], [[Dysart, Scotland|Dysart]]
* [[Earlsferry]], [[East Wemyss]], [[Elie]]
* [[Falkland (Scotland)|Falkland]], [[Freuchie]], [[Forgan (Fife)|Forgan]]
* [[Gateside]], [[Glenrothes]], [[Grange of Lindores]], [[Guardbridge]]
* [[Hillend, Fife|Hillend]]
* [[Inverkeithing]]
* [[Jamestown]]
* [[Kelty]], [[Kemback]], [[Kennoway]], [[Kettlebridge]], [[Kilconquhar]], [[Kilmany]], [[Kilrenny]], [[Kincardine, Scotland|Kincardine]], [[Kinghorn]], [[Kinglassie]], [[Kingsbarns]], [[Kingseat]], [[Kingskettle]], [[Kirkcaldy]]
* [[Ladybank]], [[Largoward]], [[Leslie, Fife|Leslie]], [[Leuchars]], [[Leven, Scotland|Leven]], [[Letham]], [[Limekilns]], [[Lindores]], [[Lochgelly]], [[Lower Largo]], [[Lumphinnans]], [[Lundin Links]], [[Luthrie]]
* [[Markinch]], [[Methil]], [[Methilhill]], [[Mountfleurie]]
* [[Newburgh, Fife|Newburgh]], [[Newton of Falkland]], [[Newport-on-Tay]], [[North Queensferry]], [[Newburn Parish, Fife|Newburn]]
* [[Oakley, Fife|Oakley]]
* [[Peat Inn]], [[Philadelphia]] [[Pickletillum]], [[Pitlessie]], [[Pitscottie]], [[Pittencrief]], [[Pittenweem]],
* [[Rosyth]], [[Rockwood]]
* [[Saline, Fife|Saline]], [[Springfield, Fife|Springfield]], [[St Andrews]], [[St Monans]], [[Stratheden]], [[Strathkinness]], [[Strathmiglo]], [[Star]]
* [[Tayport]], [[Thornton, Fife|Thornton]], [[Torryburn]], [[Teasses]]
* [[Upper Largo]]
* [[Wellwood]], [[West Wemyss]], [[Windygates]], [[Woodhaven, Fife|Woodhaven]], [[Wormit]]
* High and Low [[Valleyfield, Fife|Valleyfield]]
==Places of interest==
* [[Balmerino Abbey]]
*[http://www.cupargardencentre.co.uk Cupar Garden Centre]
* [[Dogton Stone]]
* [[Dunfermline Abbey]]
* [[Falkland Palace]]
* [[Fife Coastal Path]]
* [[Fife Folk Museum]]
* [[Forth Bridge (railway)|Forth Bridge]]
* [[Kellie Castle]]
* [[Kirkcaldy Museum and Art Gallery]]
* [[Lomond Hills]]
* [[RAF Leuchars]]
* [[Scotstarvit Tower]]
* [[Scottish Fisheries Museum]]
* [[St. Andrews Botanic Gardens]]
* [[Tay Rail Bridge]]
* [[Tay Road Bridge]]
* [[Tentsmuir Forest]]
==Notable Fifers==
* [[Robert Adam]], architect
* [[Stuart Adamson]], Musician ([[Big Country]])
* [[Ian Anderson (musician)|Ian Anderson]], musician, frontman of [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]]
* [[Iain Banks]], writer
* [[Jim Baxter]], footballer
* [[Edith Bowman]], Radio 1 DJ
* [[Andrew Carnegie]], industrialist and [[philanthropist]]
* [[Kenneth Cranham]], actor
* [[Jim Clark]], driver
* [[Barbara Dickson]], singer and actress
* [[Philip Charles Durham]], sailor and captain of [[Her Majesty's Ship|HMS]] ''[[HMS Defiance (1783)|Defiance]]'' at [[Battle of Trafalgar|Trafalgar]]
* [[John Forbes (general)|John Forbes]], general
* [[Shirley Henderson]], actress
* [[Deborah Knox]], Olympic Gold medallist
* [[Ian Rankin]], writer
* Craig and Charlie Reid, better known as [[The Proclaimers]]
* [[Craig Russell (British author)]], writer
* [[Dougray Scott]], actor
* [[Alexander Selkirk]], seafarer and inspiration for [[Robinson Crusoe]]
* Sir [[Jimmy Shand]], accordion player
* [[Adam Smith]], economist
* [[Michaela Tabb]], first female snooker referee to appear on the Crucible
* [[KT Tunstall]], musician
* [[Jack Vettriano]], artist
* Graeme 'Sher' Watson and David Webster, cult jazz rock musicians and founder members of [[Das Contras]]
* [[James Wilson]], Signer of U.S. Declaration of Independence, appointed by Geo. Washington to first Supreme Court
==Sports==
* [[Cowdenbeath F.C.]], Senior football club based in Cowdenbeath
* [[Dunfermline Athletic F.C.]], Senior football club based in Dunfermline
* [[East Fife F.C.]], Senior football club based in Methil
* [[Raith Rovers F.C.]], Senior football club based in Kirkcaldy
* [[Fife Flyers]], the UK's oldest [[ice hockey]] club
* [[Dunfermline RFC]], Rugby Union club
* Fife Southern RFC, Rugby Union club based in Rosyth
* [[Glenrothes RFC]], Rugby Union club
* [[Howe of Fife RFC]], Rugby Union club based in Cupar
* [[Kirkcaldy RFC]], Rugby Union club
* [[Fife Lions]], Rugby League club
* [[Aberdour Shinty Club]], the only senior [[shinty]] club in Fife.
==Council political composition==
Fife Council has a joint SNP/Liberal Democrat local government administration following the recent elections. Labour and the other parties form the opposition. [http://www.fifeonline.co.uk/news?articleid=2884083]
* [[Scottish Labour Party|Labour]] - 24
* [[Scottish National Party]] - 23
* [[Scottish Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrat]] - 21
* [[Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party|Conservative]] - 5
* [[Independent (politician)|Independent]] - 3
* [[Left Alliance (Scotland)|Left Alliance]] - 2
==Media==
A number of local papers are published for the Fife Audience <ref>[http://www.wrx.zen.co.uk/scotland.htm]</ref>
D.C. Thompsons publish North East Fife and Fife Editions of the [Dundee Courier], and the Counties Edition of the [Evening Telegraph] is sold in Fife.
Locall published newspapers include
* [[East Fife Mail]]
* [[Fife Herald]] (Cupar)
* [[Fife Herald and Post]] (Dunfermline)
* [[Glenrothes Gazette]]
* [[St Andrews Citizen]]
* [[Fife Leader]]
* [[Fife Free Press]]
* [[Dunfermline Press]]
There is also a local radio station Kingdom FM, which competes with Dundee's [Radio Tay] and Edinburgh's [Forth FM].
==Trivia==
{{Trivia|date=March 2008}}
In [[William Shakespeare]]'s play ''[[Macbeth]]'', the [[Thegn|Thane]] of Fife is [[Macduff (thane)|Macduff]].
==External links==
* [http://www.visitdunfermlineandrosyth.com/ Fife's Heartland]
* [http://www.fifedirect.org.uk Fife Direct]
* [http://www.fifenow.co.uk/ Fife Today]
* [http://www.standrews.co.uk/ Kingdom of Fife Tourist Board]
* [http://www.thefifepost.com/ The Fife Post]
* [http://www.fifecoastalpath.co.uk/ Fife Coastal Path]
* [http://www.radiowaves.co.uk/network.aspx?lngNetworkID=1136 Pupils in Fife report on issues that are important to them for Radiowaves]
==See also==
* [[Historic houses in Scotland]]
* [[Museums in Scotland]]
* [[Abbeys and priories in Scotland]]
* [[Castles in Scotland]]
* [[List of places in Fife]]
{{Scotland subdivisions}}
{{Former local government regions of Scotland}}
{{Scotland counties}}
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[[Category:Fife| ]]
[[Category:Peninsulas of Scotland]]
[[Category:Lieutenancy areas of Scotland]]
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