Links to Sources for Kinghorn History

This is the main source for historical information in Scotland. The National Records of Scotland were formed by the amalgamation of the ScotlandsPeople (GROS) and The National Archives of Scotland.

The National Records of Scotland Historical Search Room is located at the east end of Princes Street in Edinburgh above the ScotlandsPeople Centre. The National Records of Scotland holds and makes available historical records created by businesses, landed estates, families, churches and other corporate bodies. Although a number of records have been digitized and are available on computer there are no records available online at present.

Useful documents available in digitized format in the Historical search room include:

• abridgments of the General Registers of Sasines 1781 – 2005
• Kirk Session minutes
• Hearth Tax, Poll Tax and Window Tax records.

The online catalogue can be searched at:  

Fife Library Service

Fife Library Service holds a large number of publications on the history of Kinghorn. A list may be obtained by searching the library catalogue at:

Many other publications may be consulted in the relevant library reading room or ordered through an inter-library loan. The following are of particular interest for general information about the history of Kinghorn:

• BALLINGALL, G. W: Historical Collections with Notes Regarding the Royal Burgh and the Parish of Kinghorn. 1905
• CAIN, A., Kinghorn Parish Church.  Allen Litho, Kirkcaldy, printers.1979.
• REID, Alan: Kinghorn: a short history and description of a notable Fifeshire town and parish. 1906.
• STEVEN, W., The Industrial Archaeology of Fife 1790-1914. Unpublished Thesis. 1975.

Fife Archive Service, Bankhead Central, Bankhead Park, Glenrothes, Fife, KY7 6GH

You can make an appointment to visit by phone: 01592 583352.

There are a number of documents relating to Kinghorn listed on the catalogue which may be accessed at:

https://www.onfife.com/libraries-archives/archives/catalogue-search/

The National Library of Scotland.  Images of maps online including maps for the whole of Scotland from 1560; maps of Fife from 1654 and maps of Kinghorn from 1832.

Available at:

A Vision of Britain. A variety of historic and statistical information about  Kinghorn taken from census surveys, gazetteers and maps. Available online at:

The Statistical Accounts of Scotland (1791-1845)  Gives background snapshots of a parish at a particular time. Available Online at:

British Listed Buildings.  Selection of listed buildings in the Kinghorn area with reasons for the listing. http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/scotland/fife/kinghorn

Scotland’s Places. This site has many photographs old and new; maps and plans and documents. even images of the Farm Horse Tax and the Clock and Watch Tax of 1797-1798. (image ref: E326/12/2/19). Well worth a visit at: http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/

Genuki Scotland

Genuki Scotland provides an excellent summary of sources of information for Fife and Kinghorn:

The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. A number of old photographs of Kinghorn, both downloadable and ones that can be ordered. Also references to plans and other documents. Available at:

Internet Archive. This site has several e-books on Fife that include information on Kinghorn, downloadable in several formats including:

• Liddall, W.J.N. Place Names of Fife and Kinross. William Green & Sons, Edinburgh. 1896.

• Mackay, J.G. The County Histories of Scotland:  Fife and Kinross. William Blackwell & Sons, Edinburgh. 1896.

• Ogilvie, D.D. The Fife and Forfar Yeomanry 14th Battalion. 1914 – 1919. John Murray, London. 1921.

• Worrall’s Directory of the North-Eastern Counties of Scotland Comprising Forfar, Fife, Kinross, Aberdeen, Banff and Kincardine 1877.  

Well worth a visit at: http://www.archive.org/