Broken Gravestones, unbroken esteem - Dysart - 8th December 2019

Today's walk would be a short one to gain some local squares round Dysart. I drove through it all the time on my way to walk and had been to the excellent Harbour Master's cafe there, but had not really explored the area.

I parked at the car park by the cafe and immediately photographed the tower there. This is the remains of St Serf''s Church, which is 16th century in origin.

Remains of St Serf's Church, Dysart. NT3092

I walked up the delightfully named Hot Pot Wynd. Apparently the name originates from the fact the underground coal fires sometimes burned there, whose flames were visible at night when coming from the pit mouths.

I took a footpath left into Ravenscraig Park, my first visit there and obtained a good view of the harbour.

Dysart Harbour. NT3092

I joined a host of Sunday afternoon walkers out for a stroll in the park, but at least the football pitch was clear, allowing me to photograph it for the next square.

Football pitch in Ravenscraig Park. NT2992

I arrived at Ravenscraig Castle just before the rain started. The Castle was founded in 1460 by James II. It is thought to be the first British castle to be systematically designed for defence by firearms and against cannon fire. Work continued on the castle's construction after the death of the king that year, with the intention that the castle should be completed as a dower house for his widow, Mary of Gueldres.

Not only did Kirkcaldy benefit from a measure of protection and coastal defence afforded by the nearby castle, but as late medieval castles also served administrative and political purposes, Kirkcaldy was drawn into national events merely by being in the castle's locality. Ravenscraig Castle was the home of Mary of Gueldres until her death in 1463, and although it passed out of royal hands to the Sinclairs in 14 70, several royal visitors passed through Kirkcaldy.James V, for example, sailed from Kirkcaldy in 1536 to bring his French wife back to Scotland; a royal charter was issued from Ravenscraig in April 1540; andjames VI lodged at the castle in 1598. In due course the castle was deserted, but why or when is not clear. The last chapter in its history was an ignominious one; it probably functioned as quarters for troops during the Cromwellian occupation of Fife in 1651.

Information from Canmore.

Ravenscraig Castle. NT2992

I found my way onto the A955 and chose Church Street to wander up to get to Loughborough Road.

It was quite wet by now, but I was determined to continue with my project and whipped my camera out quickly to get a shot of an old building in the next gridsquare. I shall have to return (if I must) to find out what this building is.

Old building. NT2993

I continued along Loughborough Road to the mini roundabout with which I am very familiar from my daily commutes, but I had never seen the graveyard there before, or even realised the building  which is now a block of flats used to be a church, Barony Church in fact. By now the rain had stopped and the sun was out once more. Yippee!

Barony Church, Dysart. NT3093

I entered the graveyard cautiously, lest it was a private garden. Here I found a graveyard in a parlous state with stones collapsed and broken all over the place. Particularly poignant was the once beautiful tombstone of one Euphemia Penman, whose inscription I shall type out here lest it be else forever lost as have so many inscription:

SACRED 
TO THE MEMORY OF 
EUPHEMIA PENMAN
DAUGHTER OF
MR DAVID PENMAN
OF DYSART, FIFESHIRE,
WHO DIED AT MARGATE
9TH JULY 1899
AGED 47 YEARS
________________
MAY SHE REST IN PEACE
_______________
THIS MEMORIAL WAS ERECTED
BY THE VOLUNTARY SUBSCRIPTIONS
OF THE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
OF THE LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL
TRAMWAYS DEPARTMENT IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THE DIRECTORS
OF THE LATE LONDON TRAMWAYS
COMPANY AND A FEW FRIENDS
IN TOKEN OF RESPECT TO THE
MEMORY OF MISS PENMAN
WHO FOR MANY YEARS
OCCUPIED THE UNIQUE POSITION OF
LADY SUPERINTENDENT
OF THE TRAMWAY INSPECTORS
CONDUCTORS AND FEMALE CLERKS
OF THE UNDERTAKING OF THE LONDON
COUNTY COUNCIL TRAMWAYS FORMERLY
OWNED BY THE LONDON TRAMWAYS COMPANY
___________________
MISS PENMAN HAD ENTIRE CONTROL OF
UPWARDS OF 700 EMPLOYEES AND BY HER
GREAT BUSINESS CAPACITY HER LOVE OF JUSTICE
AND THE CONSCIENTIOUS DISCHARGE OF HER
ARDUOUS DUTIES SHE WON THE RESPECT AND
ESTEEM OF ALL THOSE WITH WHOM SHE WAS
BROUGHT INTO CONTACT.

Euphemia Penman's grave, Barony Churchyard, Dysart. NT3093

Barony Churchyard, Dysart. NT3093

Thinking about Miss Penman and her broken memorial but the unbroken respect and esteem she had earned from her colleagues and employees, I wandered back down Hot Pot Wynd to my car.

Number of new gridsquares: 4
Number of miles walked: did not measure - about 2
Walk worth repeating: not really, although the highlights are worth returning to
Highlights: Ravenscraig Castle, Barony Churchyard