Cupar
| |
|---|---|
 Cupar seen from the summit of nearbyTarvit Hill | |
  Cupar Location withinFife | |
| Population | 8,960 (2020)[1] |
| OS grid reference | NO374146 |
| • Edinburgh | 26 miles (42 km)SSW |
| • London | 352 miles (566 km)SSE |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CUPAR |
| Postcode district | KY15 |
| Dialling code | 01334 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
| 56°19′N3°01′W / 56.32°N 3.01°W /56.32; -3.01 | |
Cupar (/ˈkuːpər/listenⓘ;Scottish Gaelic:Cùbar) is a town, formerroyal burgh and parish inFife, Scotland. It lies betweenDundee andGlenrothes. According to a 2011 population estimate, Cupar had a population around 9,000, making it the ninth-largest settlement in Fife, and the civil parish a population of 11,183 (in 2011).[2] It is the historiccounty town of Fife, although the council now sits atGlenrothes.[3]
The town is believed to have grown around the site of Cupar Castle, which was the seat of the sheriff and was owned by the earls of Fife.[4] The area became a centre for judiciary as the county of Fife and as a market town catering for both cattle and sheep.[5]
Towards the latter stages of the 13th century, the burgh became the site of an assembly of the three estates – clergy, nobility and burgesses – organised byAlexander III in 1276 as a predecessor of theParliament of Scotland.[5]
Although written information of a charter for the modern town was lost, evidence suggested that this existed as one of the many properties owned by the Earls of Fife by 1294.[6]
During the middle of the 14th century, the burgh started to pay customs on taxable incomes, which probably meant that royal burgh status was granted sometime between 1294 and 1328.[6] The oldest document, referring to the royal burgh, was a grant byRobert II in 1381 to give a port atGuardbridge on theRiver Eden to help boost trade withFlanders. This grant was officially recognised byJames II in 1428.[7]
Cupar is represented by several tiers of elected government. Cupar Community Council is the lowest. Its statutory role is to communicate local opinion to local and central government. Fife Council, the unitarylocal authority for Cupar based inGlenrothes, is theexecutive,deliberative andlegislative body responsible forlocal governance. TheScottish Parliament is responsible fordevolved matters such aseducation,health andjustice whilereserved matters are dealt with by theParliament of the United Kingdom.[8] The Cupar area supports three multi-member wards with eleven councillors sitting on the committee of Fife Council.[9]County Buildings on Catherine Street are the main headquarters for the east region of Fife Council, which deals with administrative, planning and agricultural issues.[10]
Cupar is in the UK Parliamentary constituency ofNorth East Fife, electing oneMember of Parliament (MP) to theHouse of Commons by thefirst past the post system.Wendy Chamberlain of theLiberal Democrats is the MP. Cupar is in the (smaller)North East Fife constituency of theScottish Parliament, created in 1999 as one of nine within theMid Scotland and Fife electoral region.[11] Each constituency elects oneMember of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) and the region elects seven additional members to produce a form of proportional representation. The constituency MSP isWillie Rennie of theScottish Liberal Democrats.[12]
Prior toBrexit in 2020 it was part of the pan-ScotlandEuropean Parliament constituency which elected sevenMembers of the European Parliament (MEP)s using thed'Hondt method ofparty-list proportional representation.
| Cupar | Fife | Scotland | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 8,506 | 349,429 | 5,062,011 |
| Foreign born | 1.60% | 1.18% | 1.10% |
| Over 75 years old | 10.29% | 7.46% | 7.09% |
| Unemployed | 3.10% | 3.97% | 4.0% |
The 2001 census reported a population of 8,506, which increased slightly to around 8,980 in 2008.[17] The demographic make-up resembles the rest of Scotland. The 30–44 age group formed the largest portion of the population (22%). The median age of males and females was 39 and 43 years respectively, compared to 37 and 39 years for the whole of Scotland.[18]
Reported places of birth were:[13]
The economic activity of residents aged 16–74 was 42.20% in full-time employment, 12.32% in part-time employment, 5.89% self-employed, 3.10% unemployed, 2.96% students with jobs, 3.94% students without jobs, 17.68% retired, 4.83% looking after home or family, 4.35% permanently sick or disabled, and 2.72% economically inactive for other reasons. Compared with Scotland's average demography, Cupar has a lower proportion of immigrants, but a higher proportion of over-75s.[15]
The Old Gaol was designed byJames Gillespie Graham and built 1813–14. After closing as a prison in 1844, it was used by theFifeshire Militia, later theFifeshire Artillery Militia. It was purchased by William Watt (seedsman) in 1895 and occupied by that firm until 1988. It operated as Watts of Cupar, a bar and restaurant,[19] until it closed and was sold to developers at the end of 2019.[20]
The historic town centre is the junction of Bonnygate and the Crossgate. This is where the town'smercat cross, is located with the original shaft being supported by a unicorn. It dates from 1683. To the east is St Catherine Street, home to the burgh chambers and county buildings, both designed by Robert Hutchison.[7] The Category B listed[21]Cupar Burgh Chambers, built between 1815 and 1817, contains a three-story bow street corner and a doric entrance.[7] The adjacent county buildings built between 1812 and 1817 are unique inFife as the only example replicating the style of buildings in theNew Town of Edinburgh.[7][22] The Category B-listed[23]Corn Exchange tower can be seen across the town skyline.[7]
At the east end of St Catherine Street is the Category B-listed[24] Cupar War Memorial in aclassical Greek style overlooking the Cart Haugh, one of several designed byJohn Kinross with assistance from leading contemporary sculptors, for the exception of the Victory statue which was done byHenry Snell Gamley.[7] The memorial was first unveiled by Field MarshalEarl Haig in 1922 and then again for the addition of theWorld War II memorial in 1950 by theEarl of Elgin.[24] Nearby on Coal Road is a Category B-listed[25] classical style former prison building built between 1813 and 1814.[7]
On the Bonnygate, the Category A-listed[26] Preston Lodge built by the Laird of Airdrie is the town's second oldest building.[7][27] The house was built in 1623 and is inscribed on a stone on the west wall. The house was extended in 1702 by James Preston and was remodeled by Londongoldsmith William Preston, in 1765. Later, the Reverend Sir James Preston occupied the house between 1775 and 1791, when he was the minister of the Cupar Old Parish Church.[27] The original design of the building is believed to have been inspired byCulross Palace inCulross.[7] Situated at the corner of the Crossgate, the Category C[28] listed Duncan's Institute byJohn Milne, which was built 1870–71[29] as a mechanics' institute for the "working classes of Cupar" by Mrs Duncan. The building, a mixture of Gothic, Scottish and Flemish styles is recognised in the town for its twisted spire. On the Kirkgate is the Parish Church of Cupar Old and St Michael of Tarvit, designed by the architectHay Bell.[7] This consists of the Category A-listed[30] parish church tower dating from 1415 and the Category B-listed main church building from 1745.[7] The tower is the only surviving piece of the old Cupar parish church, founded by thepriory of St Andrews.[7][31]
To the south of the town on the A914 and A916 is the Category A-listed[32]Hill of Tarvit mansion house and nearby scheduled monument[33]Scotstarvit Tower.[34] TheHill of Tarvit was formerly known as Wemyss Hall, designed by Sir Walter Bruce around 1692. When the house was sold in 1904,Robert Lorimer was commissioned to design a bigger house compared to the existing Wemyss Hall to be able to hold the owner's French architecture.[35] This was completed around 1907 and 1908, granting the present nameHill of Tarvit.[35][36] The house's interior showcased the owner's love of antique furniture ranging fromFlemish tapestries;Louis V;Louis XI;English andScottish have been considered to be Lormier's best work. The service accommodation showcases the range of rooms and equipment used by a family, prior to theFirst World War.[35] Situated between the Tarvit and Walton Hills, isScotstarvit Tower, a well-preserved simple L-plan early 17th-century tower house of five stories and an attic.[34] To the north of the town isHawklaw, which operated as a government radio receiving station between 1942 and 1988.[37]
Fife Council is the largest employer in the area. Many people are employed in food and drink.
Other large employers are Kettle Produce (fruit and vegetable producer) and Fishers Services Ltd. Other employers include the SRUC Campus at Elmwood College[38] (Fife education); Quaker Oats Ltd (food and drink) and Fisher & Donaldson (food and drink).
The main shopping facilities are located between the Bonnygate and Crossgate, including family-owned businesses and some smaller chain stores. The town also has a business park, trading estate and industrial estate.
In November 2021, the South Road retail park was completed. Shops include Burger King, Costa Coffee, B&M, Card Factory, Indigo Sun, Baynes the Baker and Nimbus Beds.[39][40]
Cupar has an unusualgolf course on the side of a hill to the south of town at Hill of Tarvit. The club was founded on 7 November 1855. Cupar Golf Club is rich with history and is probably the oldest nine-hole club in the world.[41]
The Kingarrock course at Hill Tarvit Mansion house uses hickory shafted clubs, in the original style.
Cupar Sports Centre has a 25-metre swimming pool, badminton courts, squash courts and a fitness suite.[42] The pool is the base for Cupar and District Swimming Club.
Cupar is home to Cupar Cricket Club, founded in 1884. It celebrated its 125th anniversary in the 2009 season.
The Castlehill Community Association is home to local groups including Cupar Camera Club, Cupar Art Club, Cupar & District Model Railway Club. They operate from the Old Castlehill Primary School and from 11 St Catherine Street.
Cupar also hosts the biennialCupar Arts Festival.
Cupar is home to one additional needs school, one secondary school, two primary schools, a nursery school and a playgroup.[43][44]
Cupar Pre-school Playgroup was opened around 1985. As of March 2022, their website shows that they have closed.[45][46]
Ferryfield Playgroup was opened in 1967 by Isobel Blair in her home at Ferryfield. In 1976, it was moved to building at Castlehill (not to be confused by Castlehill Primary School).[47]
Westfield Family Nurture Centre was opened in 1981 as part of Castlehill Primary School, but was made independent at some point. It is Cupar's only nursery.[48]
Castlehill Primary School opened to pupils on the present site in 1975 and is located on the town's outskirts. It has an enrollment of 420.[49]
St Columbas R C Primary School was opened in 1965 in millgate.in 2006 they moved to north union street It serves the Catholic community of Cupar and the surrounding area. It also enrols non-Catholic pupils.[50]
Kilmaron School caters for pupils that have complex additional support needs. It was built in 1964, and takes in pupils from the ages of 3–18 years.[51]
Bell Baxter High School located on Carslogie Road, serves both the town and surrounding villages. Bell Baxter was originally situated at Westport between 1890 and 2010. In 1962, Bell Baxter started to move to Carslogie Road, with just the senior pupils going at first. In 2010, the Westport site was completely closed.[52] The school roll was recorded in February 2009 and was estimated at 1620 pupils.[53]
SRUC Elmwood (formerlyElmwood College) has three main campuses situated in the town and surrounding area. The college has been praised as a centre for excellence in golf-related studies and specialising in land-based education. Local businesses benefit from the work of the SRUC Rural Business Centre.[54]
An express bus service connects the town every hour betweenEdinburgh andSt Andrews and also betweenGlasgow andSt Andrews. Other services run less frequently from Stirling and various local villages through Cupar toSt Andrews. An express service also runs via the town fromKirkcaldy toDundee.
Arailway station can be found to the south-east of the town centre. The station is situated on the East Coast Main Line, served byScotRail andCrossCountry with regular services running betweenEdinburgh Waverley andAberdeen. Nearby stations are located to the north-east of the town atLeuchars and to the south of the town in neighbouringSpringfield (limited service) andLadybank.
The nearest major international airport isEdinburgh airport with the nearest ferry sea port atRosyth being 42 and 35 miles (68 and 56 kilometres), respectively.[54]
Yeomanry House, a drill hall completed in 1890,[55] is home to 'C Squadron' of theScottish and North Irish Yeomanry. The SNIY provides a Light Cavalry capability and have travelled to Germany and the United States on training and on operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Cyprus. They previously operated theFV107 Scimitar,FV105 Sultan andFV103 Spartan light armoured vehicles in the a reconnaissance role. They are paired with theRoyal Scots Dragoon Guards based atLeuchars Station (formerly RAF Leuchars).
TheArmy Cadet Force andAir Training Corps 571 (Cupar) Squadron are also active in the town.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
