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Cupar

Coordinates: 56°19′N 3°01′W / 56.32°N 3.01°W / 56.32; -3.01
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For the Canadian town, see Cupar, Saskatchewan. For the rural municipality that surrounds it, see Rural Municipality of Cupar No. 218. For other uses, see Cupar (disambiguation).

Cupar
Cupar seen from the summit of nearby Tarvit Hill
Cupar is located in Fife
Cupar
Cupar
Location within Fife
Population8,960 (2022)[1]
OS grid referenceNO374146
• Edinburgh26 miles (42 km) SSW
• London352 miles (566 km) SSE
Council area
Lieutenancy area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townCUPAR
Postcode districtKY15
Dialling code01334
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament
List of places
UK
Scotland
56°19′N 3°01′W / 56.32°N 3.01°W / 56.32; -3.01

Cupar (/ˈkuːpər/ listenⓘ; Template:Lang-gd) is a town, former royal burgh and parish in Fife, Scotland. It lies between Dundee and Glenrothes. 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 historic county town of Fife, although the council now sits at Glenrothes.[3]

History

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 by Alexander III in 1276 as a predecessor of the Parliament 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 by Robert II in 1381 to give a port at Guardbridge on the River Eden to help boost trade with Flanders. This grant was officially recognised by James II in 1428.[7]

Governance

The imposing Old Church, Cupar, Fife
County Buildings, Cupar

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 unitary local authority for Cupar based in Glenrothes, is the executive, deliberative and legislative body responsible for local governance. The Scottish Parliament is responsible for devolved matters such as education, health and justice while reserved matters are dealt with by the Parliament 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 forms part of the North East Fife, electing one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom by the first past the post system. The constituency is represented by Wendy Chamberlain MP of the Liberal Democrats. For the purposes of the Scottish Parliament, Cupar forms part of the North East Fife constituency. The North East Fife Scottish Parliament (or Holyrood) constituency created in 1999 is one of nine within the Mid Scotland and Fife electoral region.[11] Each constituency elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) and the region elects seven additional members to produce a form of proportional representation. The constituency is represented by Willie Rennie for the Scottish Liberal Democrats.[12]

Prior to Brexit in 2020 it was part of the pan-Scotland European Parliament constituency which elected seven Members of the European Parliament (MEP)s using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.

Demography

Cupar compared according to UK Census 2001[13][14][15][16]
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]

  • 95.81% in the United Kingdom (including 81.64% from Scotland)
  • 0.51% in Ireland
  • 1.60% in other European Union countries
  • 2.09% in the rest of the world

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]

Landmarks

United Parish Church, Cupar
The tower of the Duncan Institute, Cupar
Cupar War Memorial by Henry Snell Gamley
Typical 19th century houses in Cupar

The Old Gaol was designed by James Gillespie Graham and built 1813–14. After closing as a prison in 1844, it was used by the Fifeshire Militia, later the Fifeshire 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's mercat 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 in Fife as the only example replicating the style of buildings in the New 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 a classical Greek style overlooking the Cart Haugh, one of several designed by John Kinross with assistance from leading contemporary sculptors, for the exception of the Victory statue which was done by Henry Snell Gamley.[7] The memorial was first unveiled by Field Marshal Earl Haig in 1922 and then again for the addition of the World War II memorial in 1950 by the Earl of Elgin.[24] Nearby on Coal Road is a Category B-listed[25] classical style former prison building built between 1813 and 1814.[7]

Preston Lodge

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 London goldsmith 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 by Culross Palace in Culross.[7] Situated at the corner of the Crossgate, the Category C[28] listed Duncan's Institute by John 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 architect, Hay 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 the priory of St Andrews.[7][31]

Hill of Tarvit

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] The Hill 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 name Hill of Tarvit.[35][36] The house's interior showcased the owner's love of antique furniture ranging from Flemish tapestries; Louis V; Louis XI; English and Scottish 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 the First World War.[35] Situated between the Tarvit and Walton Hills, is Scotstarvit 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 is Hawklaw, which operated as a Government Radio Receiving Station between 1942 and 1988.[37]

Economy

Fife Council is the largest employer in the area. Many people are employed in food and drink.

The larger employers are Kettle Produce (fruit and vegetable producer) and Fishers Services Ltd. Other employers include the SRUC Campus at Elmwood College (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 2018, Cupar was chosen as a demonstration town to test the concept of a digital improvement district. It came out of research undertaken as part of the Scottish Government’s Digital Towns Programme (2017-18).

The project – backed by ABCD (Association of Businesses in Cupar & District) - won seed corn funding from the Scottish Government, Digital Scotland and Fife Council and ran for 15-months.

In December 2019, the project was put to a ballot of non-domestic rate paying businesses and organisations. Those voting backed it to continue on the understanding that all would then be subject to an annual levy to cover the costs ongoing. The successful ballot created CuparNow – Scotland and the UK’s first digital improvement district, delivering managed, integrated digital communication and services to support multiple audiences across the town.

CuparNow delivers against a Business Plan written and agreed by the project’s steering group made up of business owners and managers in the town. It also has representatives from the local authority and the town’s high school, Bell Baxter.

Unique Support

Since its formation, CuparNow has been instrumental in supporting the town, its businesses, community groups and residents growing a combined audience to more than 50,000 (at the end of 2021). By size of town and longevity of delivery, Cupar – a 21st century market town with a population of under 10,000 – has the fastest growing and largest managed digital audience of any place in Scotland. The foundation of delivery is the CuparNow blog that has had over 20,000 new users with close to 50,000 page views in the last 12 months. It is read by people across more than 100 countries covering every time zone. 84% of users are UK based (80% in Scotland) with the vast majority from within a 20-minute neighbourhood.

The channels that are managed for the initiative include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn Local and TikTok. On Facebook alone, more than a third of the town’s population follows the CuparNow page. Recognising a need through lockdowns, CuparClicks was added - a platform enabling businesses with no online trading presence to trade through the site. In 2021, it has had close to 4,000 users.

The project launched a podcast for Cupar. It has a dozen live episodes featuring a mix of businesses, community groups and charities sharing their stories. More episodes are planned ongoing.

At the end of 2020, CuparNow researched and launched a Community Directory. It is maintained ‘live’ and features some 86 community groups, clubs, societies and associations.

CuparNow also provides free public-realm Wi-Fi delivered across the town centre through a network of linked access points delivering seamless coverage. In the last 12 months, more than 4,500 people have made use of the network. 1,200+ have subscribed to receive monthly updates sharing content from the town’s businesses and organisations. These together with business-to-business e-shots are managed through MailChimp allowing CuparNow to track opening rates and report the same to the project’s overseeing Steering Group. The monthly group meetings result in quarterly updates and annual reportspublished for review and scrutiny.

Working in collaboration with Cupar Development Trust, CuparNow has built and launched a site helping to focus attention on the town’s provenance and standing in the local food & drink sector. Part-funded through Scotland’s Regional Food Fund, the Food & Drink Trails are centred on Cupar and will be developed further, especially as the town and district counts down to the 150th Open Championship being held in St Andrews in July 2022.

CuparNow’s day-to-day support is multi-faceted – facilitated through the annual levy that more than 420 businesses pay. Most businesses (67%) pay an annual flat fee of £100.00 to support all the work delivered - business focused but enabling so much more to be delivered covering community groups, culture & tourism promotion, education and training providers, environmental projects, health & social care partnerships and economic development. Developed in 2021 and being launched for 2022 are three new projects under the CuparNow banner – all in collaboration with community partners and stakeholders.

A new Job Alert page for any business or organisations to list their job, career, work or volunteering opportunities.

An Events’ Calendar enabling all to submit their events for sharing across multi-channels.

Cupar’s Year of Stories 2022: adopting VisitScotland’s Year of Stories theme, the town is launching its own ‘Year of Stories’ in collaboration with businesses, partners and stakeholders, initially focused on the town’s medieval history and heritage.


Cupar: Number 1 in Scotland. Number 2 in the UK

CuparNow’s work in amplifying the town’s messaging has been recognised in a recent survey that shows the town is Number 1 in Scotland – and Number 2 in the UK - with those searching for property in a rural location. The listing was by Right Move - the UK’s leading property portal.


Cupar Retail Park

In November 2021, the South Road retail park was completed, opening with Burger King and Costa Coffee. B&M, Indigo Sun, Baynes the Baker and Nimbus Beds are all confirmed tenants and expected to open in early 2022.

Leisure

Cupar has an unusual golf 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. 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.[38] The swimming pool is the base for Cupar and District Swimming Club. Cupar is home to Cupar Cricket Club, founded in 1884. The club is celebrating 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 plays host to the biennial Cupar Arts Festival.

Education

Cupar is home to Kilmaron school, one secondary school and two primary schools.[39][40] Castlehill Primary School opened to pupils on the present site in 1975 and is located on the town's outskirts and has enrollment of 420.[41] Kilmaron School caters for disabled children.

Bell Baxter High School located on Carslogie Road, serves both the town and surrounding villages. The School roll was recorded in February 2009 and was estimated at 1620 pupils.[42] SRUC Elmwood (formerly Elmwood 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.[43]

Transport

Cupar Railway Station

An express bus service connects the town every hour between Edinburgh and St Andrews and also between Glasgow and St Andrews. Other services run less frequently from Stirling and various local villages through Cupar to St Andrews. An express service also runs via the town from Kirkcaldy to Dundee. A railway station can be found to the south-east of the town centre. The station is situated on the East Coast Main Line, served by Abellio ScotRail and CrossCountry with regular services running between Edinburgh Waverley and Aberdeen. Nearby stations are located to the north-east of the town at Leuchars and to the south of the town in neighbouring Springfield (limited service) and Ladybank. The nearest major international airport is Edinburgh airport with the nearest ferry sea port at Rosyth being 42 miles and 35 miles, respectively.[43]

Military

Yeomanry House, a drill hall completed in 1890,[44] is home to 'C Squadron' of the Scottish 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 the FV107 Scimitar, FV105 Sultan and FV103 Spartan light armoured vehicles in the a reconnaissance role. They are paired with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards based at Leuchars Station (formerly RAF Leuchars).

The Army Cadet Force and Air Training Corps 571 (Cupar) Squadron are also active in the town.

Notable people

References

Notes

  1. ^ "Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  2. ^ Census of Scotland 2011, Table KS101SC – Usually Resident Population, publ. by National Records of Scotland. Web site http://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/ retrieved March 2016. See "Standard Outputs", Table KS101SC, Area type: Civil Parish 1930
  3. ^ Complete Atlas of the British Isles. Readers' Digest. 1965. p. 218.
  4. ^ Martin 2006, p. 9.
  5. ^ a b Lamont-Brown 2002, p. 49.
  6. ^ a b Martin 2006, pp. 9–10.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Pride 1999, pp. 106–111.
  8. ^ "Reserved and devolved matters". Scotland Office. Archived from the original on 21 October 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  9. ^ "Cupar's councillors". Fife Council. Retrieved 11 January 2008.[permanent dead link‍]
  10. ^ "County Buildings, headquarters of the East Region". Fife Council. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2008.
  11. ^ "Regional MSPs for Mid Scotland and Fife". Scottish Parliament. Archived from the original on 24 October 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  12. ^ "MSP for North East Fife". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Comparative Population: Cupar Locality Scotland". scrol.co.uk. 2001. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
  14. ^ "Comparative Population Profile: Fife Council Area Scotland". scrol.gov.uk. 2001. Archived from the original on 23 August 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
  15. ^ a b "Comparative Employment Profile: Cupar Locality Scotland". scrol.gov.uk. 2001. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
  16. ^ "Comparative Employment Profile: Fife Locality Scotland". scrol.gov.uk. 2001. Archived from the original on 23 August 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
  17. ^ "Mid-2008 Population Estimates" (PDF). National Records of Scotland.
  18. ^ "Mid-2008 Population Estimates – Localities in order of size". General Register Office for Scotland. 2008. Archived from the original on 2 July 2010. Retrieved 2010-09-08.
  19. ^ "Bar and Bistro". Watts of Cupar. Retrieved 8 October 2013.[permanent dead link‍]
  20. ^ Peebles, Cheryl (18 November 2019). "Fife nightclub where love blossomed for generations of couples to close for good". DC Thomson Media. The Courier. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  21. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "County Buildings and former Court House... (Category B Listed Building) (LB24160)". Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  22. ^ Omand 2000, p. 200.
  23. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "The Corn Exchange Tower Only (Category B Listed Building) (LB24165)". Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  24. ^ a b Historic Environment Scotland. "Cart Haugh, Cupar War Memorial with Piers and Railings (Category B Listed Building) (LB46365)". Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  25. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "WM Watt, Seed Merchant Offices (former Prison) Station Road (Category B Listed Building) (LB24290)". Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  26. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Preston Lodge, 95 Bonnygate (Category A Listed Building) (LB24242)". Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  27. ^ a b Boyd 1989, p. 32.
  28. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Duncan Institute 33,35 Crossgate (Category C Listed Building) (LB24180)". Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  29. ^ "John Milne". Dictionary of Scottish Architects. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  30. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Cupar Old St Michael of Tarvit Parish Church... (Category A Listed Building) (LB24136)". Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  31. ^ Omand 2000, p. 134.
  32. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Hill of Tarvit House, Terraced Garden, Walled Garden (Category A Listed Building) (LB2628)". Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  33. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Scotstarvit Tower (SM90274)". Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  34. ^ a b Walker & Ritchie 1996, p. 106.
  35. ^ a b c Walker & Ritchie 1996, p. 89.
  36. ^ Pride 1999, p. 92.
  37. ^ "How Cheltenham entered America's backyard". New Scientist. 5 April 1984. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  38. ^ "Cupar Sports Centre". Fife Council Community Services. 2001. Archived from the original on 7 May 2002. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
  39. ^ "A list of all primary schools in Fife". Fife Council. Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  40. ^ "A list of all secondary schools in Fife". Fife Council. Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  41. ^ "Castlehill Primary School". Fife Council. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
  42. ^ "Bell Baxter High School 2009 Inspection". HMIE. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  43. ^ a b "Cupar and Howe of Fife Economic Profile" (PDF). Fife Council. Spring 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2008.[permanent dead link‍]
  44. ^ "Yeomanry House". Canmore. Retrieved 13 April 2014.

Bibliography

  • Boyd, Margaret (1989). Cupar: In Old Picture Postcards. Vol. 2. ISBN 9028848657.
  • Omand, Donald (2000). The Fife Book. Birlinn Publishing.
  • Pride, Glen L. (1999). Kingdom of Fife (2nd ed.). The Rutland Press.
  • Lamont-Brown, Raymond (2002). Fife in History and Legend. Edinburgh: John Donald. ISBN 0-85976-567-9.
  • Martin, Paula (2006). Cupar: The History of a small Scottish town. Edinburgh: Birlinn Publishing.
  • Walker, Bruce; Ritchie, Graham (1996). Fife, Perthshire and Angus. ISBN 0114952868.
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