We're down the Glen in Dunfermline for Memory Lane

Most people perhaps associate postcards with being used as mementos of holidays, but they also served a very important purpose in the early days before telephone contact, as a way of quickly communicating with friends and family locally.

Due to regular and multiple deliveries each day, if someone had an evening appointment with a friend for example which was for any reason delayed, they could be confident that a postcard sent in the morning explaining the situation would be received later that same day.

This postcard, titled ‘The Rose Border Pittencrieff Glen Gardens Dunfermline’, was sent from Dunfermline in July 1906. (Image: Memory Lane)

Postcards of Pittencrieff Park were on sale in the first summer after its purchase in 1903 by Andrew Carnegie, and before its official handover to the people of Dunfermline.

Our first image, with the description ‘The Rose Border Pittencrieff Glen Gardens Dunfermline’, was sent from Dunfermline in July 1906.

People had the same obsession with the weather over a century ago, with the message starting “Is it not hot weather? About as bad as we got abroad. We went to the baths and stayed all afternoon as it was about the only thing one can do just now”.

Scotland experienced a heatwave in 1906 that began in August and lasted to September with temperatures reaching 32 degrees (90F).

Our second postcard, which was sent in September 1908, shows the tearoom. There was a tearoom in the park from 1904, the first being built at a cost of £392 slightly to the east of the present building.

This postcard was sent in September 1908 and shows the tearoom. (Image: Memory Lane)

This was extended in 1907 and 1913 before being replaced by the present building in 1927.

Our third postcard shows the present tearooms on a postcard sent on the 21st July 1939.

Addressed to a 'Master Billy Cooper' in Lewisham in London, the entire message on the card simply (and perhaps a little ominously...) read: "I hope you had a nice long holiday at Long Melford and that you are behaving yourself, although my strong right hand is absent."

This postcard shows the present tearooms. It was sent in July 1939. (Image: Memory Lane)

Our final postcard shows the Gala in 1907 and the original band stand in Pittencrieff Park.

It was simply a raised dais and in 1909 a more elaborate band stand was built.

The site was north-west of the present building and the contractors, James Stewart & Sons, were given 12 weeks to carry out the contract with a penalty of £2 and two shillings for each day thereafter that the building was not completed.

The new music pavilion and band stand was opened in 1935.

Our final postcard shows the gala day in 1907 and the original band stand in Pittencrieff Park. (Image: Memory Lane)

Differences over the years as to whether the title Pittencrieff Park or Pittencrieff Glen is the correct name for the park cannot be solved by referring to these old postcards however, as both are used on them - though Pittencrieff Glen was the one most frequently used.

Andrew Carnegie himself in his autobiography refers to it first as the Glen, and later as the park and the Glen when he gave instructions for its transfer to the residents of Dunfermline.

More photographs like these can be seen in Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries as well as at facebook.com/olddunfermline.

With thanks to Frank Connelly.