Kincardine, Fife facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kincardine
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 Kincardine
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| Population | 2,940 (2020) |
| • Edinburgh | 22 mi (35 km) |
| • London | 347 mi (558 km) |
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| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ALLOA |
| Postcode district | FK10 |
| Dialling code | 01259 |
| Police | Fife |
| Fire | Fife |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament |
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Kincardine (pronounced kin-KAR-din) or Kincardine-on-Forth is a small town in Scotland. It is located on the north shore of the Firth of Forth, in the area known as Fife. In 1663, Kincardine was given the special status of a burgh of barony. This meant it had certain rights and a local government.
Long ago, Kincardine was a busy and successful small port. Many old Scottish buildings from the 1600s, 1700s, and early 1800s can still be seen in the town. However, the town changed quite a bit when the Kincardine Bridge was built between 1932 and 1936. Kincardine is part of the civil parish of Tulliallan.
What's in a Name?
The name Kincardine was first written down in 1540 as Kincarne. It might come from an old language called Pictish or from Scottish Gaelic. The second part of the name, carden, likely means "woodland" or "enclosure."
The first part, Kincardine, comes from the Gaelic word ceann, meaning "head end." It could also be from the Pictish word *pen, which means the same thing. So, the name might have originally been *Pencarden.
Getting Around Kincardine
The Kincardine Bridge is a very important crossing. It runs south from Kincardine over the Firth of Forth. This bridge is the main way to cross the Firth of Forth between the Queensferry Crossing and Stirling.
The Kincardine Bridge used to be a swing bridge. This meant a part of it could open up to let large ships pass through. However, it stopped opening in 1988. The bridge has seven parts made of steel. There was once a control room at the top where operators would open the bridge for river traffic. In 2005, the bridge was given a special status as a Category A listed building by Historic Scotland. This means it is a very important historical structure.
For many years, the town had a lot of traffic because so many cars used the bridge. To help with this, a new road was opened in 2005. This road, called an eastern bypass, connects the Kincardine Bridge to the A985 road. In 2008, another new road, the Clackmannanshire Bridge, opened. This bridge helps traffic avoid the western part of Kincardine.
Police Training
Kincardine is also home to the Scottish Police College. This is where police officers in Scotland receive their training. The college is located at Tulliallan Castle, just outside the town.
Famous People from Kincardine
Many interesting people have connections to Kincardine.
- James Dewar: A famous chemist and physicist, born in Kincardine in 1842.
- Shirley Henderson: An actress known for her roles in films like Harry Potter and Bridget Jones's Diary.
- Greg Shields: A former professional football player.
- Stewart Kennedy: A former professional football goalkeeper.
- Jim Lister: A professional football player.
