Kinghorn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kinghorn
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 A view across Kinghorn harbour |
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 Kinghorn
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| Population | 2,940 (2020) |
| OS grid reference | NT271869 |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Burntisland |
| Postcode district | KY3 |
| Dialling code | 01592 |
| Police | Fife |
| Fire | Fife |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament |
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Kinghorn (pronounced KING-horn) is a lovely town and parish located in Fife, Scotland. It's a popular seaside resort with two beautiful beaches, Kinghorn Beach and Pettycur Bay. It also has a busy fishing port. Kinghorn sits on the northern shore of the Firth of Forth, right across from Edinburgh.
Kinghorn is famous as the place where King Alexander III of Scotland sadly died. The town is located on the A921 road and the scenic Fife Coastal Path. You can easily reach Kinghorn by train, as Kinghorn railway station is on the Edinburgh to Aberdeen and Fife Circle railway lines. Kinghorn has its own primary school, but older students travel by bus to Balwearie High School in Kirkcaldy.
The Kinghorn Lifeboat Station is one of Scotland's busiest. Its crew often responds to emergencies in the Firth of Forth. The station currently uses an Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat called "Tommy Niven". In 2011, the civil parish of Kinghorn had about 4,201 people living there. The town itself had around 2,930 residents in 2008.
Contents
Kinghorn's Past: A Brief History
The name Kinghorn comes from an old Scottish Gaelic phrase, ceann gronn, which means "head of the marsh". This tells us a bit about what the area might have looked like long ago.
Royal Connections and Castles
Kinghorn is a historic Royal Burgh, which means it was once a very important town with special rights given by the king. The Scottish royal family often visited the old royal castle in Kinghorn. This castle was important because it helped control the sea routes. It stood on the headland above Pettycur Bay.
A very important event in Scottish history happened here in March 1286. King Alexander III of Scotland was riding back to Kinghorn Castle to see his new wife, Yolande of Dreux. Sadly, he fell from his horse and was found dead on Pettycur Bay beach. This unexpected death led to a big problem about who would rule Scotland next, which eventually caused the Wars of Scottish Independence.
Later, another building called Glamis Tower (or Glamis Castle) stood near the High Street. In 1373, when Sir John Lyon married Princess Johanna, the daughter of King Robert II, she brought Glamis Castle as part of her dowry. This castle was rebuilt in 1543 but was later attacked and captured in 1546. Today, both the old royal castle and Glamis Tower are gone, and new buildings stand in their places.
The Railway Arrives
In 1846, Kinghorn changed a lot when a railway viaduct was built across the valley. The Edinburgh and Northern Railway opened Kinghorn Station. This railway made it easier for people to travel. Before the railway, many people used horse ferries from Pettycur Bay to cross the Forth. But after the railway, much of this ferry traffic moved to nearby Burntisland. The large railway viaduct, which is mostly solid, now divides the original town into two parts.
When the famous Forth Railway Bridge opened in 1890, the North British Railway started to promote Kinghorn as a lovely holiday spot. They highlighted its pretty, sheltered bay and beach. This led to a lot of new buildings and growth in the town, making it a popular resort.
Important Buildings in Kinghorn
Kinghorn has several interesting buildings.
- The Kinghorn Town Hall was designed by Thomas Hamilton and built in 1830.
- Kinghorn Parish Church was built in 1774. It has a striking tower that was added in 1895 by Sydney Mitchell.
- The Kinghorn War Memorial, built in 1923, was designed by William Williamson and sculpted by Alexander Carrick. It remembers those who served in wars.
You can also find several 18th-century houses in the traditional Scottish style.
Famous People from Kinghorn
Many notable people have connections to Kinghorn:
- William Barron Coutts: A military scientist.
- John McAulay: Received the Victoria Cross, a very brave award.
- Jimmy Frew: A professional footballer.
- George Sanders: A Scottish portrait painter.
- Christina Robertson: A portrait painter who worked in the UK and Russia.
- John Scrimgeour: A minister who was put under house arrest for his beliefs.
- Sharon Small: A well-known actress.
- Professor Neil Campbell: A respected chemist.
Learning in Kinghorn: Education
Kinghorn Primary School is the only school in the town. The current school building was built in 1986. The school has earned three of the four "green flags" from the Eco-Schools program, showing its commitment to being environmentally friendly. The school has a long history. The original Parish School building from 1823, also designed by Thomas Hamilton, is now a library and community center. It still has its original octagonal Museum entrance, with copies of the famous Elgin Marbles.
Fun and Games: Culture and Sport
One exciting annual event in Kinghorn is the Black Rock '5' Race. This running race is about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) long and has been held every year since 1987. What makes it special is that runners loop around the Black Rocks, which are over a mile from the shore. These rocks are mostly underwater except at low tide.
The race takes place on a Friday in May or June when the tide is out, and the water is no more than knee-deep. Over the years, it has grown from a simple race into a big social event for the Kinghorn community. The first Black Rock '5' in 1987 had 67 finishers. By 2005, over 600 people participated, showing how popular it has become!
See also
In Spanish: Kinghorn para niños
