Pittencrieff Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pittencrieff Park |
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| The Glen | |
Louise Carnegie Gates (the main entrance to Pittencrieff Park)
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| Type | Parkland, woodland, gardens |
| Location | Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland |
| Area | 76 acres (31 ha) |
| Created | 1903 |
| Founder | Andrew Carnegie |
| Operated by | Fife Council |
| Visitors | 750,000 |
| Status | Open all year |
| Awards | Best Park in Scotland |
| Website | [1] |
Pittencrieff Park, often called "The Glen" by local people, is a public park in Dunfermline, Scotland. A famous businessman, Andrew Carnegie, bought the park in 1902. He then gave it to the people of Dunfermline in 1903. The park has a deep, rocky valley called a glen. This glen is very important to Dunfermline's history.
The glen is a special place in Dunfermline. It is where Malcolm's Tower likely stood a long time ago. You can still see parts of the old tower on a strong, rocky hill. On the east side of the park, you can find Dunfermline Palace and Dunfermline Abbey. To the west, the park looks over the village of Crossford.
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How Pittencrieff Park Began
The land where Pittencrieff Park is now was once called Pittencrieff Estate. In 1902, Andrew Carnegie bought Pittencrieff House and its large estate. He bought it from its owner, Colonel James Maitland Hunt. Carnegie wanted to give this beautiful land to the people of Dunfermline.
A Gift to the Community
The official ceremony where Carnegie gave the park away happened in 1903. A special fund was also started to help take care of the park. This fund is called the Dunfermline Carnegie Trust. It helps make sure the park stays wonderful for everyone.
Ideas for the Park
After the park was given to the town, the Dunfermline Carnegie Trust asked for ideas. They wanted to know how to make the area a great public space. Two main plans were suggested in 1903 and 1904. One plan came from Patrick Geddes, a famous planner and teacher. He thought about how to keep the park's history while also making it new.
Another plan was from Thomas Mawson, a landscape designer. Even though neither plan was fully used, they both helped shape the park we see today. Later, in 1908, Robert Lorimer designed more parts of the park. This included the large, fancy entrance gates.
Pittencrieff House Museum
Pittencrieff House is a very old building inside the park. It was built in the 1400s by the Wemyss family. In 1610, Sir Alexander Clerk bought the house and its big estate. His son, Alexander Clerk, made the house bigger around 1635. He added two more floors and an attic.
From Home to Museum
Between 1911 and 1913, Sir Robert Lorimer helped restore the house. Two bedrooms were changed into long rooms for museum and art shows. The house became the Pittencrieff House Museum. It had exhibits about the park's history and nature. You could see things like fossils and learn about wildlife.
Museum Closure
The museum closed to the public after the Dunfermline Carnegie Library made its own exhibition space bigger.
Fun Features of the Park
Pittencrieff Park has many cool things to see and do!
Statues and Gates
On the north side of the park, you'll find a large statue of Andrew Carnegie. It was built in 1914. There's also an old dovecot, which is a round tower from around 1770 where pigeons used to live. The main entrance to the park is called the Louise Carnegie Gates. These beautiful gates opened in 1928 and are on the north-east side.
Music Memorial
In September 2011, a special bench was placed in the park. It is a memorial to Stuart Adamson, a rock musician who grew up in Dunfermline. He passed away in 2001. Fans paid for the bench, and it has some of his song lyrics chosen by fans online.
Animal Friends
The park has an aviary, which is like a big bird cage. It is home to 9 pet peacocks! You can often see them walking around the park. The park also used to have a petting zoo.
Play and Exercise
There is a large greenhouse in the park, full of plants. Kids can enjoy three different playgrounds. Since July 2015, Pittencrieff Park has also been home to the Dunfermline Parkrun. This is a free, weekly 5k run that people of all ages can join. You can also find Be Military Fit classes in the park, which are outdoor fitness sessions.
Friends of Pittencrieff Park
The Friends of Pittencrieff Park is a charity group. They have been helping the park for almost 12 years. One of their main jobs is to work with Fife Council and the Carnegie Trust. They make sure Pittencrieff Park stays a great place for everyone who lives in or visits Dunfermline.
Helping the Park Grow
This group also raises money for different projects. They help pay for new play areas for kids. They also work on creating and taking care of the park's orchard and kitchen garden. The Friends of Pittencrieff Park also help with the care of the peacocks.
