Star, Fife facts for kids

A view of Star, Fife.

Star, also known as Star of Markinch, is a small village located in Fife, Scotland. It was also historically known as Star of Brunton or Star of Dalginch.

The name "Star" comes from the word "stair," which refers to a raised path or causeway. This path crossed the Star Moss, a type of wet, spongy land called a raised bog, located northwest of the village. This bog drains water into the land north of the village. East of Star, you can find two reservoirs, which are artificial lakes used to store water. These areas are very wet, which makes them perfect for thousands of greylag geese that spend the winter there. You can often see large groups of these geese flying over the village from October until early May.

Both the Star Moss and the nearby Carriston Reservoir are special places called Sites of Special Scientific Interest. This means they are protected because they have important wildlife or geological features.

What is the History of Star Village?

Originally, the village of Star was made up of cottages where people who wove linen lived. This was because Fife had a big industry for growing flax (the plant used to make linen) and weaving linen during the 1700s and 1800s. These first cottages usually had two rooms: one for the family to live in and another for their weaving loom. There were also some cottages for farm workers. While these old cottages have been updated and made bigger over time, they still look interesting and attractive today.

North of the village, you'll find two old farms called Carriston (originally Carrelstoun) and Pyeston. These were once "ferm touns," which means they were small groups of homes focused on farming. Carriston Farm has a large house that was first built around 1700. It later had a big Victorian-style addition and a tower built onto it.

Pyeston farmhouse also dates back to about 1700, though it's not as grand as Carriston. Near Pyeston, there's an old "doocot" or dovecote, also from around 1700. This building was used to keep pigeons, which provided fresh meat for the people living in Pyeston during the winter.

Star has continued to grow since the 1970s and now has about 500 people living there. Most of the houses are spread out along the main road for over a mile, with several newer streets that end in a circle (called cul-de-sacs) on both sides. Most homes are single-story or one-and-a-half-story houses. Recently, the people living in Star strongly disagreed with a plan to build more affordable housing in the village.

Where is Star Located?

Star is generally known as a quiet and comfortable village. Most people who live there work in nearby towns within Fife or travel further to cities like Edinburgh, Dundee, or Perth for their jobs.

The village of Star is located between the towns of Markinch and Kennoway. From Star, you can enjoy beautiful views of the Lomond Hills to the west. It's also quite close to the A92 main road. The Markinch railway station, which is on the East Coast Main Line, is about a six-minute drive away. Edinburgh is about an hour's drive from Star, and St Andrews is around thirty minutes away.

What Amenities Does Star Have?

The village shop in Star closed around 1985, and the post office followed not long after. However, Star Primary School and a community hall are still open and serving the village.

Star Primary School has benefited from the recent increase in houses in the area, even though it had been at risk of closing many times in the past. The primary school building dates back to 1816, with parts added later. There are currently around 25 children enrolled at the school. The school has one full-time teacher and two part-time teachers, with additional teaching support from assistants. School meals are brought in daily from Markinch Primary School because of staff cuts several years ago. The school doesn't have its own sports facilities, but it uses a local community hall for physical education.

What Recreation is Available in Star?

The village was once home to Star Hearts AFC, which was one of the most successful amateur football clubs from Fife. This club was started in 1962 by David Leitch, who worked at Carriston Farm at the time. They were the first amateur club from Fife to win the Scottish Amateur Cup in 1975, and they hold the record for winning the Fife Amateur Cup 10 times!

After 50 years playing in amateur leagues in Fife, they joined forces with officials from Kennoway AFC to form Kennoway Star Hearts. They then joined the SJFA East Region in 2013. Kennoway Star Hearts now play their games at Treaton Park in Star and compete in the .

The community hall in Star is used by many different groups, such as The Youth Club, the Women's Rural Institute (WRI), a Bowls club, a Toddlers' Group, and a Machine Knitting Club.

The local Community Council, which helps represent the village, was restarted in May 2014.

Every year, the village hosts a gala day, which is a big celebration that many residents attend. Gala Day is usually followed by a week of other community events, often ending with a ceilidh (a traditional Scottish social gathering with music and dancing) in the village hall.