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Coordinates: 56°19'N 3°01'W? / ?56.32, -3.02
Cupar is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, Scotland. It is approximately equidistant between the larger settlements of Dundee and Glenrothes.
[edit] Geography
Cupar was the county town of Fife, an honour that it inherited from the town of Crail back in 1214, until 1975 when the administration of the newly-created Fife Regional Council decided to move to more modern offices in Glenrothes. Between 1975 and 1993 Cupar was home to the now-abolished North East Fife District Council, which used the County Buildings on St Catherine's Street as their administrative headquarters. The County Buildings are still used by Fife Council although few services remain there.
[edit] History
Cupar was established as a royal burgh in 1363 by David II of Scotland and was the location of the 11th and 12th century castles of the Macduffs, thanes of Fife, featured in William Shakespeare's play Macbeth. Although all traces of the castles themselves have long since vanished, the hill upon which they were situated remains a conspicuous landmark near the centre of the town. The Moat Hill rises in a long mound about a quarter of a mile up the course of the lady burn from the point at which it enters the River Eden. Cupar was also the site of the first Scottish Parliament, organised by Alexander III in 1276.
[edit] Landmarks
At the heart of the town are the Bonnygate, and the adjoining Crossgate, which are the town's principal shopping streets. At the meeting of the two stands the Mercat Cross, which dates from 1683 and was relocated from the Fluthers hill in 1897.
Notable buildings in the town include the Parish Church of Cupar Old & St Michael of Tarvit, St John's Church, the Fife County Buildings, Yeomanry House an old Napoleonic prison, now the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry/Scottish Horse barracks, and the A-listed Tarvit Home Farm Steading with its unusual and distinctive spire. To the South by the village of Craigrothie are the Hill of Tarvit mansion house and Scotstarvit Tower.
[edit] Education
Cupar is home to four schools: one high school: Bell Baxter High School and three primary schools: Castlehill Primary School, Cupar Education Centre and St. Columba's RC Primary School. Elmwood College, focusing on Land Based Studies and Golf, is located in Cupar. The college includes a farm and golf course.
[edit] Amenities
Cupar has an unusual 9 hole golf course on the side of a hill to the South of the town. Stratheden, a large psychiatric hospital is located in the nearby village of that name. Cupar is on the main east coast line.
[edit] Industry
Scott's Porage Oats mill their oats at the Uthrogle Mills, owned by Quaker Oats, just off the A91 near Elmwood College.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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(Source: Wikipedia) |