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Cupar
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Cupar (Scottish Gaelic:Cùbar) is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, Scotland. The town is approximately equidistant between the larger settlements of Dundee and Glenrothes.
According to the recent population estimate (2006), Cupar has a population around 8,800 making the town the ninth largest settlement in Fife.
History
The town is believed to have grown around the site of Cupar Castle, which was the seat of the sheriff and was owned by the earls of Fife.
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Encyclopedia
Cupar (Scottish Gaelic:Cùbar) is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, Scotland. The town is approximately equidistant between the larger settlements of Dundee and Glenrothes.
According to the recent population estimate (2006), Cupar has a population around 8,800 making the town the ninth largest settlement in Fife.
History
The town is believed to have grown around the site of Cupar Castle, which was the seat of the sheriff and was owned by the earls of Fife. The area became a centre for judiciary as the county of Fife and as a market town catering for both cattle and sheep. Towards the latter stages of the 13th century, the burgh became of great importance staging the site of an assembly of the three estates - clergy, nobility and burgesses - organised by Alexander III in 1276 as a predecessor of the Scottish Parliament. Although, written information of a charter for the modern town was lost, evidence has suggested that this did exist as one of the many properties owned by the Earls of Fife by 1294. During the middle of the 14th century, the burgh started to pay customs on taxable incomes, which probably meant that royal burgh status was gifted sometime between 1294 and 1328.
The oldest document, referring to the royal burgh, was a grant by Robert II in 1381 to give a port at Guardbridge on the River Eden for the residents of the burgh to help boost trade with Flanders.
Governance
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.
Local Government
The Cupar area supports three multi-member wards with eleven councillors sitting on the committee of Fife Council. Being the main headquarters for the east region of Fife Council, the town still controls administrative, planning and agricultural issues on the site of County Buildings.
Westminster and Holyrood
Cupar is within the North East Fife (Scottish Parliament constituency), the Mid Scotland and Fife (Scottish Parliament electoral region) of the Scottish Parliament (at Holyrood) and the North East Fife (UK Parliament constituency) (at Westminster).
The North East Fife Scottish Parliament (or Holyrood) constituency created in 1999 is one of nine within the Mid Scotland and Fife electoral region. Each constituency elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the first past the post system of election, and the region elects seven additional members to produce a form of proportional representation. The seat is currently held by Iain Smith for the Liberal Democrats.
The North-East Fife UK (or Westminster) constituency elects a Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom by the first past the post system. The seat has held by Sir Menzies Campbell for the Liberal Democrats since the formation of this seat in 1987.
Demography
Cupar compared according to UK Census 2001 | Cupar | Fife | Scotland |
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| Total population | 8,506 | 349,429 | 5,062,011 |
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| Foreign born | 1.60% | 1.18% | 1.10% |
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| Over 75 years old | 10.29% | 7.46% | 7.09% |
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| Unemployed | 3.10% | 3.97% | 4.0% |
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According to the 2001 census, Cupar had had a total population of 8,506. The population of Cupar has since increased slightly to around 8,800 in 2006. The demographic make-up of the population is much in line with the rest of Scotland. The age group from 30 to 44 forms the largest portion of the population (22%). The median age of males and females living in Cupar was 39 and 43 years respectively, compared to 37 and 39 years for those in the whole of Scotland.
The place of birth of the town's residents was 95.81% United Kingdom (including 81.64% from Scotland), 0.51% Republic of Ireland, 1.60% from other European Union countries, and 2.09% from elsewhere in the world. The economic activity of residents aged 16–74 was 42.20% in full-time employment, 12.32% in part-time employment, 5.89% self-employed, 3.10% unemployed, 2.96% students with jobs, 3.94% students without jobs, 17.68% retired, 4.83% looking after home or family, 4.35% permanently sick or disabled, and 2.72% economically inactive for other reasons. Compared with the average demography of Scotland, Cupar has low proportions of people born outside the United Kingdom but has higher proportions for people over 75 years old.
Landmarks
Historical landmarks around the town centre include the Parish Church of Cupar Old and St Michael of Tarvit; the County buildings; the burgh chambers; Preston Lodge; the Corn Exchange tower; the Watts building and the Duncan Institute.
The A-listed Parish Church of Cupar Old and St Michael of Tarvit, designed by the architect, Hay Bell consists of a 15th century tower and late 18th century church body. The tower is the only surviving piece of the old Cupar parish church, founded by the priory of St Andrews. The nearby B-listed county buildings - designed by Robert Hutchison between 1812 and 1817 - are unique in Fife for being the only example replicating the style of buildings in the New Town of Edinburgh. The adjacent B-listed burgh chambers built around the same time contain a three storey bow street corner and a robust domic entrance. Another attractive building, not too far away is the B-listed tower of the corn exchange which can be seen across the town's skyline.
Built around 1813 and 1814, the B-listed watts building, used as a prison at one time, is also nearby, displaying a classical style with two-storey domic windows. Situated at the corner of the Crossgate, the C(s) Listed Duncan's institute - now the home of the town's library - was built around 1870-71 as a mechanics' institute for the "working classes of Cupar" by Mrs Duncan. The building, a mixture of Gothic, Scottish and Flemish styles is recognised in the town for having a twisted spire. The A-listed Preston Lodge is also another important building, built by the Laird of Airdrie in 1623, the design of which is believed to be inspired by Culross Palace. To the south of the town on the A914 are the Hill of Tarvit mansion house and Scotstarvit Tower. Originally built in 1692 and formerly known as Wemyss Hall, the building was extensively designed between 1907-1908 as the A-listed Hill of Tarvit by Sir Robert Lormer. On the other hand, the A-listed Scotstarvit Tower is best known for being a simple L-plan 17th century tower house of five stories and an attic.
The lower section of the tower some believe could date as far back as the early 16th century.
Economy
Employment
Many people in the town are employed in food and drink, with the largest employers being Kettle Produce (fruit and vegetable producer) and Fisher Services Ltd. Other employers include: Elmwood College (Fife education); Scotsfruit Ltd (food and drink); Quaker Oats Ltd (food and drink) and Fisher and Donaldson (food and drink). There are 72% people employed in the town with unemployment below the national average at 2.1%.
Town Centre
The historic centre of the town is where the Bonnygate and the Crossgate meet. The original shaft of the late 17th century mercat cross which marks the junction is in the middle. The main shopping facilities are also located mainly here with a majority of family-owned businesses and some chain stores. Under the Cupar and Howe of Fife local plan, there is a proposal to upgrade shopping facilities in the town for the aim to become a secondary retail area in Fife.
Sport and recreation
Cupar has an unusual golf course on the side of a hill to the South of the town. Stratheden, a large psychiatric hospital is located nearby. Cupar is on the east coast line.
Other attractions include 'Jordan's Nightclub', and The Millgate playing field, once the venue of the training sessions of Cupar Colts, the town's football club, which unfortunately folded in late 2005.
Cupar Sports Centre has a 25 metre Swimming pool, badminton courts, squash courts and a fitness suite.
Education
The town is home to three primary schools; one secondary school (Bell Baxter); a college campus (Elmwood) and a special needs school.
Bell Baxter High School, according to the 2004/2005 school role, has 1769 pupils. The school has higher levels of more standard grade passes in five or more subjects, with the proportion being more than 10% when compared to the national average. There are also higher levels seen in higher grade passes with only one being around 45% when compared to 37% from the rest of Fife and at least three or more being around 40% when compared to 29% from the rest of Fife.
Elmwood College has three main campuses situated in the town and surrounding area. The college has been praised as a centre for excellence in golf-related studies and being a specialist in land-based education. Local businesses also benefit from the work of the Elmwood Rural Business Centre.
Transport
Cupar is served by the A914. The main routes through the town is Bonnygate and St Andrews Road (A91) from west to east and South Bridge (A914) from south to north.
A bus service connects the town every hour between Edinburgh and Dundee. An additional express service also runs via the town. A railway station can be found to the south-east of the town centre. The station is situated on the National Express East Coast with regular services running between Edinburgh Waverley and Aberdeen. Nearby stations are located to the south of the town in neighbouring Springfield, Fife and Ladybank. The nearest major international airport is in Edinburgh airport with the nearest ferry sea port at Rosyth being 42 miles and 35 miles, respectively.
Bibliography
External links
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