In 1882-4, Frances Groome's Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland described Newburn like this:
Newburn (anc. Drumeldrie), a coast parish of SE Fife, containing Drumeldrie village, 1¼ mile E by S of Upper Largo. It is bounded- NE and E by Kilconquhar, SE by Elie (detached), S by the Firth of Forth, and W and NW by Largo. Its utmost length, from N by W to S by E, is 37/8 miles; its breadth varies between ½ and 17/8 mile; and its area is 3222½ acres, of which 178¾ are foreshore. ...
The shore, extending 1¾ mile along the eastern curve of Largo Bay, is flat and sandy; and from it the surface rises northward, until at the western border it attains a maximum altitude of 785 feet on the eastern slope of green conical Largo Law (965 feet). The general -landscape, at once within itself and in views beyond, is a brilliant assemblage of hill and dale, of wood and water. The rocks are partly carboniferous, but chiefly eruptive; and the soil, though various, is generally fertile. About five-sixths of the entire area are in tillage; nearly 140 acres are under wood; and the rest of the land is pastoral. Gilston House, 3½ miles NNE of Largo, and Lahill, 1¼ mile ENE, are the seats of John Henry Baxter, Esq., and Major Robert Rintoul, who hold respectively 1094 and 754 acres, valued at £l960 and £1666 per annum. Another estate, noticed separately, is Balchristie; and, in all, 6 proprietors hold each an annual value of £500 and upwards, 6 of between £100 and £500, and 7 of from £20 to £50. Newburn is in the presbytery of St Andrews and the synod of Fife; the living is worth £250. The parish church, a little way ENE of Drumeldrie, was built in 1815, and is amply commodious. The public school, with accommodation for 75 children, had (1883) an average attendance of 58, and a grant of £53, 14s. Valuation (1865) £5443, 1s. 5d., (1884) £5248, 10s. 6d. Pop. (1801) 412, (1841) 419, (1861) 374, (1871) 362, (1881) 344.—Ord. Sur., sh. 41, 1857.
Newburn through time
Newburn is now part of Fife district. Click here for graphs and data of how Fife has changed over two centuries. For statistics about Newburn itself, go to Units and Statistics.
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Newburn in Fife | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.
URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/17031
Date accessed: 13th May 2024
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