Burgh of Tayport Centenary
Poetry
by Makie Dunn
Twas 1606 this Parish disjoined frae ithers close by
a separate an’ independent from o’ life wi did try!
By the year 1775, wi’ a population o’ 621,
that was a’there wuz, latter in years twas a larger sum!
The lairds o’ Scotscraig purchased the estate as oor history goes,
considerable influence in the toon, they did show!
By this 19th century, the reminder o’ salmon fishin’ oan the Tay
is an ice hoose in Temtsmuir, an’ is there tae this day!
That’s just a little part o’ oor ancestors tae tell
an’ some names o’ places like “Bishop’s Well!”,
“Auntie Annie’s Wynd” huz since becam a street,
the Auld Kirk, wi its “Spire an’ the Bishop’s Seat”.
A’ thro’ space o’ a hundred years oor toon Tayport seemed tae flourish
frae the times it wiz ca’d Port-On-Craig, wi’ wur jist a Parish,
Oor toon was founded hence the becomin’ o’ the Railway,
the laird o’ Scotscraig hud his duties well afore that day!
Hoo’ever, through a lot o’hard work, an’ plans tae be made
work o’ a’ kinds then jobs plentiful an’ tae be had!
The fowk o’ the toon wuz delighted, the crier ringing his bell,
in the year 1887 shout oot loud “Oyez! Oyez!, a’ve somethin’ tae tell!”
Wi great excitment, a’ githered roon
will it be guid news, or will it bring floom?
“Hear me! Hear me! An important visitor tae us will call,
then ye will ken whit’s ahead, mither’s, fathers, bairns an’ a’!”
Sae the fowk o’ Tayport went a’ doon tae the Quay
tae hear the president clearly announce “This toon becams a Burgh today!”
There wuz cheers a’ round, at last wi wur oan the way,
an’ treated wi’ respect, an’ a local holiday!
Twas weel afore these times, tae Scotscraig Inn fishermen cam across the Tay,
a gentleman poet ran the business, saw fowk whilst visitin’ cud bide till the next day
The beds wur braw an’ comfy, like a snug in a poke,
an’ twas the best in toon, by the way abody spoke!
The Tay Rail Bridge disaster in 1879, mad the restart o’ the goods ferries o’er the Tay,
it was rebuilt an’ reopened in 1887, ane kin still see the girder stumps tae this day!
Twas a cruel storm in December, a wild an’ terrifyin’ night
the guardsman at Wormit Station saw the train a’ disappear frae sicht.
Here wuz oor mairket place, at the harbour by the sea,
a busy place fur the fishermen aye it a’ used tae be!
Elected a police burgh March 1889, a council formed wi’ electrate’s o’ nine
tae keep law an’ orders, an respect was their incline!
A’ the streets then wur mainly wee lanes an’ nae very wide
Tay Street wuz aften muddy an’ puddles frae the watter side!
By the 1920’s pavin’ wiz put doon, tae mak the matter richt
“Nae mair soakit feet” oor toons fowk said wi’ delight!
In 1850 the first sawmill build tae guide the industrial path
ships built for customers, wid frae abroad baith hard an’ sath
Wi’ changed frae gas tae electricity in 1929 yet construction wuz incomplete
there’s some fowk huv gas lanterns as collectors’ items still keep!
Oor local school first built 1876, an’ huz been enlarged twice in its day,
the eldest o’ the pupils noo-a-days goe tae schools a few miles away!
Alangside the school, seperated by a narrow lane an’ a high wall
the Auld Kirk’s square tower stands “eight lairds o’ Scotscraig lay at rest by estate law!”
The experience o’ the second world “Twas a nightmare fur all”,
oor cinema caught fire, at these times mony buildings elsewhere did fall!
In 1946 a year efter the war ended, it was restored tae its prime,
twas ain o’ the best picture hooses a’ durin’ that time!
Wuv had a lot o’ history attached tae the toon by the Tay
oor local factory huz grown thro’ its years that all say!
There’s mony a building nae langer here,
the wormit picnic tunnel disaster wuz the worst o’ its kind a fear!
Twas a local postie oan a walk, found a bairn by the shore,
puir wee lad wiz unclaimed an’ arround aboot four!
The month wuz May, the toon gei oot its hairt,
Aw wur postie tiz loyal each year remembers his duty an’ pairt!
Tho the toon felt fur him “Aye we did dae”,
An’ we are a’ grateful, “May a say!”
The toon, alas, since has declined in mony a way
tiz nae the thrivin community that wuz a hundred years away!
Still we huv wur memories, bath guid an’ bad,
life’s whit ye mak it, grateful ain shud be alsae glad,
Tiz nae much tae ask, sure that tiz true,
an’ as wur lifestyle changed, fashion played its part too!
Dresses got shorter, as ain clearly saw,
the gents clothes also changed, leave them oot that wi’ canna naw!
Oor first golf course established 1817, the club hoose erected 1896 is still there,
it hud its alterations may a say, only tae be fair!
Tho we may nae cattle grazin oan the commons noo
sae ainst a busy toon tiz nae langer too!
Tiz a shame really tae see things disappear frae sicht,
a used tae gae tae the pictures fur one and ninepence oan a Setterday night!
There still remains hooever some o’ the auld toon the day
a the streets interwind so tae join in line tae the market place by the Tay!
An’ huz grown in population immensely frae it wuz born,
sae some o’ the hard work wisnae a’ furlorn!
Wuv still got some industries left, only a few,
oor factory hud a bad fire in the 1950’s sae it wiz built anew!
The mill at Shanwell stands correctly in its place,
near the workers hooses, o’ the 19th century human race!
Sae ain hud tae accept life anew in mony different ways
the toon huz changed a lot since Victorian days
Lucky Scalp wiz pulled doon which stood at the mouth of the Tay
oan a sandbank there’s a landmark left, but is nearly washed away!
There was a road bridge built frae Newport tae Dundee
in 1966 it was opened frae aroond fowks cam tae see
It mad way fur buses, lorries an’ cars, improved the time o’ travelling tae,
an’ fowk cud gei faster, which is not always the thing tae dae!
Tho’ wi dinnae ken whit lies ahead,
wi are aye keen tae work fur wur daily bread!
As the time changes thro’ days an’ years, a say tae ye,
the next step is tae wish oor toon a Happy Centenary!
Makie Dunn
Notes:
Tay Rail disaster - 28th December 1879
Auntie’s Wynd renamed Cross Street in 1910
Picnic Tunnel Disaster - May 1955
The local gas works closed in 1961
Tayport Railway Station was closed to the public on 22nd May 1966
Mr Ian Robertson found the Bairn in May 1971
Mr Hamish Tough MBE now runs the Scott & Fyfe works, still a thriving business today.
Burgh of Tayport Centenary, 1887 - 1987.
I wish to thank the Fife District Library for their generosity of information.