The Carnegie Library in Dunfermline has a community gallery, housed within the old entrance hall, which features changing exhibitions. The original library building dates back to 1883 and was financed by one of the town's most famous sons - Andrew Carnegie. Born into a weaving family, young Andrew emigrated to the United States at the age of 12. His cottage birthplace is now an excellent museum in its own right. Carnegie became a very wealthy man in his new homeland after investing in the steel industry and he donated a large chunk of his fortune to good causes. Believing passionately in education for the masses, he established many free public libraries across the world.
The first such facility to be opened was right here in Dunfermline, with Carnegie meeting the £8000 building costs. Extensions were added over the decades but the most significant overhaul came in 2017, when a new museum complex was constructed alongside the library. The main entrance was moved and a modern foyer with reception and shop provides access to the traditional lending and reading rooms on the ground floor, with an escalator whisking visitors up to the new galleries and café (which closed during the pandemic). Lovely gardens were created outside and attractive views of the abbey and Abbot House can be enjoyed from ground level, or through the windows of the upper floors. To reach the community art display, we had to walk through the lending library which thankfully retains much of its antique high wooding shelving, although space has been given over to computer facilities. Libraries must evolve with the times but a similar facility down the road in Kirkcaldy - also housed in a Victorian building - has replaced the traditional fittings with modern metal (and much lower) book stands which - in my opinion - serve only to cheapen the look. Today's exhibition was titled Bho Bheul an Eoin (From the Bird's Mouth) and featured the work of Derek Robertson, a professional wildlife artist who sketches from direct field observation. The project was supported by NatureScot and Bord na Gaidhlig. It was designed to promote the awareness of Gaelic terms for flora and fauna - including new species which may not yet have a name in our old Celtic language. Human intervention is often responsible for the appearance of unfamiliar wildlife in Scotland but this process is also driven by climate change, as more favourable temperatures (for the animals) encourage previously unseen species to migrate further north and flourish - sometimes to the detriment of the established natural order. The collection of art comprised mainly birds but also a range of other wildlife and vegetation. Naturally I gravitated towards our feathered friends, such as the Scottish crossbill (pictured above). I've only seen this bird once in real life.
Born and raised in Fife, Derek Robertson works from his Balmerino studio on the banks of the Tay. Since graduating from Duncan of Jordanstone Art College in Dundee in 1989, he has established a name as one of Scotland's foremost wildlife and landscape artists whose work is exhibited in galleries around the world, including the Woodson Art Museum in Wisconsin, where his paintings are held in the permanent collection. Derek has won numerous awards and was appointed Artist in Residence at the Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve in North Fife. I was instantly drawn to the image of the bee-eater, one of my dream birds, along with the spoonbill. I saw the latter at Montrose last year, but would probably have to travel far further afield to spot the multi-coloured bee-eater. Sightings of these characters are increasing in the UK and this year eight have been spotted in Norfolk. There are 27 types of bee-eaters, mostly found in Africa and Asia. As the name suggests, they target bees and other flying insects such as dragonflies. Their preferred tactic is to sit patiently then dart out from a perch to catch the insects in mid-air. Cleverly, they bash the bee against a branch to remove the sting and venom. I enjoyed the exhibition and another painting that grabbed my attention was the rose finch. These sparrow-sized birds normally inhabit northern Asia and parts of eastern and central Europe, but are known to breed sporadically in Britain. Afterwards, we strolled across to the recently-opened café at Abbot House. It was nice enough to sit outside and we ordered coffee and cake. Following a period of uncertainty when Abbot House was closed over a lease dispute, the beautiful A-listed building is once again accessible to the public. Instantly recognisable from its reddish pink limewash, Dunfermline's oldest property is currently undergoing a phased programme of renovation. The oldest parts of the house can be traced back to at least the 16th century and the building is now securely in the hands of a charitable organisation. Grants were obtained from the Carnegie Trust, Fife Council, the Architectural Heritage Fund and the Common Good Fund. This money facilitated the opening of a gift shop in the east wing and artisan studios on the upper floor. Further funding was sourced from Historic Environment Scotland to improve the exterior. Additional projects are in the pipeline and the mixed-use model can be summarised as follows: ground floor - socialising, middle - learning, upper - creative.
It is indeed great to hear this historic building has been saved for future generations, particularly as it sits slap bang in the Heritage Quarter. Dunfermline has astonishing potential as an international tourist destination with its links to Andrew Carnegie and Robert the Bruce (buried in the Abbey). Throw in the mother of William Wallace, whose grave lies under a thorn tree in the abbey churchyard, and you have fantastic threads of history to play with. That's before we even consider the seven ancient Scottish kings known to rest on the old abbey site. Cruise ships regularly dock at nearby Rosyth and Edinburgh will be a popular day trip among passengers. If Dunfermline could siphon off a fraction of that trade, it would make a big difference to the local economy of the Auld Grey Toun. Or simply grab the tourists before they make their way up to the Highlands. Dunfermline has lots to offer and the rail link to the capital city is certainly useful. The High Street has seen better days but this - sadly - is an issue affecting many towns and cities across the land. The old system of depending heavily on retail chain stores to draw footfall is no longer fit for purpose. New incentives have to be developed and we saw a bit of that in action today.
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