History I

The Building of the Raith Lake

TAKEN FROM THE NEW STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF SCOTLAND VOL.X1

Hydrography.-THERE IS NO STREAM OR WATER OF ANY CONSEQUENCE RUNNING THROUGH OR CONNECTED TO THIS PARISH (ABBOTSHALL) THE STREAMLET FLOWING FROM LOCHGELLY, IN THE PARISH OF AUCHTERDERRAN, AND WHICH AFTERWARDS FALLS INTO THE WATER OF OAR IN THE SAME PARISH, TOUCHES IT FOR A LITTLE DISTANCE ON THE NORTH-WEST, AS DOES THE TIEL ON THE SOUTH-WEST, AND BOTH WATERS ARE USEFUL IN TURNING THE DIFFERENT MILLS WHICH ARE SITUATED ON THEM. THE SMALL BROOKE THAT RUNS FROM CAMILLA LOCH, IN THE PARISH OF AUCHTERTOOL, ALSO BENDS ITS COARSE THROUGH THIS PARISH, WHERE IT JOINS THE TIEL PREVIOUS TO ITS FALLING INTO THE SEA AT THE WEST BRIDGE. IN ITS WAY, THE CAMILLA STREAM SERVES AS THE PRINCIPAL FEEDER TO THAT BEAUTIFUL AND PICTURESQUE SHEET OF WATER KNOWN BY THE NAME OF RAITH LAKE. THIS LAKE IS SITUATED IN THE HEART OF THE RAITH PLEASURE GROUNDS, AND AT THE BASE OF THE HILL ON WHICH THE MANSION HOUSE IS PLACED, WAS FORMED BY THE PRESENT PROPRIETOR IN THE YEAR 1811-1812 AND IS ONE OF THE FINEST ARTIFICIAL CONSTRUCTIONS OF THE KIND THAT IS ANYWHERE TO BE SEEN. IT IS SOMEWHAT OF AN OVAL FORM, ABOUT A MILE IN LENGTH AND AT CERTAIN POINTS A QUARTER OF A MILE IN BREADTH. THE EXTENT OF THE GROUND IT COVERS IS NOT LESS THAN 21 ACRES, AND THE WATER IS AT SOME PLACES 25 FEET DEEP. IT WAS ORIGINALLY AN EXTENSIVE HOLLOW, AS IF SCOOPED OUT, IN SOME MEASURE, FOR THE PURPOSE, BY THE HAND OF NATURE;-AND BY FILLING IT UP IN SOME PLACES, AND DEEPENING IT AND EXTENDING IT AT OTHERS, THE WORK WAS IN A SHORT TIME COMPLETED; A SLUICE IS LEFT AT THE CENTRE BY WHICH CAN BE FILLED OR EMPTIED AT PLEASURE. THE WHOLE IS FINISHED IN A MASTERLY AND INGENIOUS MANNER AND THE EXPENSE WAS VERY INCONSIDERABLE, CONSIDERING THE SURFACE IT COVERS, AND THE QUANTITY OF WATER IT CONTAINS. THE LAKE ABOUNDS WITH THE VARIETY OF FISHES SUCH AS TROUT,PERCH,TAMEL,AND EEL. THERE ARE SEVERAL PLEASURE BOATS ON IT BELONGING TO THE FAMILY, AND THE ANGLER MAY FIND ABUNDANCE OF AMUSEMENT. IT IS GRACED WITH SOME BEAUTIFUL WHITE SWANS, WHICH MAY NOW AND THEN BE SEEN FLOATING MAJESTICALLY ALONG, AND WILD DUCKS ARE FLYING ABOUT IN VARIOUS DIRECTIONS. ON EVERY SIDE THE LAKE IS SURROUNDED WITH DELIGHTFUL WALKS, WHICH, AS WELL AS THE OTHER WALKS ABOUT WRAITH, ARE, THROUGH THE LIBERALITY OF THE PROPRIETOR, AT ALL TIMES ACCESSIBLE TO THE MORE RESPECTABLE PORTION OF THE COMMUNITY. TO STRANGERS AND OTHERS, WHO, DURING THE SUMMER AND AUTUMN MONTHS, COME FROM DIFFERENT QUARTERS OF THE COUNTRY, TO VIEW THE FINE SCENERY AND HIGHLY DECORATED GROUNDS OF RAITH, THE LAKE IS A PRINCIPAL OBJECT OF ATTRACTION AND ADMIRATION.

PLEASE REMEMBER THE RAITH ESTATE IS A PRIVATE ESTATE SO BE COURTEOUS AND GIVE THE PRESENT LAIRD RICHARD H.L. MUNRO-FERGUSON THE PRIVACY HE IS ENTITLED TO

TAKEN FROM THE FIFE FREE PRESS SAT. AUGUST 21 1965

ANGLERS IN KIRKCALDY WILL SOON BE ABLE TO FISH FOR TROUT IN PLENTY WITHOUT HAVING TO PACK THERE GEAR AND TRAVEL OUTWITH THE TOWN. A SCHEME TO RESTOCK THE MAIN LAKE AND A SMALLER ONE IN THE RAITH ESTATE,KIRKCALDY,HAS BEEN STARTED BY THE OWNERS OF THE ESTATE,NOVAR ESTATES LTD.,KIRKCALDY.PIKE AND PERCH WHICH PRESENTLY INHABIT THE 20 ACRE MAIN LAKE AND THE SMALLER LAKE KNOWN LOCALLY AS THE MILL DAM , WHICH MEASURES ABOUT 6 ACRES, ARE BEING KILLED OFF BY MEANS OF POISON IN PREPARATION FOR THE RESTOCKING. THE MILL DAM HAS BEEN DRAINED AND DEAD FISH, INCLUDING SOME TROUT ALREADY IN THE LAKES ,WILL BE COLLECTED THEREAFTER THE CLEARING PROCESS HAS BEEN COMPLEATED,THE SMALLER LAKE WILL BE REFILLED AGAIN.Mr JOHN DRYSDALE FACTOR OF RAITH ESTATE IN WHICH A PRIVATE HOUSING SITE HAS BEEN DEVELOPED, SAID IT WAS INTENDED TO RESTOCK THE LAKES LATER THIS YEAR. THE SIZE OF THE FISH USED WOULD HAVE A BEARING ON WHEN THE LAKES WOULD BE FISHABLE, BUT HE SAID IT WAS HOPED THEY WOULD BE READY IN MARCH OF NEXT YEAR." THE LAKES WILL BE STOCKED TO CAPACITY"MR DRYSDALE ADDED "AND HOPE THIS WILL TURN INTO A MINIATURE LOCH LEVEN.WE UNDERSTAND THE FEEDING FOR TROUT IS SO GOOD HERE THAT THEY SHOULD DEVELOP VERY WELL" THE WHOLE OPERATION IS BEING SUPERVISED BY THE FRESH WATER FISHERIES LABORATORY,PITLOCHRY.