Cee’s Fun Photo Challenge : Buildings & Trees

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As part of “Cee’s Fun Photo Challenge : Buildings & Trees“, I’m posting 8 photographs taken this summer from around southern Fife.

Belvedere Hotel – West Wemyss

This wonderful old building was built in 1927, and used by the Miners’ Welfare Institute until 1952. It then remained derelict until 1986, when it was converted to a hotel. The location was perfect (we very nearly had our wedding reception here 🙂 ), with fantastic views of the old harbour and the Firth of Forth. Unfortunately, it closed down some time prior to 2010, and has been derelict ever since 😦

Now derelict Belvedere Hotel (Built in 1927) - West Wemyss

Now derelict Belvedere Hotel (Built in 1927) – West Wemyss

West Wemyss from Blair Point, near Dysart

West Wemyss from Blair Point, near Dysart

 

St Serf’s Church, Dysart

This wonderful old derelict church was built around 1500 AD, on the site of a cave, where St Serf allegedly lived for a while in approx 550 AD.

St Serfs Church, Dysart. Built circa 1500 AD

St Serfs Church, Dysart. Built circa 1500 AD

 

St Serfs Church, Dysart. St Serf lived in a cave here, approx 500AD

St Serfs Church, Dysart. St Serf lived in a cave here, approx 500AD

 

St Serfs Church, Dysart, from beach

St Serfs Church, Dysart, from beach

 

Dunfermline Abbey and City Chambers

See links below for further information on Dunfermline Abbey and City Chambers

https://fifephotosandart.wordpress.com/2015/09/13/dunfermline-city-chambers/

https://fifephotosandart.wordpress.com/2015/10/27/buttresses-of-dunfermline-abbey/

Dunfermline Abbey

Dunfermline Abbey

 

Dunfermline City Chambers from Dunfermline Abbey

Dunfermline City Chambers from Dunfermline Abbey

 

Frances Colliery – Dysart

Closed in 1985, all that remains is the Head-frame Winding Gear, which survives as a monument to the Fife Coal Mining Industry. the colliery commenced production in 1850, and at it’s peak employed almost 1,500 people.

Frances Colliery Headframe from behind the trees, Dysart

Frances Colliery Headframe from behind the trees, Dysart

 

 

36 thoughts on “Cee’s Fun Photo Challenge : Buildings & Trees”

    • That is a very valid point Gilly, I had never thought about that 🙂 I guess in most cases, a ruin has no roof and is thus open to the elements and therefore seems closer to nature, and hence more beautiful 🙂 Something that is derelict, you feel that it could be restored to it’s former glory, and that process wouldn’t alter nature too much, thus it feels sad to see it getting run down. Well, that’s a theory anyway! 🙂

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  6. Lovely photos of amazing old buildings. St.Serf’s Church and Dunfermline Abbey are probably my favourites, although all your photos are very impressive. What a shame the Belvedere Hotel is now derelict. How sad to sit alone and so unloved. Perhaps someone will buy it and take care of it again. 🙂

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      • Food for thought for the future, Andy. You know the area, so you have a head start. I’d love the challenge, but I’d need a long holiday up there, ‘sussing out’ the territory. 🙂 (I do love holidays!)

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      • It sounds like the perfect excuse for a long holiday in Fife Millie, and remember there is some fascinating geology here too! LOL!! 🙂 Remember, my writing skills are severely limited, it would take me 5 years to write the ‘Introduction’, let alone the first chapter!!

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      • I agree, Fife does sound (and look) like a great place for an extended holiday, whether I write anything or not. A few weeks amongst the rocks would suit me fine. But from what I’ve seen, your writing skills aren’t nearly as bad as you say! 🙂

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  9. Pingback: Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge-Buildings-and-Trees | WoollyMuses

  11. Love the pic of St Serf’s church, Andy! I must give that a look sometime. And the clock on the city chambers – that is very grand indeed! What a concoction of turrets. A Victorian architect’s dream, by the look of it!

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    • Thank’s Jo, you and Colin would love Dysart and West Wemyss I would imagine, both are quite picturesque, and it’s a pleasant walk across the coast between the two villages 🙂
      And you’re right about the City Chambers, the present structure was built between 1875-79, by the guy that also built (well I guess they really mean designed! Lol!!) the Carnegie Library in Dunfermline. (This was the first of all of his libraries that he had built).
      Did you know that Andrew Carnegie had 2,509 libraries built throughout the world, I always knew he was a philanthropist, but I hadn’t realised just how much he gave back to the public, he was an amazing guy – it’s a shame the wealthiest folk nowadays, more often than not, aren’t like him!

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    • Thanks Lorna 🙂 The Belvedere is crying out to be renovated, it’s not just a beautiful building, but it must be in one of the best locations in Fife, if not in the whole of Scotland. I wish they would turn it into an Edwardian museum, I think it would get thousands of visitors each year! It’s a shame Andrew Carnegie isn’t still alive, maybe we could have persuaded him to invest in such a project! 🙂

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      • It is in a great location, that’s true. West Wemyss is one of Fife’s hidden treasures. Have you been to the Walk Inn? Andrew Carnegie might well have been interested, he did so much for the public good.

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      • West Wemyss is definitely that Lorna 🙂 I’ve not been to the Walk Inn, I like the name of it 🙂 Is that the small inn at the east end of the main street? It was just shutting one day last year when we took my parents down to West Wemyss, so we never got a chance to try their fare 😦
        I was talking to Jo (http://the-hazel-tree.com/) yesterday about Andrew Carnegie – I hadn’t realised that he had built over 2,500 public libraries throughout the world!!!! He was a true philanthropist and a great man 🙂

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