Mining villages in Fife

[marypryde]

Records in SP indicate that my Pryde family, mostly coal miners, lived during the entire 19th century in the village of Woodside, Largo, Fife. Can anyone provide current information on this village? If I were to find and visit Woodside, would there be anything of the mining life left to see? I have the impression there was perhaps a row of miners housing as my people were at various times in several different numbered "Woodside House" addresses. Some also worked as Agr. Outdoor Workers so I assume there were nearby farms. I can't find much on the web since Woodside is a tiny hamlet. If present-day Woodside is not worth a visit, are there places that would give me the "flavor" of 19th Century Fife mining life?

[Anne H]

Hi Mary,

Welcome to TalkingScot.

I'm afraid I don't know anything about Woodside, past or present, but thought you might like to have a look at the 1861 directory on this site...
http://www.fifefhs.org/Records/Directory/largo.htm

There are a few Pryde's mentioned and in particular, a William Pryde, grocer from Woodside.

If you haven't already done so, why not contact the Fife Family History Society...I'm sure they would be able to help with your query.

Regards,
Anne H

[Tracey]

Hello Mary

In our sources tab above there is a link to Fife Pits that may be of some use if you havnt already found it.
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/mmartin/fifepits/

[LesleyB]

Hi Mary
I think this might be the correct Woodside here:
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/8398295

Summerlee Heritage Park at Coatbridge in Lanarkshire would give you a good feel for the houses and the life lived as the same type of mining was done there:
http://www.lanarkshire.com/?node_id=1.3.12
http://www.activitypoint.co.uk/cgi-bin/ ... ialMuseum)

Re-created addit mine and miners' cottages. Experience the miners' cramped underground conditions and then see how mining folk lived from the 1860s to the 1960s in the cottages' recreated room settings.

Pictures of some of the houses at Summerlee are here:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=summerl ... =all&s=int

Best wishes
Lesley

[AndrewP]

Hi Mary,

The Woodside in Largo parish can be seen on a modern map at current OS map showing Woodside, Largo parish.

Click here for an aerial view of Woodside.

Or for an 1890s map, see http://www.nls.uk/maps/os/2nd_ed_list.html then select sheet 41 - North Berwick. Largo parish is the blue-coloured one against the left edge of the map. Within that Woodside can be found in the north-east of that parish.

All the best,

AndrewP

[LesleyB]

Ah so,

I think this might be the correct Woodside here:
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/8398295

The link I gave is not the correct Woodside then as that one is near Glenrothes. I did wonder...

[AndrewP]

Hi Mary,

See also http://www.geograph.org.uk/browse.php?p=636652

All the best,

AndrewP

[nelmit]

Records in SP indicate that my Pryde family, mostly coal miners, lived during the entire 19th century in the village of Woodside, Largo, Fife. Can anyone provide current information on this village? If I were to find and visit Woodside, would there be anything of the mining life left to see? I have the impression there was perhaps a row of miners housing as my people were at various times in several different numbered "Woodside House" addresses. Some also worked as Agr. Outdoor Workers so I assume there were nearby farms. I can't find much on the web since Woodside is a tiny hamlet. If present-day Woodside is not worth a visit, are there places that would give me the "flavor" of 19th Century Fife mining life?

I can't see a mention of Woodside (the nearest colliery appears to be Teasses) but this site is really informative about Scottish Mining. http://www.scottishmining.co.uk

Regards,
Annette

[nelmit]

A couple of Pryde names here but the lived at Kelty. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.anc ... rans2.html Thought I'd throw it in just in case.

Regards,
Annette

[marypryde]

please keep this wonderful information coming. This is the next best thing to living in Edinburgh and being able to take a nice Sunday drive to see for myself! Everything is being added to my "trip planning" pile.