Kirkcaldy Co-operatives
The town of Linktown (often referred to as Links) was on the border between the parish of Abbotshall and the parish of Kirkcaldy, to the south of Kirkcaldy town centre. It was seen as part of Kirkcaldy in the Pigot's Scotland Directory of 1825-26. This directory lists Pathhead, St. Clair Town (Sinclairtown) and Gallatown as villages in the parish of Dysart, with the Pathhead businesses listed in Kirkcaldy. Kirkcaldy expanded into all four toens with the growth of industry and they formally became part of Kirkcaldy in 1876.
Dysart was a Royal Burgh. It was made a part of Kirkcaldy by act of Parliament in 1930.
In January 1968 Kirkcaldy & District (see Pathhead and Sinclairtown), East Fife and Markinch & District voted to merge[1]. Kirkcaldy & District and East Fife unanimouly voted for merger while Markinch & District voted for merger but not by the required two thirds majority. Kirkcaldy & District, Buckhaven and East Fife merged in May 1968 to form Central & East Fife, based in Kirkcaldy. Dysart joined Central & East Fife in 1971.
Central & East FIfe joined with Dunfermline in 1980 to form Fife Regional. Fife Regional joined with Forth Valley and Central Fife at the beginning of 1987 to form Fife and Forth. However Fife Regional was heavily in debt, so the society had to be rescued by a CWS takeover in June 1988.
DYSART CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY 1846-1971
The society was formed in 1846 as Dysart Co-operative Society. As early as 1849 the society is recorded as paying a dividend based on purchases - the dividend was 10d per £1[2]. The dividend was calculated after paying 5% on share capital and 10% to a sink fund[3]. BY 1864 the society added 5% for a funeral fund and was adding 5% for an ailment fund[4]
By the early 1880s the society was in financial difficulty. This was blamed on dividends being declared before creditors were paid and members being allowed to run up a credit account. In 1886 the unpaid accounts were £2716 and the member's debt was £1204 with the building valued by the society at £2502 by the society[5]. It was also noted that the society prices were high and quality not very good. The society joined the SCWS shortly after this and by the early 1890s was trading successfuly again.
The society joined Central & East Fife in 1971 - see above.
| DYSART CO-OP SOCIETY LTD | ||
|---|---|---|
| File:DysartCoop.1Pt.jpg | ||
| Source | (DRR) | |
| Filename | DysartCoop.1Pt | |
| Value | 1 PINT | |
| Add Desc. | ||
| Size (mm) | 25 | |
| Manufacture | Green Plastic | |
| Notes | ||
KIRKCALDY DISTRICT EQUITABLE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY 1861-1899
The society was formed in June 1861 and had opened a Links branch in 1862[6]. It was registered as the Kirkcaldy District Equitable Co-operative Society but was also known as the Kirkcaldy Co-operative Society.
By 1899 business was not doing very well, with the society declaring no dividends[7]. However the society did own valuable property. This led to a motion for the society to be dissolved. The motion was passed and the property sold in 1900. The final dividend was paid to members in 1902.
| KIRKCALDY CO-OPERATIVE SOCY | ||
|---|---|---|
| File:KcaldCoop.£1.jpg | ||
| Source | (DRR) | |
| Filename | KcaldCoop.£1 | |
| Value | ONE POUND | |
| Add Desc. | ||
| Size (mm) | 23 | |
| Manufacture | Brass | |
| Notes | ||
LINKS MEAL SOCIETY before 1813-1863
The society was formed before the date on the token and is listed in Pigot's 1825-26 Directory of Scotland.
The society had it' own hall, the Meal Society Hall, which was used for a Chartist rally in 1841. In 1860 it was reported that the society was considering changing to a bread baking society[8]. A dividend of 1s 8d per £1 was declard that was to be paid in goods.
When the society was dissolved in 1863 many of the members had passed away. This meant that by 1879 all of the society's funds had not been paid to members or their surviving relatives[9]
As with the Fruchie Meal Society tokens, these tokens would have been farthings for use by members. At this time lead was being used for farthing tokens, with issue dates of 1811 to 1813 being on several of them.
| LMS | ||
|---|---|---|
| File:LinksSoc.Meal.F.jpg | ||
| Source | (N Brodie Auction) | |
| Filename | LinksSoc.Meal.F | |
| Value | ¼d - not stated on token | |
| Add Desc. | LMS above 1813 on reverse | |
| Size (mm) | 22 | |
| Manufacture | Lead | |
| Notes | ||
LINKS BREAD SOCIETY 1808-1921
The society was formed in 1808[10].
In October 1920 a meeting was called to approve sale of the property to Kirkcaldy Bakeries for £2000 as a going concern, wih the society being dissolved[11]. The society was wound up in March 1921[12]. All claims on surplus funds had to be lodged within 14 days of the original notice date.
| LINKS BREAD SOCY | ||
|---|---|---|
| File:LinksSoc.Bread.H.jpg | ||
| Source | (DRR) | |
| Filename | LinksSoc.Bread.H | |
| Value | ½d | |
| Add Desc. | ||
| Size (mm) | Octagon 22 | |
| Manufacture | Plated Iron Bracteate | |
| Notes | ||
| File:LinksSoc.Bread.1.jpg | ||
| Source | (DRR) | |
| Filename | LinksSoc.Bread.1 | |
| Value | ½d | |
| Add Desc. | ||
| Size (mm) | Octagon 22 | |
| Manufacture | Plated Iron Bracteate | |
| Notes | ||
| File:LinksSoc.Bread.20.jpg | ||
| Source | (DRR) | |
| Filename | LinksSoc.Bread.20 | |
| Value | 20 | |
| Add Desc. | ||
| Size (mm) | Octagon 25 | |
| Manufacture | Plated Iron Bracteate | |
| Notes | ||
LINKS NEW BREAD SOCIETY before 1825-1965
The society is listed in Pigot's 1825-26 Directory of Scotland.
The society was converted to a limited comany in 1939 by dissolving the original society and issuing shares in the new company for shares in the society. Links New Bread Society Limited went into volountary liquidation in 1965.
| LINKS NEW BREAD SOCY | ||
|---|---|---|
| File:LinksSoc.NBread.H.jpg | ||
| Source | (DRR) | |
| Filename | LinksSoc.NBread.H | |
| Value | ½d | |
| Add Desc. | Small letters, large number | |
| Size (mm) | 22 | |
| Manufacture | Plated Iron Bracteate | |
| Notes | ||
| File:LinksSoc.NBread.Ha.jpg | ||
| Source | (DRR) | |
| Filename | LinksSoc.NBread.Ha | |
| Value | ½d | |
| Add Desc. | Large letters, small number | |
| Size (mm) | 22 | |
| Manufacture | Plated Iron Bracteate | |
| Notes | ||
| File:LinksSoc.NBread.1.jpg | ||
| Source | (DRR) | |
| Filename | LinksSoc.NBread.1 | |
| Value | 1d | |
| Add Desc. | ||
| Size (mm) | 24 | |
| Manufacture | Plated Iron Bracteate | |
| Notes | ||
| File:LinksSoc.NBread.20.jpg | ||
| Source | (DRR) | |
| Filename | LinksSoc.NBread.20 | |
| Value | 20 | |
| Add Desc. | Small letters, large number | |
| Size (mm) | Triangle 23x20 | |
| Manufacture | Plated Iron Bracteate | |
| Notes | ||
PATHHEAD AND SINCLAIRTOWN CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY 1891-1968
The society was formed in 1891 as Pathhead & Sinclairtown Reform Co-operative Society. It was also known as Pathhead & Sinclairtown.
The society voted to merged with Burntisland in 1947 to form Kirkcaldy & District[13]. However Burntisland rejected the amalgamation by a majorty in their June confirmation vote. Pathhead & Sinclairtown changed their name to Kirkcaldy & District in November of that year.
The society joined with others to form Central & East Fife in 1968 - see above.
| PATHHEAD & SINCLAIRTOWN COOPE SOCY LTD | ||
|---|---|---|
| File:P&SCoop.H.jpg | ||
| Source | (DRR) | |
| Filename | P&SCoop.H | |
| Value | ½d | |
| Add Desc. | COAL | |
| Size (mm) | 19 | |
| Manufacture | Silvered Zinc | |
| Notes | ||
| File:P&SCoop.1.jpg | ||
| Source | (DRR) | |
| Filename | P&SCoop.1 | |
| Value | 1d | |
| Add Desc. | COAL 1 points to H | |
| Size (mm) | 22 | |
| Manufacture | Silvered Zinc | |
| Notes | ||
| File:P&SCoop.1a.jpg | ||
| Source | ||
| Filename | P&SCoop.1a | |
| Value | 1d | |
| Add Desc. | COAL 1 points to TH | |
| Size (mm) | 22 | |
| Manufacture | Silvered Zinc | |
| Notes | ||
| File:P&SCoop.2.jpg | ||
| Source | (DRR) | |
| Filename | P&SCoop.2 | |
| Value | 2d | |
| Add Desc. | COAL | |
| Size (mm) | 24 | |
| Manufacture | Silvered Zinc | |
| Notes | ||
| File:P&SCoop.6.jpg | ||
| Source | (DRR) | |
| Filename | P&SCoop.6 | |
| Value | 6d | |
| Add Desc. | COAL milled edge | |
| Size (mm) | 19 | |
| Manufacture | Brass | |
| Notes | ||
| File:P&SCoop.6a.jpg | ||
| Source | (DRR) | |
| Filename | P&SCoop.6a | |
| Value | 6d | |
| Add Desc. | COAL plain edge | |
| Size (mm) | 20 | |
| Manufacture | Brass | |
| Notes | ||
| File:P&SCoop.6b.jpg | ||
| Source | ||
| Filename | P&SCoop.6b | |
| Value | 6d | |
| Add Desc. | COAL uniface | |
| Size (mm) | 20 | |
| Manufacture | Brass | |
| Notes | ||
| File:P&SCoop.8.jpg | ||
| Source | (DRR) | |
| Filename | P&SCoop.8 | |
| Value | 8d | |
| Add Desc. | COAL | |
| Size (mm) | 22 | |
| Manufacture | Brass | |
| Notes | ||
| File:P&SCoop.8a.jpg | ||
| Source | (DRR) | |
| Filename | P&SCoop.8a | |
| Value | 8d | |
| Add Desc. | COAL uniface | |
| Size (mm) | 22 | |
| Manufacture | Brass | |
| Notes | ||
| File:P&SCoop.1S.jpg | ||
| Source | (DRR) | |
| Filename | P&SCoop.1S | |
| Value | 1/- | |
| Add Desc. | COAL | |
| Size (mm) | 24 | |
| Manufacture | Brass | |
| Notes | ||
| File:P&SCoop.1S.jpg | ||
| Source | (DRR) | |
| Filename | P&SCoop.1S | |
| Value | 1/- | |
| Add Desc. | COAL uniface | |
| Size (mm) | 24 | |
| Manufacture | Brass | |
| Notes | ||
- ↑ The Scotsman, Jan 1968, page 10
- ↑ Fife Herald, 25 Jan 1849, page 3
- ↑ Fifeshire Journal, 19 Nov 1857, page 6
- ↑ Dundee Advertiser, 14 Nov 1864, page 4
- ↑ Fifeshire Advertiser, 04 Jan 1879
- ↑ Dundee Advertiser, 27 Dec 1862, page 4
- ↑ Motherwell Times, 29 Sep 1899, page 3
- ↑ Dunfermline Saturday Press, 11 Aug 1860, page 3
- ↑ Fifeshire Advertiser, 04 Jan 1879, page 3
- ↑ The Edinburgh Gazette, Issue 6172, Page 357, 27 Apr 1852
- ↑ Fife Free Press, & Kirkcaldy Guardian, 23 Oct 1920, page 4
- ↑ Fife Free Press, & Kirkcaldy Guardian, 02 Apr 1921, page
- ↑ Dundee Courier, 24 May 1947, page 4