Andrew Carnegie Statue

Pittencrieff house and what is now Pittencrieff Park used to be a private estate. In fact, the owner could claim the title, Laird of Pittencrieff and we have Andrew Carnegie saying in March 1903 writing to a friend, “Pittencrieff is the world of charm to me and has been since childhood, no title as precious in all the world as Laird of Pittencrieff.” Carnegie had just purchased the Park and exclaimed, “Sweetest event in my life in way of material satisfaction”.

Back in his childhood, due to Carnegies’ father, uncle and grandfather complaining that the owners (Hunt family) should allow everyone access to the Dunfermline Palace grounds, the whole family were banned from entering the private estate, even on the one day a year the land was opened to Dunfermline residents. 

Andrew Carnegie
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Carnegie purchased the Park from the Hunt family who hit financial troubles and after two years of negotiation, he became Laird of Pittencrieff. He donated the house and park to Dunfermline with an endowment to maintain it and bring ’sweetness and light’ to the population during their industrial expansion.

A walk around the park today will reward you with flora and fauna from across the globe. Search for the Sequoia trees, discover the peace pole, listen out for the peacocks spot an ancient telephone box and avoid the squirrels. Known as ’The Glen’ to locals, it’s a Park worth further exploration, and recently won Scotland’s public vote in 2019 as “Scotland’s Best Park” by Fields in Trust charity.

Weblinks:
Pittencrieff Park

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