Kelty (Scottish Gaelic: Cailtidh) is a former coal mining village located in Fife, Scotland. Lying in the heart of the old mining heartlands of Fife, it is situated on the Fife/Kinross-shire boundary and has a population of around 6,000 residents.[2] This was nearer to 9,000 when the coal mining industry was still operational in late 1970s and early 1980s.

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Kelty
Kelty Location within Fife
Population	6,760 (mid-2020 est.)[1]
OS grid reference	NT143941
Council area	Fife
Lieutenancy area	Fife
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	KELTY
Postcode district	KY4
Dialling code	01383
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath
Scottish Parliament	Cowdenbeath
List of places UK Scotland 56.133°N 3.380°W / 56.133; -3.380

Origins

The origin of the name of the village is somewhat obscure. It could come from the Scottish Gaelic coillte or coilltean meaning 'wood' or 'woodland' or it could come from the Gaelic cailtidh, a reduced form of the early Gaelic *caleto-dubron, meaning 'hard water'. In either case, it was probably originally a Pictish name that was later adapted to Gaelic.[3]

The town began around 1850 as a mining town linked to several coal mines in the area, mainly owned by the Fife Coal Company and continued to expand with the increase of mines until 1930.[4]

Kelty is located next to the main Edinburgh to Perth road, the M90 motorway, and as a result of this has seen many houses built primarily for commuters to Edinburgh over the past five years.

Kelty has two primary schools, St. Joseph's and Kelty Primary. After primary school, the majority of pupils go on to Beath High School, a comprehensive school in Cowdenbeath, or the local Roman Catholic school, St Columba's High School in Dunfermline. Kelty also has a modern community centre, and a modern library.

The local football team is Kelty Hearts. In 2022 they were promoted to League 1 for the first time as League 2 champions.

Church

Kelty was part of the parish of Beath (Cowdenbeath) and had a quoad sacra mission church erected in 1894. The mission was upgraded to a chapel in 1897, its minister being Rev George Hunter MA who went to Liverpool in 1903. He was replaced by Rev William Henderson Adam who went to Calderbank in 1919 and was replaced by Rev William Thomson. It was given status as a separate parish, disjoined from Cowdenbeath, in 1925.[5]

War Memorial

The war memorial was erected in 1921 and was designed by sculptor William Birnie Rhind.[6]

Notable people

• Claire Baker, MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife[7]
• Stephen Husband, professional footballer[8]
• Willie Penman, professional footballer
• Willie Rennie, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats (2011–2021)
• Alex Rowley, Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party (2015–17)
• Robert Stewart, Draughts World Champion (1922-1933)[9][10][11][12]

Sport

Kelty Hearts won Scottish League Two in 2022, having been promoted from the Lowland League in 2021.

Blairadam House

Blairadam House, just north of Kelty but on the west side of the M90, was the long-term home of the Adam family: William Adam, Robert Adam, John Adam, William Adam of Blair Adam, Charles Adam etc.

References

External links

• Media related to Kelty at Wikimedia Commons
• Kelty on Fife Council website
• Kelty on Scottish Mining Website

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