OS grid reference NT361988 Sovereign state United Kingdom Postcode district KY8 Dialling code 01592 Lieutenancy area Fife UK parliament constituency Glenrothes | Country Scotland Post town Leven Local time Sunday 11:08 PM Council area Fife Scottish parliament Kirkcaldy | |
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Population 16,391 (2001 census)
est. 16,240 (2006),
including Methil Weather 2°C, Wind S at 3 km/h, 94% Humidity | ||
Buckhaven is a town on the east coast of Fife, Scotland, on the Firth of Forth between East Wemyss and Methil. Buckhaven is on the Fife Coastal Path, and near to Wemyss Caves and Largo Bay.
Contents
Map of Buckhaven, Leven, UK
History
The name Buckhaven is probably from the Scots terms buck or bukk "to gush out" and haven or "harbour".
Once a thriving weaving village and fishing port, in 1831 it was reported as having the second-largest fishing fleet in Scotland with a total of 198 boats. Fishing declined during the 19th century, but in the 1860s Buckhaven developed more into a mining town. Although coal waste blackened its beaches and silted up its now non-existent harbour, it later became a Fife coast holiday resort and recreation area for locals. Nowadays, it is classed as one of Fife's 'Regeneration areas' in need of regeneration socially and economically.
The fishing community of Buckhaven is said to have been largely the descendants of Norsemen who settled there in the 9th century. Centuries later Buckhaven's fisherfolk bought an Episcopal Church in St Andrews in 1869 and transported it stone by stone to Buckhaven, using fishing boats. The church was restored in the 1980s and converted into a theatre. Many years before, St Andrews had been combined with the other local Church of Scotland churches into one parish. The building continued to be owned by Buckhaven Parish Church after the conversion.
Buckhaven Museum has displays on the history of the fishing industry.
Census
According to estimates in 2006, the population including Methil stood at around 16,240: however, the Levenmouth area including Kennoway, Leven, the Wemyss villages, Largo Bay and Windygates has a combined population of around 37,410. The population of Buckhaven, Methil, Leven is 24,474, according to the 2011 Census.