Milton of Balgonie


Fife

A village in S Central Fife, situated on the River Leven 2 miles (3 km) south of Markinch. It grew up as a riverside mill town near Balgonie Castle, its population in the 18th and 19th centuries engaging in coal mining, weaving, spinning and brick making. In addition to a meal mill and two spinning mills, a flax mill, employing 265 people in 1841, operated from 1806 to 1885. There is a Miners' Institute (1926), a primary school (1823), a church (1836) and a playing field.

Oil was discovered here in a well drilled into Lower Limestone Formation rocks in 1985. The amounts were however not commercially viable.

To the south of the river lie the foundations of Balfour House which was the birthplace of James Beaton, and Mary Beaton who was one of the 'Four Maries' , ladies-in-waiting of Mary Queen of Scots.


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