Also known as Dunfermline Coaltown, this former colliery village stands in the parish of Dunfermline, W Fife, 2 miles (3.2 km) to the north of Dunfermline town centre.
Known as Moncur in mediaeval times, its name was changed to Dunfermline Coaltown in the 18th Century and then to Townhill in the early 19th century, reflecting its location at the top of a hill leading up from Dunfermline. In 1781-3 a wooden rail track was built to transport coal to Inverkeithing on the Firth of Forth.
The village was once the site of the Dunfermline town gallows and the Cairncubie Spring northeast of the village was an important source of drinking water for the town. The last remaining pit at Muircockhall was used for training until it closed in 1970.
