The Cellardyke Echo – 26/11/2020

This week – the Obituary of David Fowler who gifted money for the building of Cellardyke Town hall but died before it’s completion – and – The Pioneer – an attempt to encourage the fishermen to use a safer sailing rig,- according to the article and the fact the boat was in high demand and sold to a Lowestoft Skipper this seemed a very successful experiment. However even Robert Cunningham the Cellardyke skipper when replacing this vessel the following year returned to the more dangerous lug rig.

1880

The handsome block of houses built by Mr Thomas Brown in James Street, just opposite the property of the late Treasurer Davidson, have now been all sold. The houses are of two storeys with attics, and are fitted up so as to give every possible convenience. Mr James Pratt is the proprietor of the outmost house, Mr Alex. Thomson (Pratt) of the centre one, and Mr Alex. Birrell of the west most. The price of each has been somewhere about £400 Treasurer Brown has, we hear, taken other feus in Rodger Street, where he has already built nine houses, all sold and occupied.

1881

Return of the Boats. —By yesterday afternoon, with the exception of eight or nine wind bound on the Yorkshire coast, the East of Fife boats had returned from the Yarmouth fishing. They have had splendid luck, the earnings of the hundred crews so being estimated at average of nothing less than which would give the magnificent whole of £30,000. The crowning success is in the case of the Cellardyke boat Confidence, John Pratt master, who has fished the hitherto unapproached figure of £710.

The Wreck of the Fifeshire Boats.—The Cellardyke boat Useful has become total wreck at Boulmer, but the effects of the crew and most of the fishing gear were saved. The St Monans boat James Innes is also a total loss, while the Crew saved nothing but the clothes they stood in. Both crews reached home on Tuesday night, and all speak in the warmest praise of the kindness and sympathy shown to them by the fishermen of Northumberland. The boats are fortunately insured in the Fraserburgh Club, the one for £200 and the other for £150.

DEATH A LEADING NATIVE OF CELLARDYKE. —No little surprise and regret was excited in a wide circle here that David Fowler, Esquire, of the leading firm of Messrs Fowler, general merchants, Adelaide, had died suddenly at his villa in Norwood, near London. Mr Fowler was sprung from a stock that has given many a sea captain to the old port of Anstruther; but by his mother’s side, as well as by birth, was allied to Cellardyke, where we find one his James Miller ancestors, for full sixty years the trusted mandatory of the lairds of Kilrenny. Like his townsman, Mr Stephen Williamson, M.P., he was indebted for his education the burgh school of East Anstruther, which, if no longer under the prestige of the renowned dominie, Martin, was then doing good work, in the branches, under Mr Walker Brodie. His next minary was not the academy or the college, but his uncle’s curing yard, in order to fit him for the practical oversight of a branch trade which had sprung into the first consequence through the return the herring to the Forth. He, at the same time, took an active interest in his father’s shop, which, as a fishing warehouse, was already like a household word on the coast. His father, Mr James Fowler was a man of extraordinary foresight and energy, and it was not long being seen that the son had his own share of those splendid qualities. This was no less true of his public spirit, and we find him one of the leaders in the little band who instituted the local Savings Bank and the Literary Society, while those who knew his many alms deeds- blessing like dew in the night- can well understand the kindly feeling cherished for him by the community.

He married, when quite a young man, Miss Kerr the accomplished teacher of the Infant School, but his domestic life was not passed in Cellardyke. The magnificent gold discoveries of Australia filled the world drunk, as it has been said, with excitement and wonder; but amongst the few who could see and foresee were the Messrs Fowler, who opened a mercantile house in the city of Adelaide. Its personal superintendence was assumed by Mr Fowler, who soon developed one of the largest and most influential establishments in the province. The beautiful sympathies which had animated him in the old land also found new and wider issues, but, suffice to say, that these were so well recognised by the citizens that he was called again and again to the Legislative chamber. He returned some years ago to preside over the London house; but that his native town has been ever near to his heart may be gathered from the fact that he and Mr Williamson, M.P., had concluded arrangements for the erection of new public buildings in Cellardyke, to include a commodious Town Hall, with recreation and refreshment-rooms, at a cost of about £3000.

Opinions may differ to the utility the scheme, but the gift in Mr Fowler’s case, at least, was altogether disinterested, and can only have emanated from a heartful wish for the welfare of the community. The donor, let us also remember, was in delicate health, which often, we see, comes like a curtain between the invalid and the world. Mr Fowler is survived by his amiable partner and a family of several children. One of his daughters was married some months ago, and is now settled in Germany; and his oldest son embarked for the benefit his health on a voyage to Adelaide, it sad to think, little more than week before this melancholy event. The grave of this lamented benefactor is side by side with that of beloved daughter in the picturesque cemetery of Norwood. He has fallen as one in the noonday of life, being little more than fifty four years of age.

1882

A meeting of the Parochial Board of Kilrenny was held in Cellardyke on Saturday—Baillie Sharp presiding. A resolution regarding the Ward’s sense of the loss sustained by the death of Mr Thomas Brown, who had acted as registrar of births, &c., during the past seventeen years, having been adopted, four applications for the vacant office were submitted. Three of the candidates were duly nominated, and the result was found to be as follows :—David Ritchie, inspector of poor, 17 ; Thomas Brown , quarry master, 9; D Bruce, postmaster, Cellardyke, 7. Mr Ritchie, having a clear majority, was then declared elected.

1883

NOTICE. NOTICE. NOTICE.

DAVID R CUNNINGHAM,

GENERAL DRAPER AND CLOTHIER,

54 JAMES STREET, CELLARDYKE.

D. R. CUNNINGHAM begs to announce that he has received a Large and General Stock of DRAPERY GOODS, consisting of —

FURNISHING DEPARTMENT. Damasks. Blankets, Bed and Table Covers, Table Cloths, Ticks, Sheetings, Towellings, Rugs, Waxcloth for Table and Floor, Mattinge, &c.

LADIES’ DEPARTMENT. Dress Stuffs, Merinos, Tweeds, Winceys, Tartanss, Skirtings, Skirts (Frilled, Quilted, and Striped), Tartan Handkerchiefs, Jacketings, Stays, Fur Capes, Umbrella’, Gloves, Squares and Scarfs, &c.

GENT.’S DEPARTMIINT. Pilots. Duffles, Venetians, Doeskins, Tweeds, Cords, Moles, Velveteens, Shirts, Drawers, Hats, Caps, Braces, Scarfs. Fronts, Collars. Umbrellas, &c

GENERA L DEPARTMENT. Flannels (Scarlet, White, and Blue), Plaidings, Segathys, Cottons, Linens, Prints, Shirtings, Small Wares, &c. All the above Goods are fresh from the Market, and marked at very low prices. Note the address 54 JAMES STREET. CELLARDYKE.

TEMPERANCE DEMONSTRATION IN ANSTRUTHER. A temperance and public soiree under the auspices of the Concord Lodge of Good Templars, was held in the Town Hall, Anstruther, on Tuesday evening. The Rev. W. Macintosh, of the Baptist Church, occupied the chair, and was supported on the platform by the Rev. Mr Ray, Cellardyke ; Rev. James H. Paterson, Dumbarton, formerly of Anstruther ; Mr Gilbert Archer, Leith, Grand Worthy Chief Templar of Scotland ;Mr James Brown, Cunzie House ; and deputations from the Good Templar Lodges in Anstruther, Cellardyke, Pittenweem, St Monance, Crail, &c. There was a good attendance, the large hall being nearly filled…..    A choir under the leadership of Mr D. Bruce, Cellardyke, rendered a number of temperance melodies in a very efficient style at intervals during the evening, and the proceedings terminated with the usual votes of thanks.

The Rig of a Fishing Craft. —Fully more than a twelvemonth ago the interesting experiment was made in the Cellardyke fleet to substitute what is known as the ketch or dandy rig for the lugsail. The Pioneer—the boat in question—has fished two seasons Lowestoft and one at the Shetland Isles, &c. She has thus been tested, so to speak, in all waters, and far it would seem with the most unqualified success. There were occasions, it is true, when she was no match with the wing like lugger, as for example in the long tack in the rising gale; but as a set off to this the crew were saved from the most anxious and trying of all tasks—viz., the dipping of the sails—in which (how sadly we all remember it) the best and bravest have found watery grave. But although the rig is so far a novelty on the Scottish coast, it is by means so in the south, where, in fact, as in the Irish Seas, it is now all but universally adopted. The Cellardyke boat, however, proved herself the queen of the race, the other week she came dancing in under easy sail in the teeth of wind and tide; while the prize smack was ” smothering gunwale,” as Jack says, in the vain attempt to hold the honours of the river. These remarks are due those who take interest the comfort and safety of our fishermen, especially when it is known that, yielding the pressing offer of one of the Lowestoft skippers, her owner”, Mr Robert Cunningham, has sold the little favourite for the sum of £275, he and his crew arriving home by rail in the end of the week. Satisfied, however, with the superiority of the rig, several of our leading skippers are to adopt it, we are told, -on the earliest opportunity.

1884

The Naming of the Streets—Mr Martin said the Streets Committee had had under consideration the advisability of renewing the naming of the streets. The names were painted at first, and the lettering was now almost obliterated. The Anstruther people had now got enamel plates put up, and the Committee recommended that similar plates should be fitted up in Cellardyke. The expense would be comparatively small, and would only cost about 30s including the fitting up. He thought it would be a great improvement to have this done. Mr Morris – It is what we have much need of in Cellardyke. Mr Martin —Of course some of the streets would not require the plates, such as East and West Forth Streets. As to the new houses up the Tolbooth Road built by Mr Williamson, I think that a new name should be given to them, as it was very likely more houses might be built there. Perhaps Williamson Street might do if it is not thought too long. Mr Morris— In that case the Bailie would be at the expense of the enamel plate. (Laughter.) The recommendation of the Committee was unanimously adopted, and it was agreed to proceed with the improvement.

Pittenweem – On Wednesday evening, while a cart belonging to Mr Keith, fishcurer, Cellardyke, was being driven from the shore laden with haddocks, and while in the act of turning the corner at the top of the Abbey Road, it was intercepted by another cart coming from the eastward. While attempting to pass the wheel of the cart entered the gutter, whereby the driver was jerked from his seat and fell heavily on the ground—the cart passing over his legs. Assistance being at hand, he was assisted up and put into the cart and taken to Cellardyke. If carters were only more cautious in driving few accidents of such a nature would happen.