The Cellardyke Echo

27^th September 1828

At three o Clock afternoon of the 24^th, while a fleet of Cellardyke boats were returning from Eden – water with mussels for bait, one of them the Olive, Davidson, Master, went down between the Carr Rock Beacon and the Isle of May, the boat and six of the crew were unfortunately lost. One of the boats in company succeeded in saving the only other man on board, named Davidson,  he has to lament the loss of two sons, a brother and a brother’s son.

25^th September 1860

Broughty Ferry – revival of religion – On Thursday night , a meeting was addressed in the Mission house by Robert Brown and Alexander Cunningham two fishermen of Cellardyke; and a sketch of the revival in that place was given…. Whereas in former years about £40 was spent on strong drink, when the herring boats were ‘hauled up’ this year the money has been laid aside forming a fund to meet some future emergency…..

1 Oct 1877

Departure of fishing boats for the South –  In the course of last week no less than 70 of our fishing boats left for Yarmouth and Lowestoft…. There will be fully 500 persons from Anstruther and Cellardyke prosecuting the enterprise at these ports.

30^th September 1885

The Rising Fortunes of Cellardyke – … Mr James Henderson has just sold the east most of the model fisher homes in the new street at right angles to Rodger Street, Cellardyke, to Mr Henry Beat (Bett) at the price of £365.. This house includes superior domestic accommodation for two families with every convenience for fishermen in the way of barking and storage of tackle. We also learn that Mr Alex Key has sold his house in West Forth Street to his Brother in law in Pittenweem, Mr David Parker, who intends to move thither with his family at the coming term. If the rumour is true, this is only one of several skippers and fishermen of Pittenweem who are about to take a similar step, so as to exchange that ill-suited over crowded shore for the fine harbour and other deep sea facilities enjoyed as nowhere else perhaps on the coast at Cellardyke.

28 Sept 1898

John Gardiner (28), Cellardyke, part owner of the Maggie Scott KY 27… has been drowned. The vessel put into West Hartlepool a week ago, In the evening Gardiner left the boat with several of the crew, from whom he departed some time afterwards declining to go to the place of entertainment on account of his deafness.. he was seen by the harbour police before midnight going aboard another vessel in order to get to his own boat but was not seen again… The harbour was grappled but without success.

 Yesterday the crew received intimation that his body had been found in the water

2 Oct 1943

The London Gazette announced the award of the OBE to Capt. William Smith Keay, whose vessel almost continuously attacked by an enemy aircraft , ‘ put up a magnificent defence’.  Son of Andrew Keay, Cellardyke his vessel was the subject of heavy bombardment from the air a torpedo practically tore the side off his vessel during the North African Landings.

2 Oct 1946

With borrowed shovels two demobbed naval officers laid the foundations of a new industry for East Fife. Lieut. Appleby and Lieut. Commander P Branch with Mr J Brown Cellardyke have created a modern furniture works out of what was once an old net factory at Cellardyke…. They cleared away 12 tons of junk including the fuselages of two ‘flying fleas’, and St Andrews Town council lent them a concrete mixer to lay the floor… 26 tons of concrete and rubble was laid by three men in four days.. They are now in full production…..present staff numbers are 10 they are set to expand and young girls are to be trained in French polishing…

1904 Dundee Courier

“Cellardyke fish hawkers ought to know better than disturb the quiet of the Ancient City. Yesterday one of their number had to answer in St Andrews Police court to the serious charge of crying ‘Caller herrin’ or some cadgers call of this nature.. The chief witness could not distinguish the words and it was annoying to his slumbers, he declared that though ‘he could sleep through the ringing of a bell he could not sleep through that noise’. The cadger was fined half a crown or three days imprisonment. The presiding magistrate pointing out how well-bred the local fish hawkers were. They went from door to door and it was not necessary to shout.”

25 Sept 1905

David Stevenson, Cellardyke, (50) Crew member of the Integrity, fell between two boats in Scarborough harbour. Artificial respiration was resorted to and he partially regained consciousness but died 5 hours later.

28 Sept 1905

Mr Williamson conducted a ceremony to open the fountain at Anstruther harbour dedicated to his father Stephen Williamson born Cellardyke 28/6/1827, who died Copley, Cheshire 1903. The Anstruther and Cellardyke town band played several inspiring airs. At a luncheon afterwards Mr Williamson donated a gold chain of office to Anstruther Easter, and cheque for £25 to Anstruther Wester and similar amount to Cellardyke to be distributed amongst the poor during the coming winter. *** ( the family generosity continues a significant donation was given to the Church and the East Neuk foodbank following the reinternment  of Stephen Williamson’s father at Kilrenny in the summer of 2015)

25 Sept 1916

William Smith, Skipper of the Cellardyke Steam Drifter, Olive Leaf received two telegrams from the front, the first stated that his son Second Lieutenant Thomas Smith (19) Royal Scots, was missing, the second telegram stated that he had been wounded in action and was in a Red Cross hospital. It was only about one month since Thomas had been sent to the front.

21 Sept 1927

Alexander Hodge , 35 Shore St Cellardyke was fined at Cupar Sherriff Court for driving ‘a motor omnibus backward in a negligent manner’

22 Sept 1927

Janet Innes, worker at the oilskin factory Cellardyke was knocked down on the Pittenweem road by a car driven by Dr Armour, Anstruther. She suffered from concussion and bruises.

21 Sept 1921

At a meeting in Cellardyke town hall, Cellardyke Fishermen sought changes in the way the winter herring was sold at Anstruther. Until then the fish was sold privately or buyers making the highest bid on the piers. Skippers Martin Gardner and Lock Horsburgh supported a motion that in future the herring should be sold through a salesman with fixed commission with buyers called by the use of a bell, this would create greater competition. A committee was formed and an agreement with the salesmen was made in the harbour office Anstruther, and steps were taken to prevent fishermen deviating from the rules.

21 Sept 1933

A unique torch lit fancy dress procession in aid of funds for the Cardinal steps bathing pond proved a great success, raising the sum of £14. Over 100 took part in the procession accompanied by Anstruther Boy Scout Pipe band. Over 200 couples attended the following fund raising Carnival dance in Cellardyke town hall. Music supplied by the Rialto Follies, Lundin Links.

19 Sept 1950

The Queen visited the East Neuk, On the quay at the Folly Provost W.W.Carstairs was presented, A bouquet was given to the Queen by Miss Chrissie Smith the Provost’s niece. The fisherwife’s shawl of Mrs Margaret Dunbar, Cellardyke, aged 71 attracted the Queen’s attention, she stopped and exchanged a few words. Fishing fleet pennants – Pride o’ Fife White Queen, Breadwinner, &c were strung from the rooftops.

1942 – 18th Sept – ‘Miss Nan Williamson, Bus conductress, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Williamson, Benavon, Toll Rd was injured yesterday. While she was directing a bus which was reversing into Messrs. Alexander’s depot in Pittenweem Road, Anstruther, her head became jammed between the rear of the bus and a car. She received wounds to her head and face and was removed to Dundee Royal Infirmary

1849 – Four cases of Cholera this week in Cellardyke, two were fatal, two were in recovery

1864 – A house fire east of the town hall -the building was severely damaged when flammable material from a nearby chimney landed on its thatched roof. The 2 story house belonged to James Fowler but only one story was left, Mrs. Jack, a widow lost all her grocery stock either by the fore or by the means of extinguishing it. and total destruction of all household effects.

1895 – John Carstairs, master of the Mizpah KY 398 gave evidence in the enquiry to the loss of George Watson (25), 8 Rodger Street, who was lost overboard when moving the block attached to the end of the fore sail, there was a squall and the wind caught the sail again and he was dragged overboard by the rope

1890 – A young boy, James Moncrieff was in court and pled guilty of stealing turnips from Kilrenny Mill farm. John Doig, fisherman Shore Street was fined 15s or 10 days imprisonment for assaulting another fisherman.

This week
1865
J Porter of The East Neuk of Fife Photographic Gallery, Cellardyke was advertising 12 Carte de Visite Portraits for 2s 8d
(there were the studio photographic portraits usually about 2inches by 3 inches)

1882
Captain Macdonald was investigating the collision between PD 556 Agnes and Janet (Skipper James Ranken) and the Venus Star KY 1588 (Peter Murray, Skipper) which resulted in the sinking of the Venus Star. The Portessie boat agreed to pay £50 to the owners of the Cellardyke boat (SEE SEPARATE COMMENT BELOW)

1883 – The new town hall at Cellardyke, a gift from Stephen Williamson MP and David Fowler natives of the town, has just been completed at a cost of £3500 , official opening to be 19th Sept.

1892
Andrew Elder, (5) of Cellardyke met his death by falling from an express train between Barry and Monifeith, he was leaning on the door when it burst open.

1901
Close of the herring season at Fraserburgh. ‘Fisher’s Friend’ KY 294 of Cellardyke was one of the top earners grossing £340.

STOP PRESS…. some bad reporting and incorrect info across two newspapers.. clarity needed on Venus Star…. Dundee Telegraph 30 Aug 1882 ‘yesterday afternoon The herring fishing boat Agnes and Janet PD 556…….. was rundown and sunk off Peterhead by the fishing boat Venus Star LH 1583 (registration port wrong) Peter Murray, Cellardyke, skipper. There was a fresh North West wind blowing, The boats had heavy shots and kept running for the South Harbour until the entrance was blocked. As soon as the tide began to ebb a rush was made round the headland for the North harbour, and, as at the time a number of boats were running for the north side from the open sea, several narrow escapes from collision were made. The Agnes and Janet was under sail from the south harbour, and was staying to take the north entrance, and was, it is averred, on the wrong tack, when the Firth boat came upon her striking her amidships and cutting her completely in halves. The crew had just time to catch the Venus star as she was running through their craft, and were thus saved and brought into the harbour. The boat which was two years old and uninsured, went down with nets and all equipment and a shot of about 40 40 crans of herrings.

The first Cellardyke Echo

1894 – Thomas Pringle (30) of Cellardyke was lost from the Onyx, Skipper Robert Meldrum

1903 – A Duleanell pipe organ is to be shortly to be installed in the Cellardyke Baptist Church

1914 – Provost Black presented Thomas Watson, cooper with a Royal Humane Society parchment for rescuing a boy, Wm Mason who was in danger of drowning at Cellardyke.

1916- Military medal was awarded to Drummer Harry Bowman of Cellardyke, serving with the Black Watch. Youngest son of fisherman Joseph Bowman, John Street who also had two other sons working on minesweepers.

1924 – Henry Gardner (62), part owner and retired Skipper of the steam drifter Acorn, died suddenly while working on a mizzen sail on the Middle pier in Anstruther.

1937 – Mr. Kelso was appointed interim headmaster of Cellardyke School, following the death of Mr. Hunter whilst on holiday at Crieff