St Monans Bowling Club
By Popular Demand
Challenge Match No 2
Mayview Hotel
V
Braehead Social Club
V
Bowling Club
On
Sunday 5th September
2pm for 2.30 start
Each club will be entering two triples and the club with the greatest number of shots will be declared the winner
Planning
An application has been made to extend Outline Planning Permission for a vacant plot in the West End. This area has been known locally as “The White House” or “Fyall’s Folly”. It is on the other side of the Right of Way from “The Tangles”, which is just to the south of 32 West End.
Outline Planning Permission was granted late 2007. There was only one objection and the Community Council of that time had no objections.
The reference number for the application is 10/02345/PPP.
If anyone is concerned about this application and would like it discussed by the Community Council, please either respond through the email system of this website – events@stmonans.org.uk
Or speak to a member of the Community Council, bearing in mind that there is a limited timescale for objection.
The harbour is entering a period of change and the new St Monans Harbour Users Association has been set up to ensure that all those interested in the future of the harbour and its surrounding area can have a say in and contribute to its future.
We will pass on your thoughts, lobby on your behalf and keep you informed of proposals and development affecting the harbour and its immediate surrounds.
Application forms are in the Post Office, it only costs £1. Junior members (under 16) are welcome and free.
Our harbour is and always has been central in our community, whether you work from it, have a boat in it, walk round it, live beside it, like to sit and look at the view or jump off the pier for the sheer fun of it!
Some photos from this year’s Sea Queen Day can be seen here
If you have any photos that you would like us to display, please send them to estate4-stmonans@yahoo.co.uk
Last year we were very happy to be awarded a Silver Gilt for St Monans in the Beautiful Fife competition. Amongst many considerations, our floral display is central in attracting a good result. As we are keen to do even better this year, we would like to produce as impressive a floral display as we can. Although the competition is a good incentive for us, we should also recognise the importance of showing our village off to its best given that tourism is central to our economy.
This year we are giving community groups, businesses and individuals the opportunity to support the venture in a few possible ways as detailed below.
SPONSOR A TUB
To sponsor a tub as a group, business or individual it would cost £60 for the initial year ( to include tub, contents and named plaque)
and £30 for subsequent years for contents only.
DONATE THE CONTENTS OF A HANGING BASKET
To donate the cost of a hanging basket for a year is £20.
DONATE THE CONTENTS OF A BARREL
To donate the cost of a barrel for a year is £30
All maintenance will be organised and paid for by the Community Council
GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
We will also greatly appreciate any smaller donations which will help in the general costs.
Please send your donations to our Treasurer, George Brown at 10 West End, St Monans. Donation jars will also be distributed around the village.
WE HOPE YOU WILL SHARE OUR DESIRE TO SHOW ST MONANS AS A PLACE TO BE PROUD OF!
EXCERPT FROM THE 1861 PAROCHIAL DIRECTORY FOR FIFE AND KINROSS
PARISH OF ABERCROMBIE.
THE PARISH OF ABERCROMBIE OR ST MONANCE is situated on the south‑eastern border of the County. It is bounded on the south by the Firth of Forth, on the east by the parish of Pittenweem, on the north by the parish of Carnbee, and on the west by the parishes of Elie and Kilconquhar. It measures a mile along the coast, and about a mile and a half from north to south. Its surface makes a rather abrupt ascent from the low and rocky beach, and then it has some diversities, but on the whole is flat. The soil is chiefly a friable fertile loam, and nearly all the land is arable and cultivated. The small stream, Inweary, flows on the western boundary to the sea, and the Dreel burn runs eastward on the boundary with Carnbee. The fishing village of St Monance, where the greater part of the parishioners reside, is situated nearly mid‑way between Pittenweem and Elie ; it is a Burgh. of Barony, under the laird of Newark, and is governed by its baron Bailies and Council. There is a Sea Box Society connected with the village; Savings’ Banks, and other social and benevolent institutions. The villagers, who bear a high character for their general industry and provident habits, are chiefly employed in fishing, and great quantities of herring, cod, ling, haddock, &c., are caught during the year. The Harbour is partly natural, and enclosed by substantial piers; its frequenters are a few trading sloops during the year, and the large fishing boats belonging to the place. The coast here is much exposed to gales of wind; and sometimes the storm finds the harbour full of fishing boats, ‑which are wildly tossed abort, the owners jumping on board and doing what they can to keep their craft from dashing against each other. At present the fishermen are making efforts to get their harbour enlarged, and to extend it so that it may be entered at all hours of the tide; such a consummation would be an immense boon to the Fishermen, for as yet there is no low water pier on the eastern coast, and when the boats are overtaken by a storm at ebb tide, the crews have to lie off shore until the tide makes, battling the gale at the imminent peril of their lives. The inhabitants of the landward part of the Parish are chiefly employed in agricultural pursuits.
Previous to 1646, St Monance with its Church formed a barony in the adjoining parish of Kilconquhar, at which date it was annexed to the rural parish of Abercrombie, under the joint title of Abercrombie and St Monance; but of late years the old title of Abercrombie has been revived to designate the extended parish. The old Church of Abercrombie, situated in the landward part of the Parish, is in ruins, and has not been used as a place of worship for two centuries; it is now used as the burial place of the Balcaskie family. The Church now in use is situated at the west end of the village of St Monance, close upon the beach; it is a Gothic edifice originally founded in the 14th century, and previous to its restoration in 1827 it presented a singularly antique appearance, both externally and internally; it is now a handsome place of worship, seated for 528, and preserving as much of its ancient outline as was found consistent with modern ideas of comfort.
The ruins of the baronial house of Newark stand a short distance west from the church, on a precipitous ledge overtowering the sea; in this old house used to reside the feudal superiors of the barony ‑ the first of whom where the Sandilands, descended, says Sibbald, from the Lord Torphichen, one of whom, in 1648, was created Lord Abercrombie. The eastern wing still stands pretty entire, flanked at its northern corner by a round tower. It must have once been an extensive and strong building; part of the ruin is still used as a bothy for the ploughmen on the farm.
POST‑OFFICE, St Monance, John Oliphant, Post Master. ‑ Mails arrive from Pittenweem about eleven o’clock A.M., and are dispatched at half-past six P.M.
OWNERS 0R SKIPPERS.
Aitken, Thomas, Sen., Backgate, St Monance
Allan, John, East Shore, do
Allan, Robert, E. Narrow Wynd, do
Allan, William, West Shore, do
Adam, John, West End, do
Bridges, George, do do
Davidson, David, Harbour, do
Dunn, Robert, Square, do
Duncan, Thomas, East Shore, St Monance
Duncan, William, E. Backgate, do
Easson, David, W. Narrow Wynd, do
Easson, Thomas, Square, do
Fyall, George, East Shore, do
Fyall, John, E. Narrow Wynd, do
Gerard, John, Backgate, do
Hutt, James, W. Backgate, do
Hutt, William, West Shore, do
Innes, James, Sen., Harbour, St Monance
Innes, James, Jun., West Shore, do
Marr, David, Broad Wynd, do
Marr, David, East Shore, do
Mathers, William, West Shore, do
Meldrum, William, Coal Wynd, do
Ovenstone, John, West Shore, do
Patterson, James, East Shore, do
Reikie, Robert, (D Duncan) Broad Wynd, do
Reikie, Robert, (Simpson) do do
Reikie, Robert, (Scott) do do
Robertson, William, Coal Wynd, do
Robertson, Robert, East Shore, do
Scott, Robert, Cribbs, do
Smith, David, Coal Wynd, do
Watt, James, do do
Wilson, William, Pier End, do
In addition to the above, about 40 are Skippers during the herring fishing.
BLACKSMITHS.
Mackie, John, Abercrombie
Ogilvie, William, St Monance
Peattie, William, Jun., do
BAKERS.
Adam, Andrew, St Monance
Ferguson, John, do
Robertson, David, do
BOOT & SHOEMAKERS.
Balfour, David, St Monance
Ogilvie, John, do
Small, Robert, do
CARTERS.
Brodie, Thomas, St Monance
Dowie, William, do
Duncan, David, do
Ireland, Andrew, do
Ireland, William, do
Latto, David, Burnside, do
Scott, James, do
Small, Thomas, do
Warden, David, do
FARMERS.
Bowman, James, Newark
Coupar, Robert, Stenton
Mackie, Andrew, St Monance
Niven, John, do
Peattie, Willam, Sen., Craigwells
Rodger, George, Abercrombie
Sommers, William, Barron Hall
Whyte, Frederick H., Coal Farm
FISHCURERS.
Anderson, Mr, Edinburgh, (John Oliphant, Agent)
Balfour, Alexander, St Monance
Cormack, Thos., Cellardyke, (Thos. Philips, Agent)
Dearsley, & Co., London, (David Brown, Agent)
Ireland, John, Buckhaven, (Thomas Murray, Agent)
Jamieson, John, Edinburgh, (John Smith, Agent)
Johnstone, Andrew, St Monance
Marr, William, do
Methven, J. Leith, (Edward Roper, Agent)
Meldrum, A., Colinsburgh
Murray & Darney, St Monance
Todd, Mr, Anstruther, (A. Morris, Agent)
Trainer, James, St Monance
GROCERS.
Those marked thus * are also Spirit Dealers.
* Buddie, Rachel, St Monance
Cochrane, John, do
*Dowie, David, do
*Duncan, Wm., do
Fyall, Mrs, do
*Johnston, Andrew, R., do
Marr, Jacobina, do
Mays, Mrs, do
Meldrum, James, do
Trainer, James, do
*Wilson, Janet, do
TEACHERS & SCHOOLS.
Brown, Miss, Infant School, St Monance
Drummond, Miss, do do
Nicolson, J., (retired) Parish School, do
Patterson, Robert, Parish School, do
TAILORS.
Balfour, James, St Monance
Henderson, John, do
Lindsay, Robert, do
Lindsay, James, do
VINTNERS.
Marr, David, St Monance
Oliphant, John, do
Simpson, Janet, do
Simpson, Alexander, do
MISCELLANEOUS.
Balfour, Alexander, Coal Merchant, St Monance
Bowman, James, Auctioneer and Cattle Dealer, Newark
Foggo, Rev. David L., Parish Church, Abercromie
Kerr, James, Inspector of Poor, St Monance
Kean, Robert, Plasterer, do
Meldrum, James, Cooper, do
Millar, John, Boatbuilder, do
Mackie, Andrew, Brewer & Malster, do
Nicolson, John, Registrar, St Monance
Scott, David, Town Officer, do
Thomson, Andrew, Cloth Merchant, do
Religious Exercises and occasional Sermons at Infant School, and at Mr John Millar’s Hall,
ADD
Allan, Margaret, Grocer, St Monance
Balfour, Alexander, Tailor, do
Gerrard, Peter, Tailor, do
Nicol, David, Baker, do
Patrick, Alex., Shoemaker, do
Ross, Miss, Teacher, do
Sommers, William, Carter, Barron Hall
DELETE
Balfour, James, Tailor, St Monance
Drummond, Miss, Teacher, do
Mays, Mrs, Grocer, do
Niven, John, Farmer, do
Press release - St Monans Playgroup Easter Fundraiser
On a very wet and windy Wednesday morning on the 31st of March, St Monans Playgroup held its annual Easter Coffee Morning. It was tremendously well attended, despite the terrible weather and the folks of St Monans really did us proud showing us their support. There was coffee, tea and biscuits served, a baking stall, a raffle and Bingo, plus the results of the Easter quiz were announced. The parents and carers of the children of the playgroup had put in a lot of effort and worked hard to ensure the event was a success. The children put on an Easter parade in their Easter bonnets and sang songs during the coffee morning, helped by the enthusiastic Playgroup leaders, Yvonne Ramsay, Nicola Scott and Lisa Fleming.
Over £300 was raised on the day which was fabulous, however there was another surprise in store. Myra and Peter Marr who run the local Post Office in St Monans, presented Playgroup with a donation of £400. This was part of the money they had raised from sales of the lovely calendars that they sell each year, depicting photographs from St Monans, all of which they have taken. St Monans playgroup is a charity, run by a committee of parents/carers, who also have to carry out fundraising. So this donation means a lot to the Playgroup and we wish to say a big thank you to Myra and Peter.
With spring in the air, on another blustery cold day, the Playgroup visited the nearby Pathhead Nursery. The plan had been to walk along the coastal path and back, and drop in at the nursery to buy seeds and plants, whilst enjoying the spring sights and sounds. However, the weather put pay to that, so we all went by car and had a lovely time exploring the tunnels and looking at the plants. The owners of the nursery very kindly gave each child a potted Primula to take home with them, which delighted all the children. So a big thank you to Pathhead for their generosity too. We really think our children are very lucky at this playgroup as the parents/carers are so committed, and the staff always carry out such stimulating activities for the children.
THE HARBOUR HOWFF CAFE
The Harbour Howff Café exists to provide St. Monans with a meeting and eating place that is friendly, inexpensive and responsive to the needs of the community it serves.
The Café is a charity and a Social Enterprise that provides a range of services and opportunities for the local community as well as opportunities for volunteering, work placements and training.
The Café believes in creating an atmosphere of openness, tolerance and respect for others. We want St. Monans to be a wonderful place to live and to visit. We want our community to be a safe, welcoming, inclusive, dynamic and vibrant place.
A BRIEF HISTORY
In the autumn 2006 the previous Café had closed down with seemingly no hope of a Café in St. Monans. However the local community did not want to lose this resource so a few people got together, talked and planned and a public meeting was organised for December 2006. Many people attended and a Steering Group was elected to work with ENeRGI to open and develop the Café as a Social Enterprise.
After 3 months of cleaning, decorating and organising we opened on 1st April 2007. The decorating was done by Fiona and Michael Audsley and many other people helped with getting the Café up and open. The time, effort and goods donated will never be forgotten. The work of the Steering Group over the first 2 years was invaluable and their time and input appreciated.
The Café is a partnership sister organisation with ENeRGI, a Company Limited by Guarantee with charitable status, a mental health charity providing services for people who have or have had mental health problems and their carers.
The Cafe is now a Company in its own right with a Board of Directors who are keen to have more people involved and are keen to move forward working with the community.
In its first 2 years the Café has seen many ups and downs. It broke even for the first time in 2009-10.
It’s own income, donations, and the voluntary time of unpaid workers and grants from charitable trusts presently fund the Café. We aim to make surpluses to invest in the Café, other services and in Social Enterprise activities
We have been awarded a grant to refurbish the Café, which will allow further development.
The Café employs a qualified and experienced Chef as Café Manager and 1 Café Assistant and offers supported employment and opportunities for volunteers, learners and paid workers.
The Café is used regularly and is available for use by Community groups, booked through the Café Staff.
OUR VALUES ARE:
TO THE FUTURE:
It is our intention to develop the Café and to provide wider services and activities for the community.
This will be done through:
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Volunteer- in the Café, help with fundraising, time and skills are always needed.
Come along and support the Café with your custom.
