FIFE FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY
"OLD DYSART AND EAST KIRKCALDY"
Picture and text reproduced by kind permission of
Stenlake Publishing
High Street, Dysart
The lower part of the tolbooth, on the left of this
1905 picture, dates from 1576. The forestair adjoining the west
gable was added in 1617. In 1656 the upper part of the building was
used as a magazine by the occupying forces of Oliver Cromwell. A
soldier guarding the gunpowder carelessly discarded a match and the
resulting explosion wrecked the building. It remained in a partly
ruined condition until 1707 when it was reconstructed in its present
form.
(Text by Eric Eunson)