 |
| Title: |
High Street |
| Description: |
Kirkcaldy High Street is one of the longest shopping streets in Scotland and follows the line of the coast above the
Esplanade. This page shows a selection of views from the north end, near the harbour at Port Brae,
to the southern end where it joins Links Street.
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| Date: |
April 2007 |
 |
| Title: |
High Street - ABC Cinema |
| Description: |
Despite over the years having many cinemas throughout the town, most had closed by the 1990s with the last to close being the ABC on
the High Street. Currently films are only shown at the Adam Smith Theatre. This building
was originally opened in 1904 as the King's Theatre.
|
| Date: |
January 2013 |
 |
| Title: |
High Street - Indoor Market |
| Description: |
Originally a large Woolworths store, the Kirkcaldy Indoor Market contains a wide range of local traders.
|
| Date: |
January 2013 |
 |
| Title: |
High Street - Swan Memorial |
| Description: |
This is the original Swan Memorial building on the corner of Kirk Wynd which was opened as a YMCA in 1896. Patrick Don Swan,
who died in 1889, was
a Provost of Kirkcaldy and a a friend of Thomas Carlyle. Note the refurbished building on the left
which was originally destroyed by fire in 1987.
|
| Date: |
January 2013 |
 |
| Title: |
High Street - Adam Smith House |
| Description: |
This building, from 1834, is on the site of Adam Smith's House.
|
| Date: |
February 2013 |
 |
| Title: |
High Street |
| Description: |
Entering the central pedestrianised area with McDonald's at the
foot of Kirk Wynd which opened in 1985. Amazingly McDonald's closed
this centrally located outlet in 2011 to concentrate on their
restaurant at the retail park on the
edge of town.
|
| Date: |
April 2007 |
 |
| Title: |
High Street |
| Description: |
The centre of the High Street contains all the big-name stores such
as Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, WH Smith etc.
|
| Date: |
April 2007 |
 |
| Title: |
High Street |
| Description: |
The central High Street viewed from the south.
|
| Date: |
April 2007 |
 |
| Title: |
High Street |
| Description: |
Entrance to the Mercat covered shopping centre with its large range
of stores such as Woolworths, HMV, Boots etc.
|
| Date: |
April 2007 |
 |
| Title: |
High Street |
| Description: |
Burtons shop on the corner of the High Street and Whytescauseway. The Plaza Ballroom
originally occupied the upper floor with the building itself opening in 1933.
|
| Date: |
February 2013 |
 |
| Title: |
High Street |
| Description: |
The end of the pedestrianised part of the street is marked by this
civic statue where the High Street meets Whytescauseway.
|
| Date: |
April 2007 |
 |
| Title: |
High Street |
| Description: |
A closer view of the art work.
|
| Date: |
April 2007 |
 |
| Title: |
High Street - Olympia Arcade |
| Description: |
The Olympia Arcade was the first covered shopping leading from the High Street. Once busy and hosting the
Army and Navy Stores, the arcade has seen better days although development plans have come and gone since
2007. An old church hall sits above some of the shops.
|
| Date: |
October 2012 |
 |
| Title: |
High Street - Closed BHS |
| Description: |
British Home Stores closed their large High Street store in 2018 leaving a large building with no obvious use.
|
| Date: |
February 2019 |
 |
| Title: |
High Street - Closed M&S |
| Description: |
The great retreat by national chain stores from Kirkcaldy High Street reached its climax in February 2019 when Marks and Spencer closed their
flagship store in preference to a new food hall in Glenrothes. Trips to the Gyle Centre in Edinburgh are now the best option
for Kirkcaldy shoppers if non-food items are required. The store had been open for more than 80 years.
|
| Date: |
February 2019 |
 |
| Title: |
The Postings Steps |
| Description: |
The Postings shopping centre was built in the early 1980's. Its sad decline since the Tesco store closed eventually meant it was put up for
auction for £1. This raised national awareness of the state of retail in 2019 and was even covered by the BBC's
magazine programme The One Show. After an exciting auction the centre was sold for £310,000 - less than the price
of an average house in London. This view shows the worn steps which the council has been avoiding repairing for years when
it should have installed a covered escalator.
|
| Date: |
February 2019 |
 |
| Title: |
High Street - New Shops |
| Description: |
The old MacDonald's has now been transformed into smaller units with a Japanese restaurant next door.
|
| Date: |
February 2019 |
 |
| Title: |
The Postings Car Park |
| Description: |
Situated above the closed Tesco store (originally built as Wm Low) the Postings car park was once regularly full to capacity. Now it is
mostly empty. To further dissuade shoppers from parking here the stairways to the shops are typically locked even on Saturday mornings.
The main events leading to an empty high street are well documented:
- Replacement of the roundabout at the Adam Smith Centre with a uniquely signalled set of traffic lights. These delay
motorists more than necessary and affect the bus schedules.
- Building a new leisure centre (although badly needed) on top of a popular car park.
- Parking charges, even on Sundays, whilst parking at the retail park and other nearby towns is free.
- General retail decline due to online shopping and further developments at the retail park.
|
| Date: |
February 2019 |
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