VESSEL’S LAST BERTH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20917, 6 January 1930, Page 13

VESSEL’S LAST BERTH.

INVERKEITHING ON FORTH. OLDEST ROYAL BURGH. A PARADISE FOB ARTISTS, . In the years immediately following the Great War many a traveller on the railway that crosses the Forth by the worldrenowned bridge has gazed at scenes the memory of which still awakens feelings of wonder. The bridge itself is always a marvel of inventive skill, but down in the Forth below on the apparently placid waters grey battleships lay moorea; on the landward side of the bridge the southern coast, was alive with fighting ships of‘every description, for here was the home of an important section of the British Navy. On the opposite northern shore the towering cranes and signs of activity in the naval yards at Eosyth aroused speculation os to the greatest naval centre in the world. Yet perhaps more arresting to the traveller was the eight, in a sheltered harbour on the Fife shore within rifle shot of the Forth bridge, and eastward of that structure, of what seemed to be the graveyard of the naval warriors of steel— warriors who had fought and lost in the world conflict. in this quiet, hidden cove, flanked by the steep walls of the rocky shore, there lay side by side in long, grim rows a veritable host of German destroyers, themselves awaiting the hand of the destroyer, and one by one they went to their doom—unwept, unhonoured, and unsung. SCRAP HEAP AND MELTING POT. Inverkei thing has become the last berth of many a trim vessel that has braved the storms of wind and. sea and war. Many minesweepers, escaping mishap in their most hazardous enterprise, have entered this little bay to leave it no more Here the first dreadnoughts and many proud merchant vessels were brought down from their -high estate to the scrap beap and the melting pot; and here at the present time the Mars, one of Britain’s fine training ships, is dwindling under the blows of the dismantles The inner bay was dredged out during the war, the intention being to form a submarine basin there. The area acquired by the Admiralty has been sold to. a Sheffield company who specialise in shipbreaking on a large scale, having establishments in. various parts of the coast. It is their intention to continue the breaking up of vessels at Inverkei thing, in connection with which they bave laid put a large amount of capital in constructing wharves, putting down plant, and storage accommodation. WILLIAM THE LION’S CHARTER, The town, the oldest royal burgh in Scotland, a parliamentary and police burgh,, and a seaport, is a place of great antiquity. It is pleasantly situated, at the inner side of the bay, on the brow of a gentle declivity that slopes to the very margin of the beach. It dates back to. a time before William tbe Lion, wbo gave, it a charter, confirming a much earlier one, by which it had county jurisdiction for 20 miles round. The broad main street of Inverkeithing is pleasantly planted with treea ; which contrast in. a striking way with the ancient buildings around the corbiestepped gables and moulded doorways, evidences of centuries gone by. No royal burgh of the kingdom had a better or. earlier start; in ita younger years privileges and honours fairly showered on it. And now—the dear old town seems only half-awake. The little hamlet part of St. David’s, with corbelled roofs and ogee gables, will well repay a half-hour’s visit. Inverkeitbing’s chief antiquity and attraction is the great rambling fabric known as " Eotnmell's Inn,” or The Palace. For here resided Queen Annabelld Drummond, the consort of Robert 111, the mother of the unfortunnate Duke of Rothesay, starved to death at Falkland, and James I, assassinated in tbe Blackfriars Monastery at Perth. She was a woman of singular beauty, with great loveliness of feature and complexion, one of the Drummonds of Stob Hall. It is said that she was extremely fond of sea bathing, and chose tbis residence so that she might enjoy this healthful “exercise, pastime, and luxury.” All queens are not so easily amused nowl It. is believed that the magistrates have no jurisdiction over this lonely romance■haunte.d old house, also that the underground passage leading to the sea extends, or did extend at one time,* under the Firth to Edinburgh Castle. THE “QUEEN’S CHAMBERS.” Most quaint and interesting are “The Queen’s . Chambers.” One goes down a few steps to her boudoir, and ascends a few more to # Her bedroom. The chief windows are at the back, quaint, arcbed, and irregular, commanding a' magnificent view over the Firth. Look especially at the little semi-circular one—it is that of the good Queen’s oratory and confessional It is vaulted and of supreme interest, and many prayers for help and comfort in great sorrows have ascended from it. She died in the upper chamber in 1403. As interesting as anything is the splendid old vaulted kitchen, with an enormous fireplace, with the only light coming in over the doorway through an immense thickness of solid, wall. The front faces the north, and is in the main street, with two solid and substantial outer stairs built into it. Everything is delightfully quaint and irregular, and a paradise for artists. Tbe long garden slopes downward to the sea. In it are some very interesting vaults, but antiquarians cannot decide whether they are the remains of tbe Queen’s oratory or part of the Franciscan Monastery. BEAUTIFUL FONT. The original parish church of St. Peter's was bequeathed in 1130 to Dunfermline Abbey by Waldeve, son of Gospatric. A reconstruction of 1826, after the fire of a year before, the present cburch is a handsome Gothic building, with a nave, side aisles, 1000 sittings, and an old west tower, middle-pointer in style, and much spoilt by an ugly modern clock spire. The church’s chief glory is its beautiful sculptured font, one of the finest in Scotland, which, disinterred from the rubbish in 1806'in making foundations for repairs on the church, was happilv rescued from destruction. Full of bones, and wrapped in straw, it had been buried under the entrance porch. It is six panelled, with carvings of angels with curly hair, and is almost unique in beauty: Its pedestal had lain neglected in the church yard for years, but, now, reunited and restored, it is placed near the pulpit and regularly used fop baptisms. The strong, solid-looking Town House is in Dutch style. Its outside entrance is most effective, a long, substantial flight of ancient steps. Otherwise, the building is not much distinguished either by art or design, but it serves its purpose, and its age gives it dignity. The ancient Town Cross is of great fascinating beauty, with its handsome pillar shaft, crowned by a fi-ie muital and unicorn—an ornament and treasure to the burgh. The modern war mem-ii .al is elegant and chaste in design, in admirably good taste, and feeling with its putpose and surroundings. It is situated beside the old-world. Claverhouse which we have already mentioned. With the exception of the royalties of centuries ago, which have been -motioned, there seem to have been very few inhabitants of outstanding celebrity or importance. But the town claims as a native Sir Samuel Greig (1735-88), thdistinguished Russian admiral. And the Rev. Robert Moffat, D.D.. (1770-1883), the celebrated African missionary, passed much of his youth here, while employed as a gardener at Donibristlc.