Summer Road Trip Drive With Music On History Visit To Low Valleyfield West Fife Scotland

Tour Scotland 4K Summer travel video, with Scottish music, of a road trip drive to Low Valleyfield, on ancestry, genealogy, history visit to West Fife, Britain, United Kingdom. Low Valleyfield is a tiny linear village situated on the North bank of the River Forth on the site of the old hamlet of Valleyfield, some of the buildings date from the 18th century. The village had a history of coal mining and fishing but is now effectively a dormitory area for Dunfermline, Edinburgh, Glasgow and other parts of Fife. Robert Preston, born in 1740 was the fifth son of Sir George Preston of Valleyfield and his wife Anne at Valleyfield, Fife. He joined the East India Company in 1758, being promoted to Commander of the Company by 1768. After returning to London, England, in 1777, he went into business with Charles Foulis managing ships for the East India Company before taking over the management of several ships personally. Robert went on to become an insurance broker, prospering financially, and was made Deputy Master of Trinity House, the authority overseeing lighthouses in England, Wales, the Channel Islands, and Gibraltar, in 1795. Well connected in the political and artistic circles, he was friends with William Pitt, Henry Dundas, James Boswell, Alexander Nasmyth, J. M. W. Turner, and Sir Walter Scott. During his political career, he won one of two seats in the parliamentary constituency of Dover in 1784, retiring in 1804. Robert succeeded to the Valleyfield Baronetcy in 1800, at which point he sold his house in Downing Street and returned to Valleyfield House, where he made significant improvements to the estate. In his later years, Robert joined the early industrialists, establishing a coalmine on tidal land on the Valleyfield estate. Various philanthropic works followed, such as Preston Crescent, a row of houses for retired sea captains. Robert had no children by his wife Elizabeth Brown, and the Baronetcy passed to his cousin, also named Sir Robert Preston. He died in 1834. Of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day. Find things to see and do in Scotland where you are always welcome. The date for astronomical Summer in Scotland is Tuesday, 21 June, ending on Friday, 23 September. When driving on Scottish roads in Scotland slow down and enjoy the trip All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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