Tour Scotland 4K Winter travel video, with Scottish bagpipes music, of a short sunny and cold weather road trip drive from Culross 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. By the meteorological calendar, the first day of Winter is always 1st December in Scotland; ending on 28th of February. 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. When driving on Scottish roads in Scotland slow down and enjoy the trip
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