Tour Scotland Photograph Walter Welsh Gravestone Auchtertool Fife

Tour Scotland photograph of the Walter Welsh gravestone in the kirkyard cemetery in Auchtertool, Fife, Scotland. In the far corner, near to the side gate of the former manse, you will find the grave of Reverend Walter Welsh, who was so familiar with Thomas Carlyle. The manse itself has been a private house eve since Auchtertool began to share its minister with another church. It is easy to imagine that the famous author once sat in the grounds, appreciating tile world of nature around him.

It appears that the etymology of the name Welsh is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word wilisc meaning foreigner, stranger, or non Anglo-Saxon. These terms were used by the ancient Germanic peoples to describe inhabitants of the former Roman Empire over the Alps, Rhine, and North Sea, who were largely romanised and spoke Latin or Celtic languages.

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September 13th Photograph Farmland Scotland

September 13th, afternoon photograph of the view South over farmland, from Auchtertool Kirkyard, Fife, Scotland.

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Tour Scotland Photograph Knight Gravestone Auchtertool Kirkyard

Tour Scotland photograph of a Knight, or Templar, gravestone, in Auchtertool Kirkyard, Fife, Scotland. This stone is not what I thought. It is actually the stone marking the grave of one of the first ministers of Auchtertool, the Reverend David Martin. It shows the recumbent figure of the minister dressed in his gown and bands.

Knight is a medieval status name from the Olde English pre 7th Century " criht ", meaning boy, youth or serving lad, later extended to mean a tenant bound to serve his lord as a mounted soldier and therefore a man of some importance and substance. Later still, with the changes in the social structure of medieval England, the term " knight ", Middle English " knyghte, " meant an honourable estate conferred by the king on men of noble birth who had served him well.

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Tour Scotland Photograph Sundial Auchtertool Kirkyard

Tour Scotland photograph of a sundial in Auchtertool Kirkyard, Fife, Scotland.

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Tour Scotland Photograph Organ Auchtertool Kirk

Tour Scotland photograph of the church organ, Auchtertool Kirk, Fife, Scotland. Built by Casson and Miller of Perth in 1886, the organ was gifted to Auchtertool Kirk by Reverend William Stevenson. This organ is one of only six of its kind; it is similar to the one that was in Stevenson’s previous church St John’s in Perth, Perthshire.



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Tour Scotland Photograph Liddell Stained Glass Window

Tour Scotland travel photograph of the Liddell Memorial stained glass window, Auchtertool Kirk, on ancestry, genealogy, family history visit to Fife. The windows in the east wall of the church showing St. Andrew and St. John are dedicated to the memory of the Liddell family. Inscription reads, " In affectionate remembrance of our grandparents and other families of Kirkton and Milton of Auchtertool. In loving memory of our father Major General John Liddell, CB, and mother Francis Robina Liddell and our brother John their eldest son. "

The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard de Lidel, a charter witness at Largs, Scotland, which was dated around 1202, in the " Records of Northberwick ", during the reign of King William, known as " The Lion " of Scotland, born 1165, died 1214. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax.

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Photograph Stained Glass War Memorial Window Scotland

Photograph of the stained glass, 1914 - 1919, War Memorial window, Auchtertool Kirk, Fife, Scotland.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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Tour Scotland Photograph Stevenson Stained Glass Window

Tour Scotland photograph of the Stevenson memorial stained glass window in the church in Auchtertool on ancestry, genealogy, family history visit to Fife. Dedicated by the Reverend William and Isabella Stevenson, to the Glory of God, and in memory of their children who died at the Manse, Auchtertool Kirk.

In Scotland, Stevenson is first recorded in 1388, when one John Steywynson was one of the surveyors of the Marches of Woodwrae, whilst later in 1454 another John Stevenson was a merchant in Aberdeen. The name was immortalised by Robert Louis Stevenson, who died in Samoa in 1894.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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Tour Scotland Photograph John Grieve Stained Glass Window

Tour Scotland travel photograph of the John Grieve memorial stained glass window in the church in Auchtertool, on ancestry, genealogy, family history visit to Fife. Recorded in several spellings including: Greave, Greeve, Grieve, Greaves, Greeves, and Greves, this is an English surname. It is either locational from the former hamlet of Greaves in the parish of Preston, Lancashire, England, or it is topographical from residence by a thicket or grove of trees. The word and hence the surname, derives from the Olde English pre 7th Century " graefe " meaning brushwood, and is first recorded at the beginning of the 13th Century.


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Tour Scotland Photographs Auchtertool Kirk

Tour Scotland photograph of Auchtertool Kirk and cemetery in Fife, Scotland. This beautiful and peaceful place has been a sacred place of worship since 1178. The building has lovely stained glass windows, one of which is a war memorial. Also a Casson and Miller organ from 1886. The kirkyard has many 17th century tablestones. James V visited nearby Halyards Palace after his defeat at the Battle of Solway Moss on his return to Falkland Palace. The King died shortly after. Alexander Boswell was mortally wounded in a duel in Auchtertool in 1822. He died in nearby Balmuto House. The duel was one of the last in Scotland.


Photograph of Auchtertool Kirk, Fife, Scotland.


Photograph of Auchtertool Kirk, Fife, Scotland.


Photograph of Auchtertool Kirk, Fife, Scotland.


Photograph of Auchtertool Kirk, Fife, Scotland.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.