Discover the history & heritage of our West Fife Villages
Saline & District Heritage Society welcomes you to explore our local surroundings through a historic lens. We are a community-based group that hosts regular speaker events, presentations, projects, museum open days & more!
‘Far beyond ‘neath yon glorious skies,
‘the paradise of fife’ sgt maxwell robertson of saline (1893-1915)
Where the darkness falls and daylight dies
There stands a village whose gates are old,
But the hearts therein are hearts of gold.’
Saline & District Heritage Society was founded in 2011 being jointly sponsored by Saline and Blairingone Parish Church as well as Saline & District Community Council. The Society aims to research, gather and make available historical documents, artefacts and other items of historical interest which relate or have a connection with Saline, Steelend and wider District.
Saline & District Heritage Society committee
We have an annual Summer museum event alongside a Winter speaker programme which provides an increasing awareness of the community’s heritage. Other activities include a search for the ‘mediaeval’ church, (close to the Old Kirkyard on Bridge Street,) archaeological digs and the development of heritage trail walks around the area. Encouraging the community to take an interest in their local heritage and social history includes engaging with all ages, including the very youngest.
Heritage Talks 2023/2024 Season
We have a very exciting programme for 2023/2024 including topics ranging from Roman Fife to the Leighton Library, Scotland’s oldest purpose-built library founded in Dunblane 1687.
Meet 7pm for refreshments beforehand as talks begin promptly at 7:30pm. Members £1/Non-members £2 (with annual membership costing £5). All meetings are held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month in Saline Church Hall 🧭KY12 9TL🧭
Latest News
Kirklands Garden in Saline, West Fife will be open as part of the Open Gardens Scheme on Sunday 26th May 2024 between 2pm-5pm. Come along to see the wonderful woodland surroundings, walled garden, herbaceous borders, tree house & more! Refreshment tent & plant sales available. Visit https://shorturl.at/efmLP for more information
We’ve been published! Our archaeological dig from 2022 has been featured in Issue 402 of Current Archaeology magazine. Find online here or read more below…
Museum News
Thank you to all who came along to visit the wee museum this Summer. Our final day, coinciding with Doors Open Days 2023, saw folk from near & far experience the displays featuring our archaeological dig from 2022 as well as plenty of information on the surrounding local area. See you all next year!
Previous Talks & Past Events…
‘Bonny Saline, ye ‘ re a’ my ain,
‘BONNY SALINE’ REV. A. CRIGHTON ALEXANDER (SALINE MINISTER 1904-1907)
Archaeological Excavations
Our Society has been fortunate enough to undertake archaeological studies with local and national archaeologists on projects including searching for a Mediaeval church within Saline Old Kirkyard & investigating the Morthouse, (a specialised building which held the bodies of the dead prior to burial) within the grounds of the current Parish Church.
The Society recently undertook a 5-day excavation within Saline Old Kirkyard in conjunction with Access Archaeology, the principal aim of which was to uncover evidence of Saline’s early Church. This dig built upon an initial paper published in 2015 on the same site, which involved working alongside experts from the Edinburgh Archaeology Field Society (EAFS) http://www.eafs.org.uk
The Society welcomes stories, photos, artefacts or other information relating to the local district for inclusion in annual exhibitions or within our growing archive. Do visit the Contact page for details of how to get in touch with us.
Saline & District Heritage Society Committee
Museum Exhibitions
During the Summer the Society Museum opens its doors to eager local & international visitors, both young and old. Our Museum is situated within the Session House belonging to Saline Parish Church and is ideally located in the centre of the village. Each year sees a new exhibition expertly displayed by our dedicated Society curator.
Additionally, Saline Museum takes part in the Doors Open Days heritage festival run by the Scottish Civic Trust (SCT) https://www.scottishcivictrust.org.uk/doors-open-days/ Every September Doors Open Days allows free access to hundreds of fascinating venues across the country and we’ve thoroughly enjoyed playing our part in highlighting the history of our local surrounds.
Previous exhibition themes have included–
👑EIIR Platinum Jubilee Year (2022)
🏥Sláinte! Healthcare across Saline and District (2019)
📚Education and Schooling in Saline & Steelend (2018)
⛏️Archaeological Sites across Saline and District (2017)
🏆Sports & Pastimes within our West Fife Villages (2016)
🏠Shops, Businesses & Housing in the Saline Area (2015)
🌹Centenery of the Great War 1914-2014 (2014)
🧱West Fife Industries through the ages (2013)
** Click on the ‘Decade Retrospective 2011-2021’ link from the menu or at the top of this page for more information on the history of our Society, beginning with a History of Saline Church **
Saline & District Heritage Society 
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