Ancient Keith

LIKE all Gaul, Keith is divided into three parts: Old Keith, New Keith and Fife Keith, for reasons that readily become clear.

The name Keith first appears in a charter of William the Lion around 1195, deriving from Gaelic word for 'wind' or 'pure air', a thought with which any "Keith Cyard" would cordially agree.

Throughout its early history Keith is styled a Barony, retaining powers of Pit and Gallows, the right to hang or drown convicted criminals. These encompassed the 'Four Pleas of the Crown' viz. Robbery, Murder, Rape and Arson.

These powers were used. The old gallows was on the site of the present New Town, not far from the river where the present A96 crosses the Isla. Here was a deep pool, Gaun's Pot, where witches were thrown to ascertain if they were really in league with Satan. If Auld Nick supported them and they floated, they were burnt. If not, it was usually too late. A convicted criminal, sentenced to be nailed by the ear to the Gallows - a common punishment for minor offences - is said to have torn his ear free and rushed down to the river to witness a drowning.

There seems to have been little early expansion, as a traveller in 1742 describes Keith as "a little country village which is situated in such a hollow place that it can scarce be seen from any place at a quarter of a mile distance from it." A modern approach is far different, especially from the West, since the addition of New Keith and Fife-Keith to the original Auld Toon'.

The River Isla divides the Estates of Fife and Seafield. In 1750, the Seafield family decided to extend Keith to the East, on higher ground, and so the New Town was born. Its design was based on a central square, (Reidhaven), from which came three parallel streets joined by narrow lanes. The central street, Mid Street, has developed into a compact and accessible shopping centre, marred only by parking problems, receiving the attention of Local Authorities. To the East was Moss Street, built on a peat foundation, while Land Street, to the West, occupied the former "Lotted Lands", once allocated to Auld Toon House-owners. In recent years, much expansion has taken place.

Fife-Keith was begun in 1817, after the Fourth Earl of Fife had failed to create a viable settlement at Newmill, farther down the Isla. It was never a commercial success, but its wide, tree-lined streets made it a pleasant part of the town in which to live. In 1889, the three Keiths' were merged into a police Burgh, under a Town Council.

A curious 'sidelight' on Local Authority methods of the time is noted here. The new Town Council ,were most anxious to become the Roads Authority to the Burgh. This required a minimum population of 5,000 and Keith was just over 4,000. Newmill was invited to join to make up the difference but declined. Strangely, by another 'head-count' the population had leaped to just over 5,000. Once the Roads Authority was obtained, it seems to have declined to what has been its level almost ever since, just over 4,000.