Kelty

{{Clarify|reason="Past five years" since when?|date=July 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}} {{Use British English|date=June 2015}} {{more citations needed|date=July 2017}} {{Infobox UK place | official_name = Kelty | gaelic_name = Cailtidh | country = Scotland | static_image_name = Main Street, Kelty - geograph.org.uk - 1298824.jpg | static_image_width =  | static_image_alt = A view down Kelty's Main Street, lined by a number of small shops. There are several parked cars, and one man with a carrier bag walking up the pavement. | static_image_caption = Main Street | population = {{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Kelty}} | population_ref = ({{Scottish settlement population citation|year}})<ref>{{Scottish settlement population citation}}</ref> | os_grid_reference = NT143941 | coordinates = {{coord|56.133|-3.380|display=inline,title}} | post_town = KELTY | postcode_district = KY4 | postcode_area = KY | dial_code = 01383 | constituency_westminster = Glenrothes and Mid Fife | unitary_scotland = Fife | lieutenancy_scotland = Fife | constituency_scottish_parliament = Cowdenbeath }}

thumb|Kelty war memorial thumb|Housing scheme on the west side of Kelty

'''Kelty''' (Scottish Gaelic: Cailtidh) is a former coal mining town located in Fife, Scotland. Lying in the heart of the old mining heartlands of Fife and adjacent to the M90 motorway, it is situated on the Fife/Kinross-shire boundary and has a population of around 6,000 residents.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.citypopulation.de/php/uk-scotland.php?cityid=096001|title=Kelty (Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom) - Population Statistics and Location in Maps and Charts|work=citypopulation.de}}</ref> This was nearer to 9,000 when the coal mining industry was still operational in late 1970s and early 1980s.

==Origins==

The origin of the name of the town is somewhat obscure. It could come from the Scottish Gaelic ''coillte'' or ''coilltean'' meaning 'wood' or 'woodland' or it could come from the Gaelic ''cailtidh'', a reduced form of the early Gaelic ''*caleto-dubron'', meaning 'hard water'. In either case, it was probably originally a Pictish name that was later adapted to Gaelic.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kelty |url=https://fife-placenames.glasgow.ac.uk/placename/?id=209 |website=Fife Place-name Data |access-date=22 June 2020}}</ref>

The town began around 1850 as a mining village linked to several coal mines in the area, mainly owned by the Fife Coal Company and continued to expand with the increase of mines until 1930.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nmrs.org.uk/mines-map/coal-mining-in-the-british-isles/collieries-of-the-british-isles/coal-mines-scotland/ | title=Coal Mines - Scotland }}</ref> The vast majority of the settlements within the town were built within the mid-20th century, with expansions continuing into the 21st century; a considerable expansion is currently underway.<ref>https://www.dunfermlinepress.com/news/23390576.kelty-permission-900-homes-cocklaw-street---no-start-date/</ref>

==Education and amenities==

Kelty has two primary schools, St. Joseph's and Kelty Primary. After primary school, the majority of pupils go on to Beath High School, a comprehensive school in Cowdenbeath, or the local Roman Catholic school, St Columba's High School in Dunfermline. Kelty also has a modern community centre, with a modern library within.

==Church==

Kelty was part of the parish of Beath (Cowdenbeath) and had a quoad sacra mission church erected in 1894. The mission was upgraded to a chapel in 1897, its minister being Rev George Hunter MA who went to Liverpool in 1903. He was replaced by Rev William Henderson Adam who went to Calderbank in 1919 and was replaced by Rev William Thomson. It was given status as a separate parish, disjoined from Cowdenbeath, in 1925.<ref>''Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae''</ref>

==War memorial==

The war memorial was erected in 1921 and was designed by sculptor William Birnie Rhind.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/5719 | title=Kelty }}</ref>

==Notable people==  *Claire Baker, MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife<ref>{{cite web |title=Baker's concern at rise in domestic abuse |url=https://www.centralfifetimes.com/news/15620631.bakers-concern-at-rise-in-domestic-abuse/ |website=Central Fife Times |date=26 October 2017 |access-date=13 June 2021 |language=en}}</ref> *Stephen Husband, professional footballer<ref>{{cite web |title=Ex-Hearts kid Stephen Husband in line to face his old club as a trialist for Dunfermline |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/latest-hearts-news/ex-hearts-kid-stephen-husband-line-face-his-old-club-trialist-dunfermline-2457373 |website=www.scotsman.com |date=20 July 2012 |access-date=28 January 2022 |language=en}}</ref> *Willie Penman, professional footballer *Willie Rennie, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats (2011–2021) *Alex Rowley, Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party (2015–2017) *Robert Stewart, Draughts World Champion (1922–1933)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/people/fifes-forgotten-world-draughts-champion-honoured-at-new-tournament-in-kelty-3813667 | title=Fife's forgotten world draughts champion honoured at new tournament in Kelty | date=21 August 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/fife/2942205/kelty-draughts-coal-carrying/ | title=Kelty miner unbeaten in draughts for over 20 years to be commemorated in new tournament | date=26 January 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dunfermlinepress.com/news/20759805.kelty-draughts-champ-shane-mccosker-take-part-robert-stewart-memorial-tournament/ | title=Fancy taking on the British champion in a game of draughts? | date=25 August 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fifechamber.co.uk/news/draughts-championship-comes-kelty-celebration-former-scottish-world-champion | title=Draughts championship comes to Kelty in celebration of former Scottish World Champion }}</ref>

==Sport== Kelty Hearts won Scottish League Two in 2022, having been promoted from the Lowland League in 2021.

==Blairadam House==

Blairadam House, just north of Kelty but on the west side of the M90, was the long-term home of the Adam family: William Adam, Robert Adam, John Adam, William Adam of Blair Adam, Charles Adam etc.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Commons category-inline}} * [https://www.fife.gov.uk/kb/docs/articles/about-your-council2/politicians-and-committees/community-councils/west-locality/kelty Kelty on Fife Council website] * [http://www.scottishmining.co.uk/35.html Kelty on Scottish Mining Website ]

Category:Kelty Category:Towns in Fife Category:Mining communities in Fife