The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Fool’s gold – Thieves scale town hall to steal weather vane
Golden cockerel snatched during refurbishment of Burgh Chambers building
Cocky thieves have stolen a Cupar landmark in a raid on the Burgh Chambers.
Contractors working on the refurbishment of the town centre building were shocked when they realised the golden cockerel weather vane, which has sat atop the building for decades, had been snatched.
The culprits are thought to have scaled scaffolding used by workmen to carry out their crime.
Lynn Watt, a director of joinery firm John Smart & Son, which was carrying out the refurbishment work, said the theft was bound to ruffle feathers in the town.
Having just been touched up with gold leaf, she suggested that the thieves may have thought the item to have been more valuable.
“We were starting to withdraw the scaffolding a level so we could work further down the dome,” she said.
“A worker said that he thought something was missing and that’s when we found out it had gone.
“I don’t know if they thought it was worth a fortune but it is just covered in gold leaf.
“It will have historical significance for people in the town though and they will be up in arms.”
The weather vane is thought to have been erected in 1823, eight years after the construction of the Burgh Chambers.
Proudly perched upon the building’s distinctive dome, the cockerel was restored to its traditional place as part of work to transform the complex into holiday apartments.
External work at the site began earlier this year as part of a complete overhaul of the complex, which will see its distinctive pink paint removed and original stonework restored.
Police are now investigating the theft with a spokesperson saying: “Police in Fife are investigating following reports of theft of a weather vane from the town hall building in Cupar.
“Inquiries are ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact Cupar Police station on 101, quoting incident reference 1472 of September 6.”