The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Relic of a century of industrial heritage torn down in 45 minutes
Skyline will be forever changed now chimney is demolished
It took just 45 minutes to obliterate the last relic of Falkland’s century of industrial heritage.
The 130ft chimney of St John’s Works was knocked down chunk by chunk, changing forever the royal burgh’s skyline.
Crowds gathered to watch the historic moment yesterday as the last remaining factory building, which produced floor cloth, linoleum and, latterly, paper bags, crashed to the ground.
Local schoolchildren were among the spectators, cheering as huge sections of brickwork crashed to the ground.
Also watching was David Verden-Smith who bought the factory almost 50 years ago for £4,000 with his late brother William.
Until 2011 almost 200 people were employed at the works, still owned by paper maker Smith Anderson.
Mr Verden-Smith said: “I am sad to see the whole factory demolished.”
The demolition follows concerns about the safety of youngsters reported to have entered the abandoned factory.
Michael Longstaffe, chief executive of Kirkcaldy-based Smith Anderson, said: “We had to make sure the site, but more importantly the local community, were well looked after and there were some issues with people treating it like an adventure playground.”
Howe of Fife and Tay Coast councillor David MacDiarmid, who lives in Falkland, said: “It is sad to see my old friend go but it was great that all the kids were here to see it. It is a piece of history, 100 years of industrial heritage being torn down to make way for houses.”
It is sad to see my old friend go... DAVID MACDIARMID