The Binn

Rising abruptly to a height of 193m (632 feet) behind the Fife coastal town of Burntisland, The Binn (Hill) has two craggy summits. Little remains of the village of The Binn which stood on the eastern slopes. Founded in 1878 by James 'Paraffin' Young, this village was built to house those working in the shale oil industry started here by Young. The import of cheap American oil brought this small industry to an end in 1892 and by 1913 there were only 16 people left in the village. During the First World War the houses and school were used to house Admiralty workers and troops and in 1954 the last inhabitant left the village.

The Craigkelly television transmitter, one of the most significant in Central Scotland, lies on its northern slopes.


Use the tabs on the right of this page to see other parts of this entry arrow

If you have found this information useful please consider making
a donation to help maintain and improve this resource. More info...

By using our site you agree to accept cookies, which help us serve you better