Largo Institute

[emily]

Hi all,
does anyone know what the Largo Institute was?
My grandfather's brother-in-law gave his address on his marriage certificate in 1914 as "Largo Institute, Largo Fifeshire". Admittedly this is a minor problem compared with my many brick walls, but I would be really grateful if someone could help.

My apologies if this post is in the wrong place.

Best regards
Irene

[Anne H]

Hi Irene,

Welcome to TalkingScot!

I tried a quick Google for some mention of Largo Institute but nothing jumped out at me so hopefully one of our other members familiar with the area will see your post and be able to come up with something for you.

Regards,
Anne H

[emily]

Thank you for the welcome, Anne. And thanks for googling for me.
I forgot to mention that he was a coal miner although that's probably not relevant.
One thing that occurred to me is that, considering it was 1914, it might have had something to do with the army. He was in the HLI in WWI and died of wounds in 1916. Is there any way of finding out if it was an army (training) camp?
Regards
Irene

[WilmaM]

I've had a look at some old maps of the Largo area [Lundin Links, Upper & Lower Largo] but nothing is jumping out at me.

What was his occupation on the marriage cert. that could give a clue as to what sort of place we are looking for.

For instance is it a medical plce or if he was a fisherman was it a seaman's mission type of accomodation.
Other thing that struck me was the date - before or after WWI was declared.

oh see you've thought of that yourself - do you have his war records.

[LesleyB]

Hi Irene

My grandfather's brother-in-law gave his address on his marriage certificate in 1914 as "Largo Institute, Largo Fifeshire

What was his surname? Just wondered because of this:

There is an institution in the village called Wood’s Hospital, for the maintenance of indigent persons of the name of Wood.

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/sct/FIF/pa ... /index.htm

Wood's Hospital is a Tudor building, standing within a considerable enclosed space a little to the NE of the church. It sprang from a bequest made in 1659 by John Wood, London, who left the sum of £68, 418 Scots to be applied by his trustees in the erection of an hospital for the maintenance of 13 indigent and enfeebled persons, and to pay also for the services of a gardener, a porter, and a chaplain for the institution. The whole 16 must be of the name of Wood, and those belonging to the parish or to Fife have the preference. The first building was erected in 1667, and, it having become decayed, the present building was erected in 1830 at a cost of £2000. A sitting-room and bed-room are provided for each inmate, and there is a large hall where they assemble for prayers every morning and evening, and also a room for the meetings of the trustees. These latter are the Earl of Wemyss, the lairds of Largo, Lundin, and Balfour, and the minister and kirk-session of the parish of Largo. Each inmate has a monthly allowance of £1, 12s. 6d., besides residence. Of the founder but little is known, but he is supposed to have been a cadet of the Largo family. He died in London, but was buried in the family aisle in Largo Church.

http://www.scottish-places.info/towns/t ... ry106.html

There is also mention of the The Simpson Institute in Main Street, Upper Largo built in 1891, but I'm guessing this was always more of a recreational gathering place not a residential building.
http://www.fifedirect.org.uk/orgs/index ... 64047A0B0B

Best wishes
Lesley

[WilmaM]

That's interesting Lesley, I noticed that place on the maps and thought it was a little out of place - though I thought Mental Institute.

[Anne H]

Hi Irene,

I've no knowledge of training camps but if you like, I could have a look at the WW1 records on Find My Past for you. I would need name, date and place of birth and name of parents to see if anything matches for him.

If you like, you can PM the details to me.

Regards,

Anne H

[emily]

Thank you, everyone
I'll look at the the links this evening. Off to work soon.....

Thank you for your offer, Anne. I'd be very grateful if you could spare the time to have a look.
This is the information I have on David:
David Young, born 10 October 1890 in Bartonholm, parish of Irvine, Ayrshire.
His parents were James Young and Elizabeth Moore (or Muir).
He was a coal miner and as far as I know, lived in Ayrshire.
He married my g-aunt Margaret McCart on 22 August 1914 in the district of Blythswood, Glasgow, by Warrant of Sheriff Substitute of Lanarkshire.
He was Lance corporal, No 43133, 16th Btn. Highland Light Infantry at the time of death.
He was killed in action, in the Battle of Arras on 30 April 1917. (My previous post was wrong. I mixed him up with another g-uncle.)
He is mentioned on the CWGC site and the Kilwinning Memorial, although both have the wrong age and a slightly different date of death (27 April 1917).

Thank you
Irene

[WilmaM]

The interesting bit on the CWGC site is:

Son of James and M. Young, of Irvine, Ayrshire; husband of Margaret McCart Young, of Detroit. Mich., U.S.A.

Wonder , was she American? or did she move there after his death? perhaps they met in the States and he returned to enlist but they needed a valid/UK marriage cert to ensure she got his pay. [just thinking out loud]

Miners were very useful in WWI as they were trench and tunneling experts.

A further delve into google:
The Fifth Battalion, Highland Light Infantry in the War

With orders prepared carefully in peace time, mobilization went smoothly. The Normal School, Glasgow, became a barracks and a place for the busy public of the New City Road to gaze at with interest.

Within a week our Brigade found itself at Dunfermline, and a few days later we were at Leven, with two companies on duty at the docks at Methil. The Leven companies did uninterrupted training, the Methil companies uninterrupted guards

http://www.bigenealogy.com/5thbattalion ... o-east.htm

Leven almost runs into Largo, Lundin Links nowadays, so it could be that was where some of them were billeted.

Doesn't come up with an answer to your original question - but puts the regiment in the area.....

[AndrewP]

Hi Emily,

On looking up The Scotsman archives, there are a few results for Largo Institute. Most of them refer to the WRI (Women's Rural Institute). One refers to the Fife Federation of Rural Institutes. If it was a WRI, one guess is that he was a live-in caretaker.

The Largo WRI is still going. http://www.swri.org.uk/WhereToFindUs/fife.htm

All the best,

AndrewP