Find Out About Methil
There are a number of small shipping communities which have slowly developed into towns and have eventually merged into a single municipal area known as Levenmouth. The towns of Buckhaven, Methil, Leven, Methilhill, Kennoway, Windygates and East Wemyss all fall into the Levenmouth area but each has a very separate history and identity. Such is the case with Methil, Scotland, which has a history dating back to the 12th century. Today Methil is best known for its dockyards, but there is definitely more to this town than immediately meets the eye.
Methil is situated in Fife, Scotland, and like the other towns in Levenmouth is situated near the river mouth of Leven River. While the town dates back to the 12th century, the town became a barony in 1572, but then did not see much growth until the 19th and 20th century. This growth really started in the 1870s when Methil was chosen as a site for the development of new coal exportation docks. These docks were to be used to export Fife coal and the development lead to a resurgence of life in Methil. People of all nationalities and religions came to live in Methil giving it a multi-cultural flavor that added a lot of spice to the town. The vibrant and colorful life of this little village virtually dried up as the coal mining industry in Fife ceased to be so productive.
Today you can learn a lot about the history of Methil at the community museum in-between visiting the dockyards and the local oilrig pits. Unfortunately some aspects of the city have fallen into a state of disrepair and there are a certain neighborhoods which should be avoided. Despite this, the town still makes for an interesting visit if you are passing through that way and bird lovers will find a number of nesting sights by Largo Bay which are worth seeing.
