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Fife Folk Museum

The Fife Folk Museum in Ceres commemorates the seafaring industries and rural crafts of Fife. The museum is housed in a interesting collection of listed buildings, including weavers' cottages, and an original tollbooth. It was in a tollbooth similar to this one that Adam Smith's father worked in nearby Kirkaldy from 1714 until his death in 1723, the year of Adam Smith's birth. Adam Smith was to go on to Glasgow and Edinburh University and become one of the world's greatest economists. He championed the idea of free trade. It was in tollbooths such as the one at Ceres that goverments attempted to control trade. Although Smith himself worked in customs, he had sympathy for the people who tried to get round trade restrictions. He felt that in different circumstances smugglers could be respected merchants. Going to Glasgow to study the young man found a vibrant city growing rich through trade. This was a contrast to the more restricted life back in Fife. The apparently humble little tollbooth that you will see at the Fife Folk Museum actually had a role to play in moulding the ideas of trade on which modern Western society is based.

There are over seven thousand objects kept at the museum, from prehistoric artifacts, to objects related to crafts, the home, clothing, agriculture, and sports.

The village of Ceres is also interesting historically for its free games event. This dates back to celebrations organised following the return of men from the Battle of Bannockburn where Robert the Bruce defeated the English king Edward the Second.

Opening times: 15th April to 30th September, 11.30 - 4.30 daily.

Directions: Ceres is between St Andrews and Glenrothes on the B393. The Fife Folk Museum is in the High Street. Click here for an interactive map centred on the Fife Folk Museum.

Access: people in wheelchairs might find access difficult to the historic buildings. Contact the museum to discuss your needs.

Contact:

telephone: 01334 828180

web site: http://www.fifefolkmuseum.org/content/pages/welcome.php