Lower Largo

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Lower Largo
Fife
LowerLargo01.jpg
Lower Largo
Location
Grid reference: NO420026
Location: 56°12’50"N, 2°56’28"W
Data
Local Government
Council: Fife
Parliamentary
constituency:
North East Fife

Lower Largo or Seatown of Largo is a village in Fife, standing on Largo Bay along the north side of the Firth of Forth.

An ancient fishing village, Lower Largo is famous as the 1676 birthplace of Alexander Selkirk, who provided inspiration for Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe.[1] A signpost at the harbour points to Juan Fernández Islands, some 7,500 miles distant, where Selkirk lived for more than four years as a castaway.

Statue of Alexander Selkirk in Lower Largo

The arrival of the railway in 1856 brought many tourists to Lower Largo's sandy beach. Lower Largo has retained many historic buildings, and in 1978 it was designated as a conservation area.

The railway line through Lower Largo was closed in the 1960s as part of the programme of cuts overseen by Dr Beeching, and though it has been disused since then the viaduct that dominates the village remains an important local landmark.

Lower Largo is contiguous with Lundin Links.

Outside links

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References

  1. Severin, Tim (2002). In Search of Robinson Crusoe. New York: Basic Books. ISBN 978-046-50-7698-7.