One of Dunfermline’s less well known royal connections is being celebrated this week with a series events.
Queen Anne of Denmark, who married King James VI of Scotland, was a prominent figure in Dunfermline’s past.
She was the daughter of Frederick II of Denmark, and lived in Dunfermline until 1603 when James succeeded to the throne of England.
She was keen to support its citizens even after the couple had moved south.
In those days, parents had to pay a quarterly fee to schoolmasters to educate their children. But the money was never enough to keep schools running and they were often in danger of closure.
She believed scholars should have the opportunity to learn even if parents were unable to pay for the education for their children. So, 400 years ago, she gifted £2000 around £195,000 in today’s money to the Dunfermline Grammar and Music School.
The Auld Grammar and Singin Schole, as it was known, in Queen Anne Street, was restored in 1625 after a fire. It stood on that site until 1817 before newer buildings replaced it, including Queen Anne High School.
Members of Dunfermline City Archive plan to mark the anniversary with a series of free walks with costumed guides.
The walks will take in a number of sites around the town associated with Anne of Denmark. They begin from Abbot House on Maygate at 2pm daily and take in locations such as the abbey, the palace ruins, Pittencrieff Park, Abbot Street and Pilmuir Street.
There will also be a lecture by historian Professor David Stevenson of the London School of Economics.
His talk, Anne of Denmark: Scotland’s Last Resident Queen, takes place in the City Chambers at 7pm on Thursday. Tickets are available from Abbot House.
Queen Anne and Dunfermline High schools are supporting the project. For more information, visit www.dunfermlineheritage.org
Photo courtesy of www.scottishphotographer.com