Cupar

Cupar, or CUPAR-FIFE, the county town of Fife, on the Eden, 10 miles W. by S. of St Andrews, 30 NNE. of Edinburgh, and 13 S. of Dundee. In the 12th century a castle of the Macduffs, Earls of Fife, crowned the 'School Hill,' whose northern slope was afterwards the show-place of mystery-plays and moralities such as the Thrie Estaitis (1535) of Sir David Lyndsay (q.v.). Cupar has a handsome new Free Church (1877), the Duncan Institute (1870), and a public park (1871-72). Brewing, tanning, &c. are carried on; and there is a large corn-market. Lord Campbell was a native. The place has been a royal burgh since at least 1363, and it unites with St Andrews and five other towns in returning one member to parliament. Pop. (1851) 5605; (1881) 5010; (1891) 4729. See also COUPAR-ANGUS.