LOCHGELLY

lochgelly, a police burgh of fifeshire, scotland, 71⁄2 m. n.e. of dunfermline by the north british railway. pop. (1901) 5472. the town is modern and owes its prosperity to the iron-works and collieries in its immediate vicinity. loch gelly, from which the town takes its name, situated 1⁄2 m. s.e., measures 1⁄2 m. in length by 3⁄4 m. in breadth, contains some trout and pike, and has on its west banks lochgelly house, a seat of the earl of minto. the romans are said to have had a station at loch ore in the parish of ballingry, 21⁄4 m. n. by w., which was drained about the end of the 18th century and then cultivated. to the n.e. rises the hill of benarty (1131 ft.). hallyards, about 2 m. s.e. of lochgelly, is a ruined house that once belonged to sir william kirkaldy of grange, who held edinburgh castle for queen mary. here james v. was received after his defeat at solway moss in 1542, and here a few jacobites used to meet in 1715.