who are the parents of John Melville?

[MelOfFife]

this site states it opened 1940 ,but must be a typo bcz my ancestor was clearly working there 100 yrs, earlier in 1840 - working there until he left for Canada http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/printthread.php?t=16110

[MelOfFife]

what the hey, heres some pics- http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/cults-limestone-mine-fife-into-the-deep.t37768

i'll venture these mines were originally profitable land for earl of leven.(Melville) and/ or earl of rothes (leslie)
then eventually sold or leased on to others in the 1940's

[MelOfFife]

it looks like Margarets titles passed to her sister then to david Melville(later leslie) affer alexander leslie died  from a first marriage and since they were leslies on the mothers side too then those were contested and passed to earl rothes(also leslies)- very confusing to say the least! these mines (probably untapped yet)must've been part of what they were contesting along with the titles. (lots of money/land  involved)!

just speculating out loud.. lol

[ecksdochter]

Hello,
     For information about Cults Limestone Mines/Quarries try this website:
       https://canmore.org.uk/site/31212/cults-hill-limestone-quarry
     Also:
       https://canmore.org.uk/site/31187/cults-lime-works-brick-and-tile-works
     Under the heading Archaeology Notes, click on each of the Blue highlighted numbers in turn for details & exact location on the map.
     Hope you find something there helpful.
               Regards,     Dod.
   Added.
     This OS Six Inch, 1843-1882 Map from the National Library of Scotland (nls) shows the Pitlessie, Bunzion & Cults Limeworks. Pitlessie Village lies directly North of the Pitlessie Limeworks.
   http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16&lat=56.2681&lon=-3.0615&layers=5
     Move the map around, zoom in/out. Change the maps using '2. Select a map/map series on left of screen. Slide Blue Dot on left of screen for an up-to-date Satellite overview. Lovely website.
               

[MelOfFife]

thanks ecksdochter.

those are some great links;probably the best detailed maps i've ever seen.
 i spent an hour looking around before i realized it.
i suppose' lessie' could mean a 'village' that  surrounds the pit or the coal heap. I'm just doing a lot of speculating right now over it.

I see Earl of Glasgow owned it in '56 just as my ancestor was leaving.. too bad the trail didn't go back further but its still great to see.