Kingskettle

Kingskettle or often simply Kettle is a village and parish in Fife, Scotland. Encompassed by the Howe of Fife, the village is approximately 5.5 miles (9 km) southwest of the nearest town, Cupar, and 22 miles (35 km) north of Edinburgh. According to the 2011 Census for Scotland, the Kettle parish had a population of 1,645, of which 1,002 lived in the village. As with many villages along the River Eden, the primary source of employment and industry in the village was the manufacture of linen. In the wider parish, there is an abundance of fertile farmland that has been taken advantage of for millennia. According to Understanding Scottish Places, Kingskettle is now primarily home to commuters. The definite origin of the name of Kettle is unknown but dates back to at least the 12th century. It is widely thought that it originates from the word 'battle,' however it would have to be the Pictish form of the word. Alternatively, it is thought the name could stem from the indigenous wildcat. The prefix 'kings' is an obvious association with the crown, with land in the village in the hands of the earls of Fife and other nobility throughout various points in time. The parish includes the settlements of Kettlebridge, Balmalcolm, Kettlehill, Burnturk, Muirhead, and several farms.