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Robert Douglas

 

 

 

 

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Wayside marker is the term used to describe the ten cast-iron indicators of four types confined to road junctions in the St Andrews District of the Fife Turnpikes. The cast-iron plates are fastened to their stone backing with iron clips, with one free-standing plate supported from behind by an iron bracket sunk in stone.

Two markers exist as Type I, at NO 524153 and NO 608083, headed respectively 'St. Andrews' and 'Grail'. Both are 3 ft. high, 1 ft. 11 in. across and 4 in. in depth. They stand at Yjunctions and the left and right sides give the names of farms, villages and towns along each road in order. In PI. 21c the places on or near the A918 appear on the left panel and those accessible from A959 on the right. 'Robert Douglas, Engineer, Cupar' is the legend along the top. Douglas was born at the Manse, Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire, in 1822 and set up business in Cupar in 1846 or 1847. Douglas moved to Kirkcaldy in 1855; beginning by manufacturing shot and shell during the Crimean War, he branched into the construction of paper-mill machinery, steam engines and, bythe early 'sixties, Corliss engines.

A visit to Calcutta by Douglas led to the development of rice-milling machinery. A partnership with Lewis Grant was formed in 1873 and under the name of Lewis C. Grant Ltd., the enterprise founded by Douglas continues to manufacture rice-milling machinery and grain dryers, giving employment to some eighty men.

 

Parents: Rev Robert Douglas and Jane Monteath

 

He married Frances Cumming and had a number of children, including:

• Francis James Boswell Douglas, who married Helen, daughter of Francis, Lord Douglas of Barloch
• Dr Carstairs Cumming Douglas

 

See also:

• Douglas and Grant Engineering

 

 

 

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