Meaning ‘place of the hard fort’, the first record of the town of Kirkcaldy dates back to 1075, when Malcolm III granted the settlement to the church of Dunfermline - although archaeologists have found evidence of human habitation dating back to the Bronze Age.
The town remained under the control of Dunfermline Abbey until 1644 when it gained its independence after becoming a royal burgh under King Charles I.
That followed the establishment of a harbour at the East Burn in the early 16th century which made Kirkcaldy an important Scottish trading port.
Early industries in the ‘Lang Toon’ (so-called due to its log main street) included salt, coal mining, nail making and linen.
Read more:
Edinburgh Old Town Heritage in Pictures: Here are 28 fascinating photos of the city's historic centre in the 1950s and 1960s - from parades to pubs
It was the linen industry that would evolve into floorcloth and linoleum, the town’s most famous product, with Michael Nairn exporting the popular floor covering worldwide.
Known globally as the birthplace of economist Adam Smith (and darts player Jocky Wilson), modern Kirkcaldy may no longer be an inductrial powerhouse, but is boasts a wide array of public facilities, including a leisure centre, theatre, museum and art gallery, three public parks and an ice rink.
Here are 31 pictures to take you back to Kirkcaldy in the 1950s and 1960s.
Make sure you don't miss a moment of breaking news from across Scotland by signing up to our free newsletter here.
