What is origin of hangman lane in cupar?

Answer 1

I lived at No. 5 Statheden Park from 1953 to 1965, the lane nearby, was at that time an unmetaled and unlit road only wide enough for one vehicle. The road was mainly used by the County Council bin lorries going to and from the dump, now filled and flattened, on the west side of the road about a third of the way up.

Local folklore told of an incident at some time in the 19th century wherby a Tinky Lad,(not PC but that was the terminology of the time) had murdered his wife and then hung himself. The site of the encampment clearing and the tree were identified as being on the east side some fifty yards or so up from the Stratheden end of the lane.

The tree used to exit this life was identified as an ancient and crumbling Ash which was quite rotten and hollow, very probably totally gone now. The tree had a sinister attachment and to us children a threatening presence. A witness to one terrible deed and party to another, to be hurried past without looking too long at. As for going near it at night that was to be avoided for fear of whatever might be there.

That was one version the other being that the Hangman en route from Perth came by this way. In terms of travelling from A to B this never made any sense and possibly a more genteel version designed to mask the grisly deeds associated with the lane. The more genteel version possibly being applied around the early 1860s with the opening of Stratheden Hospital .

Alisdair J. Mclean

Answer 2

The origin of Hangman Lane in Cupar is uncertain and subject to speculation. One theory suggests that it was given the name because it was once a site for public executions. However, there is little historical evidence to support this claim. Another theory suggests it may have been named after a local family, the Hanguemen, but this is also purely speculative. The true origin of the name remains unknown.