The Fifeshire Journal of 27.04.1837 speaks about a school in Balmullo run by a Mr Bruce. Later on we read about a Parish school and a Subscription School (1858) which had about 60-80 pupils. These pupils were educated only because their parents payed fees to the teacher for their child to be educated. From an old drawn map of Balmullo in 1855, it shows the school at the junction of Smithy and School Road.

The Fifeshire Journal of 21.02.1867 speaks about fundraising to build a purpose built school. This took the form of vocal and instrumental music on Friday 15.02.1867. There was a long and varied programme. There is no record of how much was raised on that evening. It says that the can only guess that the money was to build a school and dwelling house. I can only guess that this was to extend the then current house being used as a school to turn it into a bigger school. It could be that there was already talk of School Boards being set up to regulate education.

In 1872 The Education (Scotland) Act, created about 1000 Regional School Boards. The one covering this area was the Leuchars School Board. The school at Balmullo started getting built around 1874 and funds had also been raised to build a house for a Headmaster, and this also started to get built around 1874.

The Fifeshire Journal of 24.08.1876, tells us that David Murrie (26 years of age) was appointed as the Headmaster. He had married his wife Mary Martin, a Teacher on 3rd January, 1876 in Glasgow. He was actually a Teacher in Methven prior to being appointed at Balmullo. There had been 79 candidates for the position.

On checking the Census of 1881, David Murrie is now 31 with a wife Mary (25), daughters Jeamima (we find out later that her real name is Jeannie Martin Murrie born 1877) looks like the person noting the details for census spelled things incorrectly) aged (4) and Mary(1) living at the house. At this time, they had a Domestic Servant, Jemima Patrick (14). She would probably have helped in the house and with the children and may have received education and food in payment.

The Census of 1891 tells us that David Murrie is still the Headmaster at the Primary School, his wife Mary (35), Jeannie now aged 14, Mary (11) and a son David (5). They have a new Domestic Servant, Margaret Brown(13).

The population of Balmullo in 1891 was 118 males and 162 females.

The Census of 1901 tells us that David Murrie now 51 is still the Headmaster at the Public School, and his sister Helen (41) is living with him. I did a search and his wife Mary, daughter Mary and son David, are now living at 76 Watson Street, Dundee. Sadly, we also discover that his daughter Jeannie Martin Murrie died on 2nd November, 1900 from Tubercular Meningitis, she was only 23 years old.

*** post Victorian Period Information now

We can only assume the family have split up, possibly due to overwhelming grief, as 10 years later, the Census on 1911 tells us David is now 61, still Headteacher and has his sister Christina (54) living with him as his housekeeper.

The Education (Scotland) Act of 1918 (probably about the end of WW1) gave free education to all pupils.

It is not known when electricity was put into the house in Balmullo, but we must assume around the WW1, prior to that, it would have been gas, paraffin or candles for light and fires in every room. We still have fireplaces in every room except the dining room, as it was blocked up in 1990, it was to the right of the door as you come in from the kitchen. There apparently used to be a boiler/range in the kitchen, to the right of the window. It had it’s own chimney. That was removed some time between 1934 and 1986, although the chimney remains.

The original gate to the Schoolhouse was nearer to the telephone exchange, as that was the main door to the property. It was moved some time between 1934 and 1986.

Sometime between 1911 and 1920, William Gardner Lawrie took over as Headmaster at Balmullo, with his wife Robina Dunn McLaren, as Assistant Schoolteacher. Doesn’t look like they had any children.

John Millar took over the position as Head Teacher at Balmullo some time between 1922 and 1925. He had married Margaret Ness in Edinburgh on 8.8.1914, while we was a teacher at Cowdenbeath. Sadly Margaret died in January, 1922 and it is thought that John took up a position at Balmullo after this. In 1925, he married Jane Melville, who was the daughter of the local grocer (where the Spar Shop is now) Andrew Melville. They had two children, Doreen born 1926 and Kenneth born 1930. Sadly in 1933, Doreen was tragically killed outside her grandfather’s shop on the main street by a car. The family left Balmullo in 1937.

In 1936, the Headteacher was George W. Mainland, with his wife Janey (Jenny) Millar Baxter Mainland. She was also a teacher. It is believed that George (Geordie) was from Orkney. He had been a teacher at Markinch prior to moving to Balmulllo. It is thought they had a daughter Mary b. 1934 in Kirkcaldy.

After WWII, the new Headteacher was Ronald McDonald, who probably took over about 1947, with his wife Jean, they had no children.

In 1955, Robert Wilkie took over as Headmaster and moved into the house with his wife Elizabeth. It is thought they had two sons. Mr Wilkie retired in April 1976 and went on to buy the Schoolhouse. There was an end of term Easter Concert. Rev William Adam presented the gift of a Stereo Radiogram to Mr Wilkie.

The new school on Hayston Park was opened on 16th May, 1977 at a cost of £250,000 and was built to house 210 pupils and took 15 months to complete.
The Old School was put on the market and was leased for a few businesses until it was finally sold in the early 1980’s. It was used as a home by the McGilvaray family then changed use to a Buddhist Retreat in the early 1990’s and was sold to the Bruce family in October 2000 by the Bruce family, and the name changed from The Old Schoolhouse to Langsettle.

In 1986 Robert and Elizabeth Wilkie sold their house to Jan and George Redpath who brought up their family Lindsay, Kevin, Stephen and Katriona in the house. Their 2nd Grandson, David Lindsay Addison was also born and lived at the house for 9 months.