"Wemyss, on the south shore of the county, derives its name from the Celtic 'Wamh' meaning caves, a number of which may be found in the rocks on the seashore. The parish is bounded by Markinch, Scoonie, Kennoway and Dysart. It measures about 6 miles by 1.5. The parish is in excellent cultivation, producing great quantities of potatoes and turnips. Ochre and ironstone are found, but the principal mineral is coal of which from 50000 to 60000 tons are produced annually. The manufactures of the parish consist mainly of ducks, dowlas, sheetings, huckabacks, diaper and canvas. There are 8 villages in the parish: West Wemyss, East Wemyss, Buckhaven (one of the largest fishing villages in Fife), Methil (with a fine harbour), Kirkland (with extensive spinning, weaving and bleaching works), Coaltown of Wemyss, East Newtown of Wemyss and Methilhill (which last 3 are all mining villages. The parish church is at East Wemyss, with a chapel of ease at West Wemyss. There is a Free Church at East Wemyss and a UP Church at Buckhaven. " edited from Westwood's Directory for the counties of Fife & Kinross published 1862.