Inverkeithing

Inverkeithing Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Chèitinn[1] Scots: Innerkethyn [3] Nickname: Divit[2]
Town and Royal Burgh
From top left: Friary, Mercat Cross, Thomson's House, view of town, St. Peter's Church, beach on coastal path. Burgh Arms of Inverkeithing
Location near the City of Edinburgh council area Location within Fife
Population	4,820 (2020)[4]
Burgh Charter	c. 1160 AD
OS grid reference	NT130829
• Edinburgh	9+1⁄2 mi (15.5 km) S
• London	340 mi (547 km) S
Council area	Fife
Lieutenancy area	Fife
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Inverkeithing
Postcode district	KY11
Dialling code	01383
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Dunfermline and West Fife
Scottish Parliament	Cowdenbeath

Inverkeithing (/ɪnvərˈkiːðɪŋ/ ^ⓘ; Scottish Gaelic: Inbhir Chèitinn) is a coastal town, parish and historic Royal burgh in Fife, Scotland. The town lies on the north shore of the Firth of Forth, 9+1⁄2 mi (15.5 km) northwest of Edinburgh city centre and 3+1⁄2 mi (5.5 km) south of Dunfermline.

Inverkeithing became an important centre of trade during the Middle Ages and was granted Royal burgh status by 1161.^[5] It was the meeting place of the Parliament of Scotland in 1354 and the Convention of Royal Burghs from 1487 to 1552.^[6][7] The Battle of Inverkeithing in 1651 was a pivotal engagement in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Following the Industrial Revolution, Inverkeithing developed industries including quarrying, ship breaking and paper milling.^[8]

Inverkeithing town centre is a conservation area following a medieval town plan, with the best-preserved medieval friary in Scotland and one of the finest examples of a mercat cross.^[9][10] The town's annual highland games and Lammas fair are among the oldest in Scotland. Inverkeithing lies on the Fife Coastal Path, one of Scotland's Great Trails, and the Fife Pilgrim Way.

Inverkeithing railway station is a main stop for trains running over the nearby Forth Bridge, and the town is home to the Ferrytoll Park & Ride. Half of Inverkeithing's workers commute to Edinburgh city centre or Dunfermline (2024).^[11] The town has a population of 4,820 (2020) and the civil parish has a population of 8,878 (2022).^[12][13]

The name is of Scottish Gaelic origin, Inbhir Céitein. Inbhir is a common element in place names with Celtic roots and means "confluence, inflow" (see Aber and Inver), thus "mouth of the Keithing/Céitein". The Keithing is the name of a small river or burn that runs through the southern part of the town. Simon Taylor notes that the name Keithing probably contains the Pictish (Brythonic) *coet, "wood", so the Keithing burn would have meant "stream that runs through or past or issues from woodland".^[14][15] William Watson in 1910 hypothesised an etymological link between the hydronym Keithing and the Welsh cethin, "dusky" (cf. Bryncethin).^[16]

Inverkeithing lies on the north shore of the Firth of Forth at its narrowest crossing point. Inverkeithing is almost contiguous with the neighbouring settlements of North Queensferry, Jamestown, Rosyth, Hillend village and Dalgety Bay. The nearest cities are Dunfermline, 3.5 mi (6 km) northwest, and Edinburgh, 9.5 miles (15 km) southeast.

Topographically, Inverkeithing is situated on a raised terrace sloping down towards Inverkeithing Bay, which cuts in to the south of the town, separating it from the North Queensferry Peninsula. The town is bounded to the west by Castlandhill and to the east by Letham Hill, a 324 ft coastal hill and woodland.^[17][18]

The Keithing Burn is a small river that flows through Inverkeithing. The river falls into the Inner Bay of Inverkeithing Bay 1⁄4 mi (400 m) south of the town centre at Inverkeithing Harbour.^[19]

Inverkeithing lies on the Fife Coastal Path, a long-distance footpath designated as one of Scotland's Great Trails. Coming from North Queensferry, the path winds around the Inner Bay, through Inverkeithing town, by Ballast Bank park, and past a small sandy beach.^[20] The Fife Pilgrim Way also passes through Inverkeithing.

Fairykirk is a woodland and shrubland in Inverkeithing, part of the Ferryhills nature protected area.

The earliest known finds from Inverkeithing are Neolithic, including stone axe heads, which suggests people were clearing woodland and settling in Inverkeithing during the fourth millennium BC. The discovery of a collared urn indicates burial activity in the second millennium BC.^[21]

There is evidence that during the Roman conquest of Britain, Roman governor Agricola established an encampment in the area between AD 78–87 during his war against the Caledonians.^[5] Archeological finds in Inverkeithing include a bronze Roman coin dating from AD 218 to 222, and Roman Road is believed to be of Roman origin.^[21]

Around the 5th century, St Erat—a follower of St Ninian— is said to have founded a church in Inverkeithing. However, there is no hard evidence for this, since the first written reference to St Erat only comes in a sasine of 1588.^[22]

Inverkeithing is first documented in 1114, when it is mentioned in the foundation charter of Scone Abbey granted by Alexander I.^[23][24] In 1163 it appears as "Innirkeithin" in Pope Alexander III's summons of the clergy of the British Isles to the Council of Tours.^[25] Inverkeithing was made one of Fife's first royal burghs—which brought with it legal and trading privileges—in the 12th century.^[26][27] Its burgh status may have been bestowed during the reign of David I,^[7] and it is mentioned as an existing burgh in 1161 under Malcolm IV.^[28] The settlement was an obvious choice to be created a burgh, as its location at the narrowest crossing point of the Firth of Forth and its sheltered bay were both strategically important.^[5]

Throughout much of the Middle Ages, Inverkeithing was an important staging post for pilgrims. Travellers on their way to the shrines of Saint Margaret and Saint Andrew would stop in the town after crossing the Firth of Forth via the Queen's Ferry.^[29] A hostel for pilgrims in Inverkeithing is documented as a possession of Dryburgh Abbey in 1196. A Franciscan friary was established in the 14th century to serve religious travellers; the building survives to this day as Inverkeithing Friary.^[29][5]

Inverkeithing's medieval church was consecrated to St. Peter by Bishop David de Bernham on 24 August 1244.^[30] One of the earliest accounts of life in Inverkeithing comes from the 14th-century Lanercost Chronicle. At Easter 1282, the Chronicle relates, the parish priest of Inverkeithing had "revived the profane rites of Priapus, collecting young girls from the villages, and compelling them to dance in circles to the honour of Father Bacchus, [...] singing and dancing himself and stirring them to lust by filthy language." When the priest exhibited similar behaviour during Lent, a citizen stabbed him to death.^[31] The incident was used by Margaret Murray in The God of the Witches (1931) to support her hypothesis of the survival of British paganism into the Middle Ages.^[32][33][34]

Inverkeithing was the last place Alexander III was seen before he died on 19 March 1286. The King had crossed the Forth in a storm to pay a birthday visit to Queen Yolande, who was staying in Kinghorn. On arriving in Inverkeithing, his party was met by one of the burgesses of the town, Alexander Le Saucier, who tried to convince the King to stay the night.^[35] However, Alexander set off into the rainy night with two local guides.^[36] The group lost their way near Kinghorn and the King was found dead at the bottom of a steep embankment on the next day, having presumably fallen from his horse.^[37]

Several 14th-century Scottish monarchs had connections with Inverkeithing.^[8] In August 1296, 13 burgesses of Inverkeithing swore fealty to Edward I, who stayed in the town on 2 March 1304 during the First War of Scottish Independence, and later wrote letters here.^[38][39] Robert the Bruce sentenced Roger de Mowbray, baron of Inverkeithing, to death for treason after he sealed the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320, causing the town to be forfeited to the crown. In April 1354 the Parliament of Scotland met at Inverkeithing and discussed the terms of David II's return from captivity following the Battle of Neville's Cross.^[40] Inverkeithing was a favourite residence of Annabella Drummond, Queen of Scotland from 1390 to 1401; her gift of a sandstone font to the parish church remains one of Scotland´s finest surviving pieces of late medieval sculpture.^[41]

In 1487, an Act of Parliament during the reign of James III specified that the Convention of Royal Burghs would be held annually in Inverkeithing.^[7][27] Evolving in parallel to the Parliament of Scotland, the Convention was an important representative assembly of trading towns. It is unclear how many meetings were held at Inverkeithing before the Convention moved to Edinburgh in 1552.^[7]

In 1503, the town defended their right to hold the customary Saint Luke's Fair against Robert Douglas of Lochleven. Bailie William Broun produced a charter for holding the fair issued by Robert II and successfully argued for the town's rights before the Privy Council and James IV.^[42] Inverkeithing Lammas fair is first recorded in 1503, and in 1508 it was attended by James IV.^[43] Inverkeithing's Highland Games is first recorded in 1646 and is also likely medieval in origin.^[44]

In November 1504, a plague scare at Dunfermline Palace saw four African women including Ellen More, with John Mosman, the court apothecary, stay in Inverkeithing.^[45]

Inverkeithing was one of the few Scottish burghs to have four stone gates—known as "ports"—around its medieval settlement; Inverkeithing town walls were added in 1557. In the 16th century, Inverkeithing enjoyed a successful trade in wool, fleece and hides, and served as a hub of commerce for Fife with weekly markets.^[46][5] Inverkeithing was granted a charter of confirmation as a Royal Burgh by James VI in 1598.^[47]

As part of the Scottish Reformation, in 1611 the parishes of Inverkeithing and Rosyth were united, with the union formally decreed in 1618.^[48]

Inverkeithing was a hotbed for witch trials in the 17th century. In 1621, six local women were tried for witchcraft in the Tolbooth; between 1621 and 1652, at least 51 people were executed for witchcraft in Inverkeithing. This was an unusually large number for a town of this size; Kirkcaldy only saw 18 executions in the same period.^[49][50] The reason is believed to be a combination of cholera outbreaks, famine, and the appointment of Rev. Walter Bruce—a known witch hunter—as minister of Inverkeithing Parish Church.^[51] The Great Scottish witch hunt of 1649–50 may have began at Inverkeithing; Bruce played a pivotal role in initiating it.^[52] The executions were carried out at Witch Knowe to the south of town (which today is within Hope Street Cemetery and Witchknowe Park).^[51][53]

On 20 July 1651, the Battle of Inverkeithing - a pivotal battle during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms - was fought on two sites in the area, one north of the town close to Pitreavie Castle, the other to the south on and around the peninsula of North Queensferry and the isthmus connecting it to Inverkeithing. The battle took place during Oliver Cromwell's invasion of the Kingdom of Scotland following the Third English Civil War. It was an attempt by the English Parliamentarian forces to outflank the army of Scottish Covenanters loyal to Charles II at Stirling and get access to the north of Scotland.^[54] This was the last major engagement of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms and led to Scotland passing into Cromwell's control. Cromwell's 4,500 troops defeated a Scottish force of roughly equal size. Of the estimated 800 MacLean clansmen who fought in the battle, only 35 were said to have survived.^[55] An apocryphal account states that the Pinkerton Burn ran red with blood for three days afterwards.

In 1707, James Spittle representing Inverkeithing voted in favour of ratification of the Treaty of Union (see Act of Union). As a result of the Act, in 1708 Inverkeithing lost its separate Parliament of Scotland constituency and became part of the wider Stirling Burghs constituency in the Parliament of the United Kingdom.^[56]

Daniel Defoe, writing of Inverkeithing in his Tour thro' the Whole Island of Great Britain in 1724, relates that Inverkeithing had briefly become known in England in the early 1700s for a crime of passion in which Robert Balfour, 5th Lord Balfour of Burleigh, murdered an Inverkeithing schoolmaster who had married a woman Balfour loved. Balfour was later sentenced to death, but escaped captivity by exchanging clothes with his sister.^[57]

Trade had begun to decrease by the 16th century, and plague and war meant this downward trend continued in the 17th century. In 1654, Dutch cartographer Joan Blaeu mentions Inverkeithing as "formerly a flourishing market" in his Nova Fifae Descriptio.^[58] In 1710, Robert Sibbald wrote Inverkeithing "hath been a place of good resort".^[59] In 1724 Daniel Defoe found the town to be "still populous, but decayed, as to what it has formerly been", sentiments echoed by Sir William Burrell in 1758.^[60][61]

The Inverkeithing Case of 1752 originated from a dispute between the congregation of Inverkeithing Parish Church against the choosing of Andrew Richardson as minister by right of patronage. The dispute turned into a public controversy; the right of patronage was strictly enforced by the General Assembly; and this led to the founding of the Relief Church. Locally, 127 parishioners split from the Church of Scotland and founded St John's Church as a Burgher chapel.^[62]

Inverkeithing developed many industries during the Industrial Revolution. In the 18th century, lead and coal were mined, there was an iron foundry, a brewery, tan works, soap works, a salt pan and timber works.^[5] A whisky distillery was opened in 1795, and operated until the mid-19th century; its buildings were later used for oil works.^[63][64] The Halbeath Waggon Railway opened in 1783.^[65]

Significant town expansion took place in the early 19th century, including the rebuilding of St Peter's Church in 1826, the bulding of Inverkeithing Corn Exchange in 1833, and residential expansion by Sir Robert Preston.^[66] The town's three bridges over the Keithing Burn—Boreland Road Bridge, King Street Bridge and Commercial Road Bridge—were built in 1829, 1815 and 1821, respectively.^[67][68]

In the early 19th century through to 1835, a land lazaretto stood at Inverkeithing harbour for the purpose of local quarantine: one of only two in Scotland, and the setting of James Simpson's 1886 book "Reminiscences of childhood at Inverkeithing".^[69][70]

On 6 September 1842, Inverkeithing received a royal visit from Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.^[71]

In the mid-19th century, major industries in the area were engineering, shipbuilding and quarrying - which would provide material for important works such as the extension of Leith Pier and the Forth Bridge^[38] Brickworks operated from 1831 to 1895.^[21] By 1870, engineering and shipbuilding had largely ceased, and the harbour lost freight traffic to the railways. Inverkeithing Railway Station opened in 1877, and was significantly expanded in 1890 following the completion of the Forth Bridge, which led to a surge in population.^[72] Between 1887 and 1890, the Jamestown Viaduct was constructed partly over Inverkeithing. The importance of fishing declined with industrialisation, and by 1891 Inverkeithing only had 14 resident fishermen.^[73]

In the 20th century, Inverkeithing became known for new industries. Caldwell's paper mill, opened in 1914, would remain until 2003. By 1925, quarrying remained a major operation at Cruicks quarry and Prestonhill quarry, but the town's saltworks, iron foundry and sawmill had closed.^[5][74] Inverkeithing built one of the first cinemas in Scotland in 1914.^[75]

Shipbreaking at Thos. W. Ward's Inverkeithing (Jamestown) yard saw famous ships including:

• The revolutionary battleship HMS Dreadnought in 1923.^[76][77]
• The hull of the Titanic's sister ship RMS Olympic in 1937^[78]
• The Nazi Party cruise ship Robert Ley in 1947^[79]
• The second RMS Mauretania in 1966.^{[80][81] [82]}

Inverkeithing lost 130 people in WWI and 36 in WWII.^[83] During the Battle of the River Forth - the first air raid over Britain of WWII - pilots of the 602 (Glasgow) squadron spotted Luftwaffe aircraft of Helmuth Pohle over Inverkeithing. At Inverkeithing orders were given to chase through broken clouds, and two German crew were killed.^[84] The Polish government in exile operated a barracks in Inverkeithing during WWII; on 14 June 1945, Radio Moscow claimed these were run as a concentration camp.^[85][86]

Inverkeithing recovered quickly from WWII; the town is recorded as having 88 shops in 1951, and benefitted from the opening of the Forth Road Bridge in 1964.^[21] In 1975, all Royal Burghs were disbanded and Inverkeithing came within Fife Council. In 1985, Inverkeithing Conservation Area was created to preserve the heritage of the town.^[87]

Inverkeithing is home to 55 listed buildings, including five of category A status.^[88] The heart of the medieval town was located around High Street, Bank Street, Townhall Street and Church Street.^[27]

One of the best surviving examples of a friary building in Scotland is the category A listed Hospitium of the Grey Friars.^[89] The Franciscan friary is mentioned in 1384, when it would have been a thriving hub for pilgrims to the shrines of St Margaret and St Andrew, and comprising accommodations, cloisters, storage cellars, and a chapel.^[29] The friary was sold in 1559 during the Scottish Reformation and remodelled into a tenement; the building was originally cruciform.^[90][91] The foundations of the north range of the complex, together with a well and several cellars, can be seen in the public gardens next to the hospitium.^[29]

Inverkeithing's mercat cross is one of the oldest and finest remaining examples in Scotland, dating from 1389.^[92][93] The cross is believed to have been built as a memorial of the marriage between the Duke of Rothesay and the daughter of the Earl of Douglas; two of the shields on the cross bear the arms of Queen Anabella Drummond and the Douglas family.^[92][94] A unicorn and a shield depicting the St Andrew's Cross were added in 1688, the work of John Boyd of South Queensferry.^[92][95]

On Townhall Street is Inverkeithing Town House (also known as the Tolbooth).^[92][96] The Renaissance tower at the western end of the building is the oldest part of the tolbooth, dating from 1755.^[95] A three-storey classical building followed in 1770 as a replacement for the previous tolbooth.^[95] The building featured a prison or 'black hole' on the ground floor, the court room on the middle and the debtors' prison on the top.^[95] The building was fully renovated for community use in 2024.^[97]

Inverkeithing Parish Church of St. Peter was founded by Waltheof of Allerdale as a wooden Celtic church before being adapted into a Norman stone structure, which was bequeathed by the monks of Dunfermline Abbey in 1139.^[92] The Norman foundations were reused for the 13th century Gothic structure, and a tower was added in the 14th century, which survived extensive fire damage in 1825.^[92][98] The main part of the church is a large neo-Gothic 'preaching box' of 1826–27, designed by James Gillespie Graham.^[99] The church's interior is graced by one of the finest medieval furnishings to survive in any Scottish parish church: a sandstone font of around 1398, a royal gift, Inverkeithing being a favourite residence of Queen Anabella Drummond. The church was the focal point of the Inverkeithing case of 1752. Notable ministers include Robert Roche, Robert Echlin and Walter Bruce, witch hunter and 'Constant Moderator' of the Church of Scotland from 1662 until 1673.

Fordell's Lodging is opposite St Peter's Church and is a rare L-plan baronial tower house which dates from 1666 to 1671. The house was built by Sir John Henderson of Fordell, whose family held the office of hereditary provost and sheriff of Inverkeithing by a grant of Mary Queen of Scots.^[92] Awarded category A listing from Historic Scotland, the listing describes Fordell's Lodging as "one of Inverkeithing's most intact 17th century buildings" and "a very fine example of a 17th century town house built for a local landowner in one of the wealthy coastal towns of Fife".

An exceptionally preserved traditional burgh town house, the house dates from 1617 and was reconstructed in 1965. The home is notable for its carved sandstone pediment, which includes the initials of the first owners John Thomson ("I.T.") and Bessie Thomsoun ("B.T."). Grade A listed by Historic Scotland, their statement of special interest reads: "[Thomson's House] is the best-preserved example of 17th century domestic burgh architecture in Inverkeithing and is a pre-eminent example of its type, similar to some of the best buildings in Culross".^[96][100]

Notable local events include:

• Inverkeithing Highland Games, which has been staged in the town since 1646.^[44]
• Inverkeithing Lammas Fair. The fair's hat and ribbon race is believed to be the oldest road race in Scotland.^[101]
• 'Divit Fest' summer music festival.^[102]
• Inverkeithing Trust flower show.^[103]
• Inverkeithing Children's Gala.^[104]
• Bonfire Night firework display.^[105]

Christmas is celebrated in Inverkeithing with an annual Christmas Fair and market, pantomime show and Christmas tree lighting ceremony.^[106][107]

Inverkeithing Community Garden has been run by volunteers since 2010.^[108] Fife Council runs allotments at Hope Street and Spittalfield.^[109][110] The town won the Inverflora Best Small Town in Scotland award at the 2017 Beautiful Scotland awards.^[111]

Community venues in the town include Inverkeithing Civic Centre, library and café; Ballast Bank Community Centre; and Lodge St John 60.^{[112][113][114]}

Notable community groups include: Inverkeithing Trust founded 2020, Inverkeithing Community Big Band founded 1998, Inverkeithing Encore theatre group, Inverkeithing Local History society founded 1991, Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay Rotary Club, and the 68th (Fife) Scouts group.^{[115][116][21][117][118]}

Inverkeithing has four active churches:

• Inverkeithing St Peters Parish Church (Church of Scotland)^[119]
• Saint Peter in Chains (Catholic Church)^[120]
• St Peters Church (Episcopal Church)^[121]
• Inverkeithing Baptist Church (Baptist Church)^[122]

Inverkeithing Primary School and Inverkeithing High School are in the town, along with Inverkeithing Medical Group, an NHS practice.^[123] Act Sing and Dance School (ASDS) is a private performing arts school at Preston House, Inverkeithing.^[124]

Of Inverkeithing's workforce of 2,000 people, over 550 work in Edinburgh and over 400 work in Dunfermline (2022).^[11]

Inverkeithing United F.C. was founded in 1906, and won the Scottish Junior Cup in 1912–13. The team disbanded in 1963, were reformed as a community football club in 2017, and currently play as an SFA accredited community football club with a community based pathway for U5's to U17's.^[125]

Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts, founded in 1996, currently compete in the East of Scotland League Second Division (2025).^[126]

Inverkeithing Bowling Club, founded in 1901, is among the oldest in Fife. Located at Elgin Park, the club competes as part of district 8 of Bowls Scotland.^[127] The club has produced Scottish national players at the British Isles Championships and Scottish triples winners.^[128]

Inverkeithing Competitive Amateur Swimmers were founded in 1975.^[129]

The Inverkeithing Curling Club is one of the largest in Fife, and dates to before 1838.^[130]

For the UK Parliament, Inverkeithing forms part of the Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy constituency, as of 2024 held by Melanie Ward for the Labour Party.^[131]

For the Scottish Parliament, Inverkeithing is part of the Cowdenbeath constituency,^[132] as of 2024 represented by Annabelle Ewing of the Scottish National Party.^[133]

Fife Council is the local authority for Inverkeithing, which is part of the Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay (ward). Following the 2022 local elections, councillors representing the town are David Barratt (SNP), Dave Dempsey (Conservative), Patrick Browne (Labour) and Sarah Neal (SNP).^[134]

Inverkeithing Community Council is the most local elected representation.^[135]

Inverkeithing Railway Station is a main stop for Scotrail's Fife Circle line services, as well as CrossCountry, LNER and Caledonian Sleeper services.^[136]

Bus services for Inverkeithing are operated by Stagecoach and Bay Travel. Ferrytoll Park and Ride is a bus park and ride scheme for Edinburgh and Fife located in Inverkeithing.

Inverkeithing is bypassed by the M90 motorway, which links Fife to Lothian and Edinburgh via the Queensferry Crossing.

Inverkeithing is on National Cycle Route 1 and National Cycle Route 76.^[137]

In 1971, rock band Nazareth began as a full time band in Inverkeithing and first recorded Broken Down Angel in the town.^[138][139]

The 2000 film Complicity, starring Jonny Lee Miller and Brian Cox, was partly filmed in Inverkeithing.^[140]

In 2014, the Inverkeithing Highland Games were featured in season 7, episode 1 of the US television show Duck Dynasty, in which cast members participated in some of the events.^[141]

In 2018, an episode of BBC's Celebrity Antiques Road Trip was set in Inverkeithing, featuring Fleming's Antique and Furniture Centre.^[142] In 2021, Antiques Road Trip filmed an episode in Inverkeithing.^[143]

In 2024, scenes for the ITV crime series Karen Prie was filmed on the High Street.^[144]

This list contains notable people who were either born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with, Inverkeithing.

• Walter Bruce (1605–1673), longest serving leader of the Church of Scotland in history (1662 to 1673).
• Queen Annabella Drummond of Scotland (1350–1401).^[145]
• Richard de Inverkeithing (d. 1272), Bishop of Dunkeld; Chamberlain of King Alexander II; and guardian to the young Alexander III.
• Geoffrey de Mowbray (d. 1300), Lord of Inverkeithing; sealer of the Treaty of Birgham and the 'Auld Alliance' in 1296.^[146]
• Roger de Mowbray (d. 1320), Lord of Inverkeithing; sealer of the Declaration of Arbroath; sentenced to death by Robert the Bruce.
• Robert Roche (1580–1640), leader of the Church of Scotland as Moderator of the Synod in 1613.

• Henry Echlin of Pittadro (d. 1606), negotiator during the 'lang siege' of Edinburgh Castle.^[147]
• Samuel Greig (1735–1788), 'Father of the Russian Navy' and military advisor to Catherine the Great.^[148]
• Sir John Henderson, 5th Baronet, provost of Inverkeithing 1791–1801. MP for Fifeshire (1780), Dysart Burghs (1780–84), Seaford (1785-6), and Stirling Burghs (1806-7).
• Francis Holburne (1704–1771), Royal Navy Admiral; commander-in-chief at the Leeward Islands during the War of the Austrian Succession.^[149]
• Janet McCallum (1881–1946), Scottish trade unionist and suffragette.
• Natalie McGarry MP (1981–), SNP Member of Parliament for Glasgow East 2015 - 2017.^[150]
• David Spence (1818–1877), awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

• David Livingstone (1813–1878), explorer and missionary, occasionally lived in Inverkeithing between 1855 and 1865.^[151][152]
• Sir Duncan McDonald (1921–1997), engineer closely associated with Northern Engineering Industries.
• Robert Moffat (1795–1883), African missionary and the first to translate the bible into an African language.^[153]
• Rev Alexander Stoddart Wilson (1854–1909), naturalist, botanist and founder of the Andersonian Naturalists Society.

• Morris Blythman (1919–1981), poet, musician and political activist influential to the Scottish Folk Revival.^[154]
• Denise Coffey (1936–2022), English actress, comedian, director and playwright.^[155]
• James Simpson (1826–1882), author.^[70]

• Barney Armit (1874–1899), New Zealand national rugby union player.
• Billy Bostock (1943–1996), former top goal scorer for Cowdenbeath F.C.^[156]
• Finlay Davidson (2004–), Scottish Commonwealth Games and World Championship para powerlifter.^[157]
• Gordon Durie (1965–), player for Scotland, Chelsea F.C., Tottenham Hotspur F.C., Rangers F.C.^[158]
• Jock Gilfillan (1898–1976), football player for Heart of Midlothian F.C. and Portsmouth F.C.
• Douglas Morgan (1890–1916), football player for Hull City and World War I casualty.
• Alexander Muir (1923–1995), player for Liverpool FC.
• Steven Pressley (1973–), player for Scotland, Celtic, Rangers and Hearts, and manager for Dundee.
• Alan Stewart (1955–), Winter Olympic ski racer in the 1976 and 1980 Winter Olympic Games.
• Nan Young, Scotland Ladies bowls champion 1962.^[159]

• James Anderson, manager of Mount Vernon, George Washington's estate after his presidency.^[160][161]
• Alexander Bell Donald (1842–1922), New Zealand merchant.^[162]

• 
  Inverkeithing Welcome sign.
• 
  Inverkeithing High Street, looking north.
• 
  Beach on the Inverkeithing stretch of the Fife Coastal Path.
• 
  Forth View meadows, Inverkeithing.
• 
  View from Friary Gardens over Ballast Bank Park, Inverkeithing.

• Geography of Scotland in the Middle Ages
• Inverkeithing (Parliament of Scotland constituency)
• List of places in Fife
• Inver place-name elements

• Official Visit Scotland guide for Inverkeithing
• Welcome to Fife homepage for Inverkeithing
• Undiscovered Scotland guide to Inverkeithing
• Caledonian Sleeper guide to Inverkeithing
• Heritage Network's Inverkeithing Town Trail

• Inverkeithing Trust
• Gazetteer for Scotland webpages for Inverkeithing

• Inverkeithing as viewed by drone, April 2025
• A Scottish Odyssey's information video on Inverkeithing