Topographical dictionary of Scotland > Volume 2

LARG
LAI1G
burn, and on the west by Scoonie. The surface is
agreeably diversified with hills and undulating valleys.
The principal hill, named Largo Law, rises in a conical
form to an elevation of nearly 1000 feet above the level
of the sea, terminating in a double apex, and sloping
gradually on the eastern side : to the west of its base is
a deep valley, extending two miles in length, and called
Keil's Glen. Towards the shore the surface is flat ; but
the scenery generally, which is enriched by plantations,
abounds with interesting and romantic features.
The soil is various, but fertile, consisting in the north-
ern parts of a rich black loam, and in the southern of
loam, intermixed with lighter lands, and in some places
with a friable clay. The whole number of acres is 6820,
of which 6000 are arable, nearly 300 in pasture, and
500 in woods and plantations. The system of agricul-
ture is in an improved state, and the crops are favour-
able and abundant ; considerable attention has been
paid to draining and inclosing the lands, and nearly all
the waste has been brought into a state of profitable
cultivation. The farm-buildings are generally substan-
tial and commodious, and roofed either with slate or
tiles. The cattle are of the Fifeshire breed, with some-
times a cross of the Teeswater ; the rearing of horses,
also, principally for agricultural purposes, is much
attended to, and several from Yorkshire have been
introduced with a view to the improvement of the breed.
A few sheep are fed for home use, of the Leicestershire
breed ; and great numbers of hogs, chiefly the Chinese,
are fattened for the neighbouring markets, where they
find a ready sale. The plantations consist mainly of
Scotch fir and larch, which thrive well ; in those of
more recent formation are, oak, ash, elm, beech, and
plane. The oak attains to a luxuriant growth, and in
the grounds of Lundin House, is a fine grove of lime-
trees of very stately size; the planes in the demesne of
Largo House are of singular beauty, and many of the
elms are of large dimensions. The substratum is chiefly
limestone, and sandstone of a reddish colour ; the lime-
stone is of a grey colour, and is found in strata fifteen
feet in thickness, and quarried for building purposes and
for burning into lime. Freestone of good quality, but
lying at a great depth, is quarried, though not exten-
sively, as the expense of working it is scarcely remune-
rated by the produce. Coal is also found in the parish,
and is chiefly worked for the lime-kilns ; it occurs in
seams about eighty feet thick, but is very sparingly used,
as coal of a much better quality is obtained from We-
myss at only a moderate increase of price. The rateable
annual value of the parish is £10,815. Among the
principal seats is Largo. The ancient mansion, of which
a circular tower is still remaining, was inhabited by Sir
Andrew Wood : the present structure, erected in 1750,
is spacious and in handsome style, situated in grounds
embellished with lofty plantations, and commanding an
extensive and diversified prospect over the surrounding
country. Lundin, the property of Capt. Erskine We-
myss, is a modern edifice, from the centre of which
rises a square tower of great antiquity, the only existing
portion of the residence of the family of Lundin ; it is
beautifully situated, and the demesne comprises some
venerable and stately timber. There are a few other
handsome houses of proprietors of land in the parish,
which, from their situation and the plantations around
them, contribute to enrich the general scenery.
150
The salmon-fishery in Largo bay was, after being
carried on for some years with very indifferent success,
producing not more than £130 per annum, totally dis-
continued ; but it has been revived, under better ma-
nagement, and is now pursued to advantage. The
spinning of flax is carried on in the parish, affording
employment to nearly 100 persons, for which purpose
there are two mills driven by water, and one of them
also by steam. The port or harbour of Largo has a
limited coasting trade, and three small vessels belong to
it ; a steam-boat sails twice in the day during summer,
and once during winter, between this place and New-
haven. The harbour, which is formed at the influx of
the river Kiel into the Frith of Forth, is incommodious ;
but its improvement might be etfected at a compara-
tively trifling expense, and would contribute greatly to
restore the trade of the place, which was formerly far
from being inconsiderable in the exportation of coal, salt,
iron, and the produce of the quarries, to Holland, and
the importation of timber from Norway. A subscrip-
tion library contains more than 500 volumes, and is
well supported ; and a savings' bank has been opened,
in which the various sums deposited, chiefly by labour-
ers, amount to a large sum. Facility of intercourse
with the neighbouring market-towns is maintained by
turnpike-roads kept in excellent repair, and the parish
generally is improving. A post-office is established
under Leven. The ecclesiastical affairs are under
the superintendence of the presbytery of St. Andrew's
and synod of Fife. The stipend of the incumbent is
£253 : the manse, built in 1*70, and in 1S23 greatly
enlarged and improved, is a handsome and comfortable
residence ; and the glebe comprises five acres of good
land, valued at £20 per annum, to which may be added
£] 1 paid in lieu of " foggage." The church was erected
near the site of a more ancient structure in 1817, and
enlarged in 1S26 ; it is a neat edifice with a spire, and
is adapted for S36 persons. There are places of wor-
ship for members of the Free Church, the Relief, and
Baptists ; the ministers are supported by the voluntary
contributions of their respective congregations. The
parochial school is well conducted ; the master has a
salary of £34, with a house, and the fees average about
£30 per annum, including £7. 15., the bequest of the
late James Kettle, Esq., for teaching four children.
There are three other schools in the parish, of which the
masters of two receive, in addition to the fees, a salary
of £5, paid by the heritors.
An hospital was founded by John Wood, Esq., a
descendant of Sir Andrew Wood, who bequeathed
£6S,41S Scots in trust for its erection and endowment,
for thirteen indigent persons of the name of Wood, a
chaplain, porter, and gardener ; the chaplain to have a
stipend of £17 sterling per annum. The budding was
erected in 1667, and rebuilt in 1830 in a handsome and
substantial style, at an expense of £2000 : it contains
two apartments each for sixteen inmates, who receive
£15 per annum paid monthly, and a supply of vege-
tables ; and there is a large hall in which they assemble
for prayer morning and evening. Above the hall is a
room where the patrons of the hospital meet for the
transaction of business connected with the institution.
The hospital is under the patronage of the Earl of
Wemyss, the lairds of Largo, Lundin, and Balfour,
with the minister of the parish, and the members of the