Gazetteer of Scotland > Volume 1

A L L O A.
•11
which such can be done with perfect ease at
any tide. Of late years the trade of Alloa has
greatly increased. It now sends out great
numbers of vessels to the Baltic, and Holland,
Besides having a considerable coasting trade.
Like most of the small towns on the Forth, it
flourishes partly on the ruin which is taking
place in the Leith trade, on account of the
enormous dues levied at that port. One of
the chief articles of export is coal, which is
found in the parish in large fields, and of an
excellent quality. By railways from the pits
it is cheaply and easily brought to the vessels
lying for its reception. There are two yards
for ship-building, and a dry dock, fit for the
repairing of vessels of four hundred tons bur-
den. In the town there are five breweries
carrying on an extensive trade, besides a large
glass or crystal-work, together with a brick
and tile manufactory. There is also a number
of cotton and linen weavers, who work for the
Glasgow manufacturers, and for home con-
sumers. The ale made here has been long
famous, but it cannot compete with that made
at Edinburgh. The glass-work established
by the exertions of a joint stock company,
formed during the mania for these dangerous
institutions in 1825, produces every article in
ihe fine and bottle glass line, of a quality equal
to the goods of Newcastle ; but the establish-
ment has been a decided failure, so far as the
yielding of profits to shareholders is concerned.
At present the shares are held at a loss, and
many of the proprietors would be glad to part
with them at any price, however low. The
streets of Alloa are very irregular, though
generally clean. Around the town, but espe-
cially on the rising ground behind it, there are
some neat, if not elegant, country houses, en-
closed in little gardens and shrubberies, with a
pleasant exposure to the south, and command-
ing a fine view of the rich lands of the carse of
Stirling on the opposite shore. The church
of Alloa, standing on the rising ground, is a
handsome modern structure, in the Gothic
taste, which has lately become so prevalent,
and it is adorned by a fine steeple. The
inhabitants, we believe, were chiefly indebted
to the late John Francis, Earl of Mar, for this
ornament to their town. Alloa is twenty-seven
miles from Edinburgh and about seven and a
half from Stirling by land. It was a town of
note as early as the reign of Robert I, but it
has no burgal privileges. It is governed by a
baron bailie. The justice of peace and sheriff
courts of the shire are held here ; the county
town (Clackmannan) having long been out of
a court-house, and too poor to build one. The
town has a good market on Wednesday and
Saturday ; and has cattle fairs on the second
Wednesday in February, May, August, and
November. The town has a public assembly-
room, some religious associations, and a good
subscription library. There are three meeting-
houses of presbyterian dissenters, and one Epis-
copal chapel of old establishment. The fast-
day of the kirk is generally the Thursday be-
fore the second Sunday of June, and the first
or second Sunday of November. One of the
chief ornaments to the environs of Alloa, is
Alloa House, the ancient seat of the Mar
family, and the theme of a fine Scottish air.
The modern and principal part of this edifice
was destroyed by accidental fire about thirty
years ago ; but there still remains a tall slender
tower of the thirteenth century, ninety feet in
height, which, as it was the first erection on
this spot, seems to have been destined also to
be the last. Standing in desertion and soli-
tude in the midst of a fine secluded park, this
lofty remnant of a former age is an object of
uncommon interest to the traveller, especially
if he be Scotchman enough to appreciate the
historical associations connected with it. This
property, with the town, came into the family
of Lord Erskine, (which has since inherited
the peerage of Mar,) in the year 1865, that
nobleman having received it in exchange from
David II, for the estate of Strathgartney, in
Perthshire. The Lord Erskine of the time of
James V. becoming one of the guardians of
the infant Queen Mary, it is probable that
memorable personage spent part of her early
years here. It is certain that, when reigning
in Scotland, she cultivated the closest friend-
ship with the family. This tower was the first
house she visited after having been delivered
of her son James. On that occasion she
spent two nights in it, along with Damley, to
whom she was for the time reconciled by
means of the French ambassador. Her son,
being committed by her to " the Earl of Mar,
was occasionally brought to Uve here, during
his boyhood, though his more general residence
was the royal castle of Stirling, of which Lord
Mar was hereditary keeper. The subsequent
Earl of Mar standing in the same relation to
Prince Henry, son of King James, that amiabla