Topographical, statistical, and historical gazetteer of Scotland > Volume 2

KIN
160
KIN
in 1831, 440; in trades and handicrafts, 819. Clack-
mannanshire and Kinross-shire were united into one
sheriffdom in 1807. These two shires now unite in
returning a member to parliament. Parliamentary
constituency of Kinross-shire, in 1840, 528.
KINROSS,* a parish in the above county. It
extends about 3A miles from north to south, and is
nearly of the same extent from east to west, contain-
ing 5,600 acres. On the east it is bounded by Loch-
Leven; on the north by Orwell; on the south by
Portmoak and Cleish, and on the west by Fossaway
and Tullibole. The surface is flat; in no quarter
rising 100 feet above the surface-level of Loch-
Leven. The soil is partly clay, but chiefly a thin
blackish loam on a gravelly bottom. It is watered
by three small streams: viz. the North and South
Quiech, and the Gaibney, which pour their streams
into the lake: see these articles. The small island
on which Loch-Leven castle stands is in this parish.
Kinross-house is a large and elegant structure, built
in 1685 by the celebrated architect, Sir William
Bruce, for the residence of the Duke of York, and,
it is said, from the fines levied on the Covenant-
ers. It is now the property of Graham Mont-
gomery; but is not inhabited. The old house,
for many generations the residence of the Earls of
Morton, was taken down in 1723. There is an ex-
cellent trout-fishery on Loch-Leven, which is let
at about £200 of yearly rent. Population of the
town and parish, in 1801, 2,124; in 1831, 2,927.
Houses 454. Assessed property, in 1815, £5,146.
Real rental £9,175. — This parish is in the presbytery
of Dunfermline, and synod of Fife. Patron, Graham
of Kinross. Stipend £184 16s. 4d. ; glebe £35.
Unappropriated teinds £116 16s. 9d. Church built
in 1832; cost £1,537 The United Secession church
has two congregations in the town of Kinross. The
stipend of one of the ministers is £120; of the other
£80.
The town of Kinross, in the above parish, and
the county-town of the shire, is 16 miles south of
Perth; 13 north of Inverkeithing; 19 west of Cu-
par; 23 east-north-east of Stirling; 18 east by north
of Alloa; and 27 north-west of Edinburgh. Popu-
lation, in 1831, 2,200. It is finely situated at the
west end of Loch-Leven, and is intersected, through-
out its length, by the Great road from Edinburgh to
Perth. Kinross was formerly a very mean place,
but has been much improved of late years; a great
number of new houses have been built in a good
style, and the streets much improved and lighted
with gas. The county-hall is a handsome build-
ing. It was erected in 1826, at an expense of
£2,000. A town-hall is now building by sub-
scription, at an estimated cost of £600. The
town is governed by a committee of the inhabi-
tants, annually chosen at a public meeting. This
place formerly carried on a good trade in cutlery,
which is now abandoned. It also manufactured
srown linen to the amount of between £4,000 and
£5,000 annually, which is also given up; and the
people are mostly employed in weaving cotton goods,
such as ginghams, pullicates, and checks, for the
Glasgow manufacturers. Tartan shawls of a fine
quality have lately been manufactured here with con-
siderable success. There is a branch here of the
British Linen company's bank. It has four annual
cattle-fairs: viz. 3d Wednesday of March, 1st of
June, 3d Wednesday of July, and 18th October, all
O. S. Its weekly market, on Tuesday, has fallen
into desuetude. There are two extensive inns, a
* "The town of Kinross, lyinpr at the bepinninff or head of a
point of land that runneth into the west side, of Loch-Leven ;
and this in the reason of its name in the old language." — Irvine's
/listuiitc SuotUtc Numeitciulura,
curling- club, two subscription-libraries, and several
benevolent and religious societies in the town.
KINTAIL.f a parish on the western coast of
Ross-shire; 18 miles long, and in general about 6
broad; and comprehending three districts, viz. Croe,
Glenelchaig, and Glassletter. The whole is inter-
sected by the two arms of Loch-Alsh [see Loch-
Alsh] called Loch-Loung and Loch-Duich ; and sur-
rounded by lofty mountains. The principal fresh-
water lakes are Loch-a-Bhealich and Loch-Glass-
letter. The principal rivers are the Croe and the
Elchaig, flowing through the glens of these names.
The fall of the Glomach occurs in this parish : see
Glomach. The surface is wild and mountainous,
and the chief attention of the farmer is paid to the
rearing of black cattle and sheep. The parish is
mostly inhabited by the clan of Macrae. Tulloeh-
ard, on the north side of Loch-Duich, is elevated to
a great height, and is seen at a distance. Near the
manse is the tomb of Diarmid, one of the Fingalian
heroes, composed of large rough stones. Popula-
tion, in 1801, 1,038; in 1831, 1,240. Houses 235.
Assessed property, in 1815, £18,520. There are
two fishing-villages, viz. Dornie and Bundalloch.
The inhabited portion of this district lies between
the north-east end of Loch-Loung, and the south-
east end of Loch-Duich; the rest being hill-grazings
with a few cottages This parish is in the presby-
tery of Lochcarron, and synod of Glenelg. Patron,
the Crown. Stipend £177 5s.; glebe £40.— There
is a Roman Catholic congregation at Dornie. There
are three catechists in the parish; and three schools.
Schoolmaster's salary about £27.
KINTORE, a parish in Aberdeenshire ; bounded
on the north by Inverury and Keithhall, with Kin-
kell, from which it is divided by the river Don; on
the east by Fintray, from which it is also thus
divided, and by Kinellar; on. the south by Skene;
and on the west by Kemnay. It extends about 6
miles in length from north to south, and averages 3
in breadth, narrowing towards its northern extrem-
ity: square area about 7,000 acres, exclusive of the
large common between it and Kinellar. Houses
236. Assessed property, in 1815, £2,577. Popu-
lation, in 1801, 846; in 1831, 1,184. The Tuach
burn rises amongst the hills on the south-western
border, and, intersecting the parish north-eastwardly,
falls into the Don about J of a mile from the town
of Kintore. The parish is also intersected along the
course of the Don by the canal between Aberdeen
and Inverury, which runs through the town, and
has been of great advantage to the district in its
agricultural advancement. The surface of the land
gradually rises from the banks of the Don, south-
westwardly to the hills on its borders, and the soil
gradually deteriorates in the same direction. The
haugh by the river side is broad, and follows the
windings of the river for nearly 3 miles: it is very
deep in the soil, having been much enriched by the
former overflowings of the river, which in this vicin-
ity runs so slowly that it has more the appearance
of a lake than a torrent : in a flood it has been known
to spread more than a mile in breadth, threatening
the town with inundation, especially when shoals of
ice came down, which cut the deep banks. A little
to the north-east of the town above Breedeshaugb,
the river forms the beautiful little island of Balbi-
than. The lower district is arable, producing toler-
ably good crops: there are also now several planta-
tions. Anciently this district is said to have formed
part of a royal forest; and the word Kintore is cer-
tainly Gaelic, signifying ' the Head of the wood.'
This forest is said to have extended from the west
f From Ccaim-da.irJiaitl, ' the Head of the, two Sena.'