Ordnance gazetteer of Scotland > Volume 4

LAURENCEKIRK
in 1804 and enlarged in 1S19, but is still insufficient
in size. In the churchyard are some interesting old
tombstones, several with inscriptions by Dr Beattie.
The liviug is returned at £404, including manse, valued
at £30, and glebe, etc., valued at £40. The number of
communicants is 738. Episcopacy was very strong in
the parish during the whole of the ISth century. The
incumbent at the Revolution, 'William Dunbar, a keen
Episcopalian, was superseded in 1693 (a successor being
appointed in 1699), but not deposed until 1716. There
is notice in 1726 of an Episcopal church, which was
burned by the soldiers of the Duke of Cumberland in
1745. The congregation afterwards worshipped under
successive ministers, first at Laurencekirk, then at Mill
of Haulkerton, and subsequently at East Redmyre.
John Strachan, afterwards Bishop of Brechin, was pastor
for many troublous years. Lord Gardenstone, though
a Presbyterian, built and endowed a chapel in Laurence-
kirk, which was opened in 1791. The first incumbent
was Jonathan Watson, who the following year was
elected Bishop of Dunkeld, and continued in both
charges until his death in 1S08. The present church,
Early English C4othic, was built in 1871. It is con-
structed for 200 sittings, and has a spire 70 feet high.
The stipend is £40 sterling in money and 40 bolls of oat-
meal. There is a parsonage, with a glebe. Number of
communicants, SI. A small congregation in connection
with the Independents has a chapel which was built in
1S42, the first incumbent being David Moir, a native.
The first Free church was a plain building in the street,
now named Farquhar Street. It has been converted
into a dwelling-house. The present handsome edifice
in High Street was built in 1857. Stipend, £208, with
manse in Garvock Street. Number of communicants,
163.
Schools. — The old Parish School was taught by a
succession of eminent teachers. The earliest recorded
was William Dunbar, afterwards parish minister (viol,
sup. ). The most distinguished was Ruddiman ; a part
of the building in which he officiated still remains.
James Milne, schoolmaster, 1720-61, was Dr Beattie's
teacher, and a good classical scholar. William Pyper,
afterwards LL. D. and Professor of Humanity in St
Andrews University, was parish teacher, 1815-17. The
Public and Infant Schools, erected by the School Board,
are commodious buildings, well adapted for their purpose.
There is a Ladies' School for boarders and day scholars,
and there is a school in connection with the Episcopal
congregation. The school-board has a joint interest in
Redmyre School, close upon the E border of the parish.
The details regarding the various schools may thus be
tabulated : — Public and Infant Schools, accommodation
185 and 120, average attendance 202, grant £163, 3s. ;
Episcopal School, 96, 75, £65, 0s. 2d. ; Redmyre School,
120, 76, £67, 17s.
The valuation of the parish (1856) £7512, (1SS3)
£12, 19s. 3d., plus £2071 for railways, etc. The
increase, though partly due to the village, indicates a
very considerable rise in the agricultural value of the
parish.— Orel. Sur., shs. 66, 57, 1871-68.
See W. R. Fraser's History of the Parish and Burgh
of Laurencekirk (Edinb. 18S0).
Laurencekirk, the only village in the parish noticed
above, stretches for nearly a mile along the highway
between Edinburgh and Aberdeen, at a distance from
these cities of 93 and 30 miles respectively. Its distance
from Montrose and Brechin is respectively 10 and 12
miles. The markets (cattle, grain, and hiring) are the
principal in the district ; and adjoining the market
stance is a station of the Caledonian railway, at which
there is a large amount of traffic. Besides the churches
referred to in the notice of the parish, the principal
buildings are the Town Hall and Masons' Lodge (built
in 1779), the St Lawrence Hall (1866), Town and County
Bank (1854 ; established' 1839), and North of Scotland
Bank (1872 ; established 1S57). The principal streets
are High Street, extending the whole length of the
village ; Johnston Street, formed about 1S20 ; and
Garvock Street, soon after. There are large and well-
LAW
replenished shops, at which all the varieties of mer-
chandise may be procured. The principal inns are the
Gardenstone Arms, Royal, Western, and Crown Hotels;
and there is the utmost facility for hiring in all its
branches. Pop. (1841) 1365, (1851) 1611, (1871) 1521,
(1881) 1454, of whom 790 were females. Of houses in
18S1 there were 376 inhabited, 18 vacant, and 1 build-
ing. The houses generally present a comfortable appear-
ance, and a number of them are handsome and com-
modious. The village was long noted for the manufacture
of snuff-boxes, the peculiarity of the ' Laurencekirk
snuff-box ' being a concealed hinge and wooden pin, the
invention about 17S3 of Charles Stiven. The name of
Laurencekirk was first applied to a village on the
Haulkerton estate, which was erected a burgh of barony
early in the 17th century. By and by it was amal-
gamated with the Kirkton of Conveth, and the two
extended to the present site on the estate of Johnston.
Under the fostering care of Lord Gardenstone the new
portion came to be a considerable village, while the
original burgh of Haulkerton dwindled awaj', a few
relics only surviving till about 1820 or 1830. Under
the old name the village was erected into a burgh of
barony, under the administration of a bailie and 4
councillors, with all the usual privileges. The charter
is dated 27 Aug. 1779.
Laurieston. See Govan.
Laurieston, a village in Falkirk parish, Stirlingshire,
1J mile E by S of Falkirk town, under which it has a
post and railway telegraph office. Adjoining the park
of Callander House, and commanding from its elevated
site a brilliant view of the Carse of Falkirk and the
Ochil Hills, it was feued out in 1756 by Francis Lord
Napier. At first it was called Langtown, next Mer-
chiston or New Merchiston, and afterwards Lawrence-
town, now abbreviated into Laurieston. It comprises a
central square and regularly intersecting streets, south-
ward and westward ; carries on weaving, nail-making,
etc. ; and has a public school and a Free — until 1876
Reformed Presbyterian — church, built in 17S8, and
containing 250 sittings. Pop. (1831) 1306, (1861) 1265,
(1S71) 1310, (1881) 1452.— Orel. Sur., sh. 31, 1867.
Laurieston, a village in Balmaghie parish, Kirkcud-
brightshire, 7 miles WNW of Castle-Douglas, under
which it has a post office. It was the meeting-place of
the war committee of the Kirkcudbrightshire Cove-
nanters.
Laurieston. See Edinburgh.
Lauriston Castle, a mansion in Cramond parish,
Edinburghshire, on an eminence, J mile NNW of
Davidson's Mains and 3| miles WNW of Edinburgh.
Built in the latter part of the 16th century by Archi-
bald Napier, a younger brother of the inventor of
logarithms, it was enlarged in 1S45, and has very beau-
tiful pleasure-grounds. It was the residence of the
famous financier, John Law (1671-1729), and of the
Right Hon. Andrew Lord Rutherford (1791-1854) ; and
it now is the seat of Thomas Macknight Crawfurd, Esq.
of Cartsburn (b. 1820), who holds 32 acres in Edinburgh-
shire, valued at £236 per annum. — Oral. Sur., sh. 32,
1857. See J. P. Wood's Historij of Cramond (Edinb.
1794), and John Small's Castles and Mansions of the
Lothiems (Edinb. 1SS3).
Lauriston Castle, a mansion in St Cyrus parish,
Kincardineshire, on the steep verge of a deep woode*l
ravine, § mile N of Lauriston station on the Bervie
branch of the North British railway, this being 6 J miles
NNE of Montrose. Comprising portions of a 10th
century castle, which in 1336 was captured by Edward
III., and which belonged to the Stratons from the 13th
century till 1695, it is mainly a spacious and elegant
mansion-house of the early part of the present century,
with grounds of singular beauty. Its owner, David
Scott Porteous, Esq. (b. 1852 ; sue. 1872), holds 3437
acres in the shire, valued at £5534 per annum. — Ord.
Sur., sh. 57, 1868.
Law, a mining village in Carluke parish, Lanarkshire,
with a station on the Caledonian railway, 6J miles NW
of Carstairs, and 6 SE of Carfin by the Wishaw rail-
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