Gazetteer of Scotland

ABB
been noted for the manufacture of
checks. Population in 1801, 2501.
ABB'S (St.) HEAD ; a promon-
tory of land, well known by seamen,
lying in the parish of Coldingham,
county of Berwick, about 10 miles
N. of Berwick, and the same distance
S. of Dunbar. Longitude 1*> 56' W.
latitude 55* 54' N>
ABDIE ; a parish in the.county of
Fife, of considerable extent ; but,
from its being much intersected with
other parishes, it is impossible to give
an exact idea of its length and
breadth. It is situated on the S.
bank of the river Tay, amongst those
high lands which, to the westward,
acquire the appellation of the Ochil
hills. The surface is remarkably un-
even ; but there is a good deal of
arable land. The soil is in general
pretty fertile ; and' the farmers, by a-
dopting proper methods of agricul-
ture, have greatly meliorated the soil,,
and increased the annual returns' of
grain. The Tay has gradually car-
ried away with its current many acres
of the finest land ; but embankments
are now erected to prevent this in fu-
ture. There are 3 quarries of gra-
nite in the parish, from which a con-
siderable quantity is shipped for, pa-
ving the streets of London. Two
hills in the parish, viz. Clatchart
Crag and Norman's Law, are re-
markable for their height and precipi-
tous fronts. Traces of fortifications
are to be seen on the tops of these
hills. There is little old wood ; but
a. considerable extent of young plan-
tations. There are several old man-
sion-houses in ruins, and the remains
of different fortifications, supposed
to be the works of the northern in-
vaders, or places of strength erected
to repel their hostile visits.. Near
the village of Lindores are pointed
out the supposed remains of aocastle,
said to have belonged to the cele-
brated Macduff, Thane of Fife.. Po-
pulation in 1801, 723.
ABERBROTHOCK, or AR-
BROATH ; a royal borough in For-
farshire, situated at the aestuary of the
river Brothock,;on a small plain, sur-
rounded on the W., N., and E. sides,
by eminences, in the form of an am-
phitheatre, commanding an extensive
prospect of the Friths of Tay and
forth, and the elevated parts of Fife-
ABE
shire and Lothian. It lies in the di-
rection of the great N- road, about
17 miles E. from Dundee, 58 N. N. E-.
of Edinburgh, and 12 W. from Mon-
trose. The body of the town consists
of one street, nearly half a mile in
length, running N. and S. from the
sea, and another on the W. side of
smaller extent. Both these are dnter-
sected by other cross streets, and are
in general well built, though without
much regularity.. To the eastward of
the town, and locally situated in the
parish of St. Vigeans, there are two .
neat regular streets, ajt the top of one-
of which is an elegant chapel of ease,
built about 6 years ago. On the W...
side of the river Brothock there are also
several neat streets newly built, con- j
sisting. chiefly of small houses of one
floor, forming a suburb of conside-
rable size. The town-house is situated
nearly in the middle of the W. side of
the High Street ; and, though scarce-
ly distinguished in its external appear-
ance from the other inhabited houses,,
possesses two elegant rooms for pub-
lic meetings, besides accommodation
for the town-clerk's office and prisons.
The harbour is small but commo-
dious, and can be taken by vessels in-
a storm, when they cannot enter any
of the neighbouring ports. It is en-
tirely artificial, being- well sheltered
from the sea by a long pier ; and,
during storms, the inner harbour is
so secured by wooden gates, that the
vessels lie in the smoothest water. It
can admit vessels of 200 tons at spring
tides; but,,at ordinary tides, vessels-
of 100 tons only can enter.. The har-
bour is defended by a neat battery,
mounting six is- pounders, erected in
1783, on account of an attack made -
on the town by a small privateer,,
commanded by one Captain Fall, du-
ring the American war. The port of
Aberbrothock is of great antiquity ;•
but its situation was more to the east-
ward than at present. • The site of '
the ancient harbour is still named the
Old Shore-head ; and an agreement
is extant between the abbot and'
burghers of Aberbrothock, in 1194,-
concerning the making of the harbour. .
Both parties were bound to contri-
bute their proportion ; but the largest
fell to the share of the former, for
which he was to receive an annual tax,
payable out of each of the borough