Gazetteer of Scotland > Volume 1

162
CRAMON I)
burgh. Its revenues must have done these par-
ties much good ; for they were very extensive.
Among other objects of their institution, it
appears that they supported no fewer than
eight altars in the church. It was in this
place of worship, on Sunday, May 19, 1559,
that the mob, inflamed by the preaching of
Knox, began the work of demolishing the mo-
numents of idolatry in Fife, as their brethren
had done at Perth a few days before. Having
finished their operations here, they followed
their zealous leader to St. Andrews, where
they assisted in levelling its beautiful and su-
perb cathedral to the ground. Archbishop
Sharpe was, at one time, minister of the kirk
of Crail. Like many other places on this side
of the island, Crail suffered severely in trade
by the Union. Many of its houses are of that
massive and antique description which indicate
past splendour. The principal street is spa-
cious and regular j but in the utter dulness and
decay of the town, it is constantly littered
with all kinds of filth and rubbish, and, in
many places, covered with rank grass and weeds.
With great capabilities as a port, the harbour
is small and incommodious, and at present
possesses no trade. Fortunately for the inha-
bitants, coal is plentiful in the neighbourhood.
Altogether, Crail presents a veiy perfect spe-
cimen of the decayed old burghs of Scotland,
which are by no chance ever heard of, except
when brought into notice by topographical
works like the present, or by the newspaper
details of an election, and whose only employ-
ment seems to be the discussion of the paltry
politics of the place, or the more substantial
negociation of the return of a member of par-
liament. Asa royal burgh, in virtue of char-
ters from Robert Bruce, it is governed by
three bailies, a treasurer, and from eleven to
fifteen councillors. It has seven incorporated
trades, and, in conjunction with Kilrenny, the
two Anstruthers, and Pittenweem, sends a
member to parliament. The only association
in the town is a golfing club, which was begun
in 1 760 ; the members of which pursue their
delightful recreation on the adjacent links.
Besides the parish kirk there is a dissenting
meeting-house Population of the hurgh and
parish in 1821, 1854.
CRAILING, a parish in Roxburghshire,
lying on both sides of the Tiviot, of a circular
form, and nearly four miles in diameter j hav-
7.
ing Roxburgh on the north, Eckfordonthe east,
Jedburgh on the south and Ancrum on the west.
Oxnam Water runs into the Tiviot on its south,
bank in this parish. The country here is rich
and exceedingly beautiful. The low and ris-
ing grounds are highly cultivated and enclosed,
and in some places well wooded. The uplands
are excellent pasture land. The parish is the
lowest, the warmest, and the most fertile part
of Tiviotdale. The village of Crailing lies
seven miles south from Kelso, and thirteen east
of Hawick. — The manse and benefice of the
clergyman are among the best in Scotland.
The parish comprehends the suppressed parish
of Nisbet, which was that part on the north
of the Tiviot. The origin of the word Crail-
ing is supposed to signify the brisk pool, and
may have been given from the ebullition of the
mountain stream of Oxnam Water. In the
days of David I., the parish of Crailing itself
was divided into the two parochial districts of
Upper Crailing and Crailing. The whole be-
longed to the monastery at Jedburgh. — 'Popu-
lation in 1821, 748.
CRAKENISH POINT, a small head-
land on the south side of Loch Eynat, west
coast of Sky.
CRAMOND, a parish of which the great-
er part is in the county of Edinburgh, and the
remainder in Linlithgowshire, lying on the
south shore of the Firth of Forth ; bounded
on the west by Dalmeny and Kirkliston, on
the south by Corstorphine and St. Cuthbert's
(or the West Kirk of Edinburgh). The
western part of it is intersected by the river
Almond, which falls into the sea at a creek,
on the east side of which, on a declining bank,
lies the small village of Cramond. The parish
is either altogether agricultural and highly pro-
ductive, or laid out in plantations and meadow
pastures. The celebrated Law of Lauriston
was a native of this parish, and his patrimonial
residence is still standing, though altered great-
ly for the better in appearance and accommoda-
tion. Some stake-net fisheries are now insti-
tuted on the sands, a little way below the vil-
lage. There might be a most delightful walk
for foot passengers, betwixt this place and
Leith. At present the walls of the various
proprietors almost meet the water, and passen-
gers are occasionally overtaken by the tides.
The village of Cramond is known to have been
an important Roman station. On the oppo-