Gazetteer of Scotland > Volume 2

778
M O N I M A 1 L,
of barony, governed by three bailies, a treasur-
er and twelve councillors. Being away from
the thoroughfare near the coast, the town is
comparatively little known or visited. From
the adjacent country its old church is alone vi-
sible on the height above the houses.. — Popu-
lation of the village and parish in 1821, 912.
MONCRIEFF, or MORDUN, a fine
woody hill in Perthshire, in the parish of
Dumbarny, near the Bridge of Earn, from
which a most extensive view of this beautiful
part of the country may be obtained.
MONEDIE, a parish in Perthshire, bound-
ed by Auchtergaven on the north, and Red-
gorton on the east and south. In length and
breadth it extends about, two miles. There
are, properly speaking, no hills in the parish,
but only rising grounds, which run northward
and southward from the banks of the Shochie.
The husbandry of the district is now much
improved, and the produce correspondingly in-
creased. To the parish of Monedie was re-
cently, annexed, quoad sacra, the new parish of
Logie- Almond — Population in 1821, 1178.
MONIFIETH, a parish in Forfarshire,
lying on the shore of the Firth of Tay, at its
mouth, bounded by Barrie and Mom'kie on the
east, Monikie also on the north, and Muivhoiise
and Dundee on the west. It is of a triangular
form, with the base to the sea shore, from
which it extends inland a space of four and a
half miles. The land along the shore is here
a low flat sandy tract, evidently recovered from
the waters of the firth, and still unproductive,
or not very well reclaimed. From thence the
country rises, it declines in one part to the
small river Dichty. The greater proportion
is under cultivation. The most conspicuous
landmark is the southern of that collection of
hills called the Laws, on the northern side of
which is the village of Drumsturdy Moor.
The village of Monifieth lies on a brae with a
southern exposure, at no great distance from
the sea, and consists of little else than a series
of thatched cottages. The church is a plain
conspicuous edifice, surrounded by a burying-
ground, containing a variety of finely carved
antique tombstones, executed with a taste we
have rarely seen excelled in the country. A
new manse has just been erected near the
church. There are different manufactories
carried on in the neighbourhood, especially at
the Mill-town, on the Dichty. From thence
there is a bad road across the rough downs,
33.
westward to the modern village of Broughty
Ferry, a place which, having been sufficiently
described under its own head, need not be fur-
ther noticed. — Population in 1821, 2017.
MONIKIE, a parish in Forfarshire, bound-
ed by Barrie and Monifieth on the south, Pan-
bride on the east, Carmylie, part of Guthrie,
and Inverarity on the north, and Muirhouse on '
the west. In form it is triangular, with tie
apex to the south, extending seven miles in
length, by five in breadth at the widest end.
The face of the country is diversified with se-
veral large hills ; and a ridge, running from
east to west, divides it into two districts, which
vary considerably in point of fertility and cli-
mate, the southern part being rich and early,
and the northern moist and cold. In the
latter district is an extensive tract of moor,
which has been planted, and now forms part of
the pleasure-grounds of the house of Panmure,
situated in the neighbouring parish of Panbride.
Near a place called the Car-hills are a number
of cairns, called the hier cairns, the testimonial
of some conflict and inhumation in ancient
times ; and at a small village called Camus-
town is a large upright stone, which is said to
point out the place where Camus, the Danish
general, was slain and buried, after the battle
of Barrie, in 1010. There are several small
villages in the parish. — Population in 1821,
1325.
MONIMAIL, a parish in Fife, lying on
the north side of the vale or howe of that
county, extending northwards from the Eden,
a distance of four miles, by a breadth of from
one to three and a half, bounded by Denbog
and Criech on the north, Moonzie and Cupar
on the east, Cults on the south, and Collessie
on the west. The district, which is flat in
the southern part, is beautifully wooded, and
well cultivated and enclosed. Monimail
church stands on the rising ground, and, with
its hamlet, is sheltered by overhanging trees.
The chief village is Letham, which lies a
short way to the east. The house and plea-
sure-grounds of Melville, the seat of the Earl
of Leven, serve much to beautify this part of
the country. Near the church, and within
Melville grounds, there is a square tower in
pretty good preservation. Its age is uncer-
tain ; but it was repaired by Cardinal Beaton,
and was his residence in 1562. There are se-
veral distinct heads of the cardinal in his cap
in alto-relievo on the walls. This tower is