Imperial gazeteer of Scotland, or, Dictionary of Scottish topography > Volume 1

ELIE.
607
ELLANDONAN CASTLE.
ly formed what was called the barony of Ardross,
and belonged to a family of the name of Disching-
ton, from whom it came about the beginning of the
17th century, to Sir William Scott, who held the
office of director-of-chancery during a part of the
reign of Charles I. From his descendants the
barony was acquired, about the close of that century,
by Sir William Anstruther of Anstruther. The
ruins of the ancient castle of Ardross, the manor-
place of the barony, still remain, about a mile east
of the village. Elie-house, the present mansion-
house, is situated north of the village, and in its
immediate vicinity. It is a large building, erected
apparently rather more than 160 years ago, in the
semi-classic style introduced by Sir William Bruce
of Kinross. The grounds are beautifully wooded,
and have been laid out with great taste. There are
1,570 imperial acres in the parish, of which 56 acres
have never been cultivated ; and about 50 acres are
in wood. The rent of the arable land varies, ac-
cording to its quality, from £1 to £4 per acre ; the
average being nearly £1 15s. per acre. The valued
rent is £4,105 13s. 4d. Scots. The real rental in
1836 was about £2,562. Estimated yearly value of
raw produce in 1836, £5,200. Assessed property in
1843, £3,661 6s. Population in 1831, 1,029; in
1861, 826. Houses, 203.
This parish is in the presbytery of St. Andrews,
and svnod of Fife. Patron, William Baird of Elie.
Stipend, £149 8s. 8d. ; glebe, £28 17s. 6d. School-
master's salary, £34 4s. 4£d., with about £40 fees
and £7 other emoluments. The parish church is a
neat structure, with a spire, built in 1726, thorough-
ly repaired in 1831, and containing nearly 600 sit-
tings. There is a Free church, whose people in
the year 1854 raised £161 2s. 7id. An Independent
chapel, though named of Elie, is within Kilconquhar.
There are two private schools and a subscription
library. There is also a joint savings' bank with
Earlsferry. Elie parish was originally a part of
Kilconquhar, and became a separate erection about
the year 1639.
The Village of Elie stands at the head of Elie
bay, 2J miles south-south-east of Colinsburgh, and
5 miles east-south-east of Largo. It is a burgh of
barony. It stands so close to the sea that the water
frequently washes the walls of the houses. It
must formerly have been a place of some importance ;
for it contains, in a street near the beach, several
substantial ancient residences, which evidently
must have been inhabited by families of distinction.
And though now it has little trade, and not much
local consequence, it is still a pleasant place, with
some sea-side stir and considerable attractions. It
is neat and well-built. The streets are wide, clean,
and regular. It is well-sheltered from the east
wind, and has for a long time been a place of con-
siderable resort during summer for sea - bathing.
No market is held in the town; but Colinsburgh,
which is easily accessible from it, has regular
weekly and yearly markets. A coach from An-
struther passes regularly through Elie in com-
munication with the Leven railway ; and a steamer
touches thrice a -week in transit between An-
struther and Leith. The harbour is naturally an
excellent one, and forms a safe and accessible shel-
ter for vessels, during a gale from the west or south-
west. Some care appears to have been at one time
taken to improve its natural advantages, by the
erection of quays and a pier; and Mr. Baird has re-
cently spent large sums in extending its improve-
ments, and purposes spending more. To the east
of the harbour, and at a small distance from it, is
Wadehaven, so called, it is said, from General
Wade, who recommended it to Government as a
proper harbour for men-of-war. It is very large,
and has from 20 to 22 feet water at common tides.
Notwithstanding the advantages which Elie enjoys
as a fishing-station, very little profit is derived by
its inhabitants from that branch of industry. There
are few fishermen in the place ; and these merely
fish along shore for white fish, to supply the con-
sumption of the village and neighbourhood. This
supply, however, is generally both cheap and ex-
cellent. Population in 1861, 706.
ELTOCK. See Elliock.
ELISTON, a very ancient baronial pile, on the
left bank of the Almond, on the estate of the Earl
of Hopetoun, in the parish of Kirkliston, Linlith-
gowshire. It is supposed to have been anciently a
hunting-seat of the Kings of Scotland, particularly
James II. and James IV.
ELLACH1E. See Craigellachie.
ELLAM, or Elllm, an ancient rectory, now com-
prehended in the parish of Longformacus, Berwick-
shire. It belonged to the Earls of Dunbar; and,
after their forfeiture, was given by Robert to
Thomas Erskine. The ruins of the ancient church
and hamlet are traceable on the north bank of the
Whitadder, near the passage which is still called
Ellam-ford.
ELLAN, Ealan, or Eilan, a prefix in Gaelic
topographical names, signifying " island."
ELLAN-AIGAS. See Aigas.
ELLAN-AN-EIGH. See Laggan (Loch).
ELLAN-CHAISTAL. See Castle-Islaxd.
ELLAN-CHOLUIMCILLE, a small island in
Portree bay, in Skye. The name signifies St.
Columba's island. The bay was anciently called
Loch ■Choluimcille.
ELLAN -DHEIRRIG, or Ellan - Gheibktg, a
small island in Loch Riddan, in the parish of In-
verchaolain, Argyleshire. It lies in the mouth ol
the loch, about 100 yards from the mainland. It
was strongly fortified by Archibald, Earl of Argyle,
and made the depot of his reserve arms and am-
munition, in his expedition to co-operate with the
Duke of Monmouth's invasion in 1685. The fort
was taken from his garrison, and blown up ; but a
small portion of it still stands, and can be seen from
the steam-boats passing through the Kyles of Bute.
A branch of the Campbells who possessed a large
estate in the circumjacent country, and were cele-
brated as warriors in Gaelic song, took from the is-
land the designation of Campbell of Ellan-Dheirrig.
ELLANDONAN CASTLE, a picturesque ruin,
on the small rocky island of Donan, at the head of
Loch-Alsh, where that sea-lake forks into Lochs
Long and Duich, at the south-west corner of Ross-
shire. It was once the manor-place of the ' high
chiefs of Kintail.' It is a magnificent ivy-clad ruin,
backed by a noble range of hills. This castle was
originally conferred on Colin Fitzgerald, son of the
Earl of Desmond, in 1266, by Alexander III. In
1331, it was the scene of a severe act of retributive
justice by Randolph, Earl of Moray, then warden o
Scotland, who executed fifty delinquents here, and
placed their heads on the walls of the castle. In
1537, Donald, fifth baron of Slate, lost his life in an
attack on Ellandonan castle, then belonging to
John Mackenzie, ninth baron of Kintail, and was
buried by his followers on the lands of Ardcloe, on
the western side of Loch-Long. William, fifth Earl
of Seaforth, having joined the Stuart cause in 1715,
his estate and honours were forfeited to the Crown
and his castle burnt. The attack on Ellandonan
castle, by the baron of Slate, is the subject of a bal-
lad by Sir Walter Scott's friend, Colin Mackenzie,
Esq. of Portmore. published in the Scottish Mil;
strelsy.