Topographical dictionary of Scotland > Volume 1

BRID
B R I D
which is shipped to different parts of the country, and
sometimes sent to the south; and in Quarff and Burra,
several species of limestone of inferior quality are
found.
The lands appear once to have been better wooded
than at present, trunks of trees, of some bulk, being
found among the mosses. The only plantations recently
made are in the vicinity of the mansion-house, and
consist of willow and ash, the former the most flourish-
ing ; and near these, of older growth, are aspen, elm,
laburnum, poplar, and plane trees, which appear to be
in a thriving condition. A large proportion of the male
population is engaged in the fisheries, the principal of
which are those of ling, cod, and herrings ; though
various other kinds of fish, such as tusk, halibut,
skate, whiting, and flounders, are taken at different
times ; and sillocks, on which the inhabitants live to a
considerable extent, are taken throughout the whole
year. Oysters, also, are found at Burra, in abundance.
The ling-fishing employs about thirty boats, carrying
generally six men each ; the cod-fishery, beginning
about Whitsuntide, occupies numerous sloops of be-
tween fifteen and twenty tons' burthen, and at the ter-
mination of this fishing, that for herrings commences,
usually in the month of August, in which the same
boats are employed as those engaged in the ling-fishing,
with some of larger size. About thirty women and
children are employed in Bressay, during the season, in
curing herrings; and the manufacture of herring-nets has
recently excited much interest among the inhabitants :
nearly every female in Quarff above six years of age, is
occupied in knitting woollen-gloves, and those in Burra
in knitting stockings. The parish is in the presbytery of
Lerwick and synod of Shetland, and in the patronage of
the Earl of Zetland ; the minister's stipend is £158. 6. 8.,
with a manse, rebuilt in 1819, and a glebe valued at
£12 per annum. The church, which is conveniently
situated, was erected in 1815, and contains 370 sittings.
There are places of worship for Independents and Wes-
leyans ; and also a parochial school, the master of which
has a salary of £25. 13., and teaches writing, arithmetic,
and book-keeping. — See Burra, Ness, &c.
BRIDEKIRK, Dumfries. — See Brydekirk.
BRIDGE OF ALLAN.— See Allan, Bridge of.
And all places having a similar distinguishing prefix, will
he found under the proper name.
BRIDGEND, a village, in the parish of Kilarrow,
district of Islay, county of Argyll, 3 miles (N.) from
Bowmore. This village is situated at the north-eastern
extremity of Loch Indal ; and there is a good road to
Port-Askaig, distant, in a north-eastern direction, about
eight miles. A branch post-office has been established
under Bowmore, and a justice-of-peace court is held
here. The grounds of Islay House are almost in con-
tact with the village.
BRIDGEND, a hamlet in the parish of Lentra-
then, county of Forfar; containing 31 inhabitants.
It is situated a short distance from the parish church.
BRIDGEND, a village, in the parish of Ruthven,
county of Forfar ; containing 1/2 inhabitants.
BRIDGEND, a burgh of barony, in the parish of
Kinnoull, county of Perth; containing 173* inha-
bitants. This village, which forms a suburb to the city
of Perth, derives its name from the erection of a bridge
over the Tay, connecting the parishes of Perth and Kin-
154
noull, between which, all communication since the de-
struction of the old bridge in 1621, had been by a ferry,
till the completion of the present structure, in 177L
Prior to this date, the village consisted only of a few
cottages, inhabited by the boatmen employed on the
ferry ; but, from the greater facility of intercourse with
Perth, it has rapidly increased in extent and importance,
and at present contains nearly three-fifths of the popu-
lation of the parish. The streets are regularly formed,
and lighted with gas ; the houses are substantially built,
and along the banks of the river, and on the rising
ground, are numerous elegant, villas, surrounded with
scenery richly diversified. The village was erected into
a burgh of barony, in favour of the Earl of Kinnoull, by
charter, which also conferred the privileges of a weekly
market and several annual fairs, now fallen into dis-
use.
BRIDGEND, or Kendrochad, a hamlet, in the
parish of Kenmore, county of Perth ; containing 68
inhabitants. In the vicinity of the hamlet is a small
school.
BRIDGEND, a village, in the parish of Rosskeen,
county of Ross and Cromarty ; containing 413 inha-
bitants. This place is also called the Bridgend of All-
ness, it being considered as part of the village of Allness,
of which the other part is in the parish of that name,
the river Allness dividing it in nearly equal portions ; a
market, chiefly for cattle, is held here monthly. At
Mossfield, in the vicinity, is a school, established in
1824.
BRIDGEND, SOUTH, a village, in the parish of
Muthill, county of Perth; containing 118 inhabit-
ants.
BRIDGEND, WEST, a village, in the parish of
Cardross, county of Dumbarton ; containing 799 in-
habitants. It is a suburb of the town of Dumbarton ;
and the Relief Congregation have a place of worship
in it.
BRIDGENESS, a village, in the parish of Carriden,
county of Linlithgow, 1 mile (E.) from Bo'ness, con-
taining 89 inhabitants. It is situated on the south
shore of the Frith of Forth, and its population is engaged
in the works in the vicinity. There is an excellent pier
here, which, some years since, was extended about 150
feet further into the sea, in order to improve the accom-
modation, by securing a greater depth of water for the
vessels by which the harbour is frequented, chiefly for
the export of coal and salt, and the import of manure
and limestone. As many as 300 coasters, varying from
twenty to one hundred tons' burthen, annually enter
from different ports in Scotland ; and about ten foreign
ships, of greater tonnage, yearly take in coal at this
place. Formerly, chemical-works were established here,
for the manufacture of vitriol and sulphuric-acid ; but
they have been for some time relinquished.
BRIDGETOWN, a village, in the parish of Red-
gorton, county of Perth ; containing 97 inhabitants.
BRIDGETON, lately a quoad sacra parish, con-
sisting of part of Barony parish, in the suburbs of
Glasgow, county of Lanark ; containing 3583 inha-
bitants. This place, which takes its name from its vici-
nity to the bridge over the Clyde leading to Rutherglen,
is partly indebted for its origin to Mr. John Walkin-
shaw, who, in 1705, purchased some lands to the east-
ward of the city, which he divided into building lots,