Topographical dictionary of Scotland > Volume 1

CAMP
CAMP
time, in a dilapidated condition, was rebuilt in 1803,
and contains 2000 sittings ; the English church, which
occupies the site of the ancient castle of the lords
of the Isles, was built in 1780, and contains 1'200
sittings. A chapel of ease has been proposed for the vil-
lage of Coalhill, near the town ; and in the burgh are
places of worship for members of the Free Church,
the Relief and Secession Synods, Independents, and
Roman Catholics. The parochial school is consolidated
with that of the burgh ; the master, who is appointed
by the town- council, subject to the approval of the
presbytery, has a salary of £34. 4. 4., paid by the heri-
tors and the burgh, together with a house adapted for
the reception of boarders, and an excellent, garden ;
his fees average about £150 per annum, out of which
he has to pay an assistant. Miss Campbell, of Govan
Bank, built two schools at Dalintober, at an expense
of £1150; and for their endowment, she bequeathed
to the Kirk Session, the sum of £4600. The same
lady left £600 to the female school of industry, £300
towards the support of a parochial missionary, £300
to the Sabbath schools, £600 to the Female Benevolent
Society, and £500 to the poor of the parish.
CAMPBELTON, a village, chiefly in the parish of
Ardersier, county of Inverness, 6 miles (W.) from
Nairn ; containing, with the garrison of Fort George,
1200 inhabitants, of whom 944 are in the village. This
place, which is indebted for its origin to the esta-
blishment of the garrison, takes its name from the
Campbells, earls of Cawdor, upon whose lands it is
built, on the eastern shore of a bay in the Moray
Frith. The houses are neat, and there are numerous
well-stored shops, containing wares and merchandise
of all kinds for the supply of the garrison ; a sub-
scription library has been established, and there are
several good inns. Many of the inhabitants are em-
ployed in the herring-fishery, which is carried on with
spirit and success ; and not less than sixteen boats, of
twelve tons burthen, sail to the fishing-stations of
Helmsdale and Burgh-Head, each boat taking, during the
season, about 200 barrels, valued at 13 shillings each.
The fishermen of Campbelton are also employed in
the white-fishery off the coast ; the fish usually taken
are, haddock, cod, skate, whiting, flounders, and occa-
sionally turbot, halibut, and soles ; the produce, after
supplying the parish, is sent to Inverness, for which
purpose, during the summer, there are lightly-built
and fast-sailing vessels. A little coasting trade is also
carried on, in which three vessels of 100 tons, be-
longing to a family in the village, are employed, chiefly
in the trade with Sunderland. The post-office has a
daily delivery ; and facility of communication is af-
forded by the great road from Inverness to Aberdeen,
and the military road from Fort George to Perth,
which pass through the village ; and by a ferry from
Fort George to Chanonry Point, in the county of Ross.
A court for the recovery of small debts is held every
month ; and there is a fair, called the Lammas Market,
annually on the 12th of August, for lambs, sheep,
milch cows, a few horses, cheese, and various wares,
and for the hiring of servants.
Fort George was erected soon after the Rebellion in
the year 1745, with a view to keep the Highlanders
in subjection, and was completed under the superin-
tendence of General Skinner, at a cost of more than
174
£160,000; it is situated on the point of Ardersier,
which projects far into the Frith, and commands the
entrance of that channel. The buildings, which occupy
an area of fifteen acres, form an irregular polygon,
defended by six bastions, each named after some dis-
tinguished general of the time, and mounting, respec-
tively, 18 twenty- four-pounders, 25 eighteen, 22 twelve,
and 4 six-pounders. On three sides, the ramparts
rise almost from the sea, which, at any time, may be
let into the ditch ; and on the land side, the fortress
is defended by a broad ditch, a covered way and glacis,
two lunettes, and a raveline mounting eight twelve-
pounders. The north and south curtains are bomb-proof,
and contain each twenty-seven apartments, fifty-two feet
in length, and twelve feet wide ; the grand magazine,
which is also bomb-proof, will hold 2472 barrels of gun-
powder, and at the eastern extremity are two smaller
magazines, containing ammunition for immediate use.
The barracks, which are towards the land point, com-
prise apartments for a governor, lieutenant-governor,
fort-major, chaplain, eight field-officers, 22 captains,
56 subalterns and 2090 non-commissioned officers and
privates ; there are also a chapel, brewhouse, bake-
house, and an inn, within the walls. The fortress is now
garrisoned generally by depots of foreign regiments,
and, at present, contains only about 256 inhabitants.
CAMPMUIR, a hamlet, in the parish of Kettins,
county of Forfar ; containing 45 inhabitants.
CAMPSIE, a parish, in the county of Stirling,
3| miles (E.) from Strathblane; containing, with the
villages of Birdstone, Haugh-head, Lennoxtown, Milton,
Torrance, and the Clachan, 6402 inhabitants. This
parish, previously to the year 1649, was much larger
than at present, and, on account of its isolated situa-
tion, arising from its natural boundaries, was distin-
guished by many peculiarities and singular customs ;
but, at the period named, its southern extremity was
erected into a new parish called Baldernock, and its
eastern extremity united to Kilsyth. It now extends
in length about seven miles, and six in breadth, com-
prising 13,500 Scottish acres, of which about 6000 are
hills, 6000 arable, 400 wood and plantations, and the
remainder lakes, &c. The surface consists of two
ranges of hills, and the intermediate valley, running
nearly from east to west ; the highest eminences are
those forming the northern boundary, called Campsie
fells, rising, at their greatest elevation, 1500 feet
above the sea, and intersected with numerous glens of
exquisite beauty, exhibiting a profusion of romantic
scenery on their rocky sides. In that called Kirktoun
glen, artificial terraces have been cut, shrouded with
ferns, lichens, and all kinds of wild flowers ; and
numbers of persons resort to it in fine weather, to
witness the variety and grandeur of the prospect. The
southern range, called the Brae, is a continuation of
the braes of Killpatrick, and rises about 700 feet. The
valley is covered throughout with a succession of un-
dulations, reaching to the precipitous sides of the
northern fells, whence several burns pour down, three
of which, uniting their streams, form the river Glassert,
which, after traversing a considerable extent of ground
in the parish, falls into the Kelvin near Kirkintilloch.
Near the base of the fells, which are clothed to
their summit with rich verdant pasture, the soil is
chiefly a light clayey earth, and the subsoil tilly, and