Topographical dictionary of Scotland > Volume 1

FORT
FORT
was the seat of many of the Pictish kings, who had a
palace at Haly Hill, near the site of the present church ;
and this palace, after the extinction of the Pictish mo-
narchy, and the union of the two kingdoms by Kenneth
Mc Alpine, became the favourite summer residence of
several of the Scottish sovereigns. Kenneth resided
for many years at the place, where he ended his days ;
it was afterwards the summer residence of Malcolm
Canmore, and several of his successors' charters were
dated hence. Previously to the battle of Dupplin,
which occurred on the 31st of July, 1332, Edward
Baliol encamped his forces in a field in this parish,
called the Miller's acre ; and the ancient mill from
which it took its name, and the ford of Coblehaugh,
where his army crossed the river, are yet remaining.
The eminence of Haly Hill has been considerably un-
dermined by the river May, and many portions of the
buildings of the palace have been destroyed ; but there
are still some vestiges, and in several houses in the
parish that were built with the ruins, may be traced
numerous stones curiously sculptured with antique
figures, which once formed part of the royal resi-
dence.
The parish, which is about eight miles in length and
two in breadth, is divided into three detached and un-
equal portions by the intervening parishes of Aberdalgie
and Forgandenny. Of these portions the central divi-
sion, in which is the village, is the largest, and is situ-
ated on the south of the river Earn ; another extends
into the Ochils, comprising some of the most conspi-
cuous hills of the range; and the third, lying to the
east of Aberdalgie, and the smallest, is bounded on the
south by the Earn. The surface is beautifully diversified
with hill and dale : and the scenery, enriched with
wood, and enlivened by the windings of the rivers, is
in many places strikingly picturesque. The Earn
crosses the whole breadth of the parish from east to
west, and, frequently overflowing its banks, does consi-
derable damage to the lower lands. The May, which
rises in the Ochils, after a course of eight miles joins
the Earn. In its progress, it forces for itself a pas-
sage through a deep fissure in a rock, which, from the
rumbling noise of the waters, has obtained the appella-
tion of the " Humble Bumble;" and a little above this
is the linn of Muckarsie, where the river is precipitated
from a height of thirty feet, and, after heavy rains, forms
a picturesque cascade. The lands, of which the soil
is various, are under excellent cultivation, producing
favourable crops ; the farms are generally of large ex-
tent, and the occupiers men of capital. The farm-
buildings are consequently of superior order ; and all
the recent improvements in husbandry, and in the con-
struction of agricultural implements, have been adopted
to their full extent. The rateable annual value of the
parish is £6301.
Invermay House, the seat of Alexander H. M. Belshes,
Esq., and for many generations the seat of that ancient
family, is now a handsome modern mansion, beautifully
situated on an eminence overhanging the river May, and
commanding an extensive view of the vale of Strathearn,
with the windings of its river, and the romantically-
diversified scenery of the adjacent country. All that
remains of the old structure is apparently a ruin, though
containing several apartments still entire, and in good
preservation, and forming a pleasing contrast with the
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modern mansion. The grounds are tastefully laid out,
and embellished with plantations, and with the graceful
course of the river May, which flows through the de-
mesne. About a mile from the house is the sepulchral
chapel of Muckarsie, the church of that parish before it
was united to Forteviot, and now the burial-place of the
family ; the approach is by a beautiful avenue of lime-
trees. The whole of the grounds are kept in the finest
order, and are open to the public for one day in the
week, affording a favourite excursion to invalids fre-
quenting the neighbouring wells of Pitcaithly. The
village of Forteviot is pleasantly situated on the right
bank of the May, a short distance from its influx into
the Earn, and is neat and well built ; the inhabitants
are chiefly employed in agriculture. The ecclesiastical
affairs are under the superintendence of the presbytery
of Perth and synod of Perth and Stirling ; the minister's
stipend is £244, with a manse, and a glebe valued at
£6. 15. per annum. The church, before the Reforma-
tion, was attached to the abbey of Cambuskenneth, and
subsequently to the college of St. Andrew's, in whom,
and in the family of Belshes, of Invermay, the patronage
of the living is jointly vested : the present edifice was
built about seventy years since, and is a plain structure,
in good repair. There is a place of worship for mem-
bers of the Secession Church in the Ochil district of the
parish. The parochial school is attended by about fifty
children ; the master has a salary of £34, with a house,
and an allowance of £2. 2. 9. in lieu of garden, the fees
averaging £16 per annum.
FORTH, a village, in the parish of Carnwath,
Upper ward of the county of Lanark, S| miles (N. E.
by E.) from Lanark ; containing 357 inhabitants. This
is a modern village, seated on the road from Lanark to
Whitburn, and may be almost regarded as an appen-
dage to Wilsontown, being chiefly inhabited by persons
employed in the coal and iron mines connected with the
extensive iron-works of that place, founded by the
Messrs. Wilson, of London, about the year 1780.
FORTINGAL, a parish, in the county of Perth,
85 miles (VV. S. W.) from Aberfeldy ; containing, with
part of the late quoad sacra districts of Foss, Glenlyon,
and Rannoch, 2740 inhabitants. This place, of which
the name is of very doubtful origin, is historically dis-
tinguished only for the conflicts of hostile clans, and for
a battle that occurred at Glen-Sassun, between the forces
of Robert Bruce and those of Edward of England. The
parish is forty miles in length, from east to west, and
varies from thirty to thirty-five miles in breadth. It is
bounded on the north by the parish of Laggan, in the
county of Inverness, and on the north-east by that of
Blair- Atholl ; on the east, by the parish of Dull ; on the
south, by the parishes of Kenmore and Killin ; on the
west, by the parish of Appin, in Argyllshire, and part of
Weem ; and on the south-west by the parish of Glenor-
chy. It occupies a large portion of the north-western
district of the county, including a considerable part of
the great Caledonian forest, and comprising an area of
nearly 130 miles in circumference. The surface is
strikingly diversified with mountains and valleys, deep
sequestered glens, and lakes of various extent, the whole
forming one of the boldest and richest combinations of
scenery in the country. Exclusively of the lofty moun-
tains that inclose the parish on the north and south
sides, one vast and continuous range intersects the