FARNELL - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer (1868)]

"FARNELL, (or Fernell), a parish in county Forfar, Scotland, 3 miles S.E. of Brechin, its post town. It stands between the parishes of Brechin, Maryton, Craig, and Kinnell. Its length is 3 miles, its breadth 2. The surface is flat, and the soil of various qualities. The river South Esk traverses the interior; its banks are very picturesque, and fisheries most prolific. In the S. and W. of the parish are the Monroman moors, among which rises the Pow water, a confluent of the South Esk. This parish is in the presbytery of Brechin, and synod of Angus and Mearns, in the patronage of the crown. The minister has a stipend of £290. The church is a very elegant building, erected in 1806. Here are two schools and a parish library. Kinnaird was separated from this parish and constituted a parish in 1633. Kinnaird Castle is the seat of Sir James Carnegie, Bart., the sole landowner. Farnell is said to derive its name from Fern, a "den," and nell, a "swan," inferring that swans resorted here in former times. Near the church are seen the remains of Airlies Castle, the ancient seat of the Ogilvies; it is now used as a charitable institution."

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)