METHVEN, Perthshire - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

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

"METHVEN, a parish in county Perth, Scotland. It contains the villages of Almond Bank, Ballwherne, Bellstown, Bragrum, Gibbiestown, Glack, Meckven, Scrogiehill, and Woodend. It is a station on the Perth, Almond Valley, and Methven railway. It is situated on the Pow and Almond waters, and extends 5 miles from W. to E., with a breadth of from 3 and 4 miles. It is bounded by the parishes of Moneydie, Redgorton, Tibbermore, Gask, and Fowlis-Wester. The parish is extensively wooded, a large portion being cut yearly as coppice. The surface, which is moderately even, is varied by gently rising grounds and hollows. The land is in a high state of cultivation. The parish is traversed westward by the road from Perth to Crieff, on which road the village of Methven is situated, 5 miles N.W. of Perth, and 11 N.E of Crieff. A large portion of the inhabitants are employed in cotton weaving, papermaking, &c. Sandstone and greenstone are quarried. This parish is in the presbytery of Perth and synod of Perth and Stirling. The minister has a stipend of £284. The parish church was erected in 1783, and was restored and enlarged in 1825. Besides the parish church there are a Free church and an United Presbyterian church; also parochial and other schools. There ire a public library and an agricultural association in the village. About three quarters of a mile E. of the village is Methven Castle, which is seated on an eminence, and has within its grounds the spot where Bruce was defeated by the English, under the Earl of Pembroke, in 1306. The castle was held by the Mowbrays in 1323, after which period it came to the Stuarts, of whom Walter, son of Robert II., founded a collegiate church in 1433. Fairs are held on the Monday in May before Amubree, the first Thursday in August, and on the fourth Thursday in October."

"ALMOND BANK, a village in the parish of Methven, in the county of Perth, Scotland, 4 miles to the N.W. of Perth. It is situated on the river Almond, and is a station on the Perth and Methven branch railway."

"BALWHERNE, a village in the parish of Methven, in the county of Perth, Scotland, not far from Perth."

"BELLSTOWN, a village in the parish of Methven, in the county of Perth, Scotland, 5 miles to the N.W. of Perth. It is near the river Almond."

"BRAGRUM, a village in the parish of Methven, in the county of Perth, Scotland, 4 miles to the N.W. of Perth."

"GIBBIESTOWN, a village in the parish of Methven, county Perth, Scotland, 4 miles N.W. of Perth."

"GLACK, a village in the parish of Methven, county Perth, Scotland, 4 miles N.W. of Perth."

"MECKVEN, a village in the parish of Methven, county Perth, Scotland, 5 miles W. by N. of Perth."

"SCROGIE HILL, a village in the parish of Methven, county Perth, Scotland, 4 miles N.W. of Perth."

"WOODEND, a hamlet in the parish of Methven, county Perth, Scotland, 4½ miles N.W. of Perth, on the river Almond."

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)
Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]