Laurencekirk

"LAURENCEKIRK, a parish in the How district of county Kincardine, Scotland. It measures 4 miles in length, and is 3 broad. The land is chiefly arable, with about 300 acres of wood, pastoral, or waste. The rivulet Leuthar and numerous brooks intersect the parish. The surface is flat in the centre, but hilly both towards the northern and southern boundaries. Weaving is carried on by the inhabitants. The parish is intersected by the Aberdeen railway, and by the road from Forfar to Aberdeen. The parish is in the presbytery of Fordoun, and synod of Angus and Mearns, in the patronage of St. Mary's College, St. Andrew's. The minister's stipend is £241. The parish church is a modern and commodious structure. It was erected in 1828 in place of one built in 1626, and which was dedicated to St. Lawrence. The ancient name of the parish, however, was Conveth. The other places of worship are, Episcopalian and Independent chapels, and a Free church. There are parochial and other schools, and one or two libraries. Dr. Beattie (1735-1803), the poet and philosopher, and his nephew, James Beattie, professor of natural history in Aberdeen University, were natives of this place. The parish school was kept by Thomas Ruddiman, the grammarian. The town of Laurencekirk is a railway station on the Aberdeen line, and is 10 miles N. of Montrose, and 7 W. of Bervie. It consists of a main street nearly a mile in length, with another parallel to it, and two or three short ones branching from the principal streets. It is well lighted with gas. The town is greatly indebted for the consequence it enjoys at the present day to Lord Gardenstone, a judge of the Court of Session, who, about 1762, purchased the estate of Johnstone, and built several houses. In 1779 he procured for this place the privileges of a burgh of barony, with the right of holding a weekly market. It is governed by a bailie and four councillors, who are chosen every three years, and regulate the police, &c. The manufacture of fancy work-boxes, wooden snuff-boxes, and also of linen, form the chief employments of the inhabitants. In the town are branches of the Aberdeen and County bank, the North of Scotland bank, and the Montrose savings-bank; also a farmers' club, and a horticultural society. A sheriff's small-debt court is held here on the first Mondays in February, June, and October. Market day is Monday. Fairs are held on the third Wednesday in January (old style), the last Tuesday in April, 26th May, Thursday after third Tuesday of July (old style), Thursday after second Tuesday of August (old style), Monday before the last Wednesday of September, first Thursday in November, and 22nd November."

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