DUNBLANE, Perthshire - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

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

"DUNBLANE, a parish and market town in the county of Perth, Scotland. It is bounded by the parishes of Kilmadock, Lecropt, Logie, Blackford, Muthil, and Comrie, and extends E. and W. 9 miles, with a breadth of about 6 miles. It includes the town of Dunblane and the villages of Greenloaning, Buttergask, Rottearn, Kinbuck, and Balhaddie. It is confined between the Ochil hills on the E., the Braes of Doune on the W., and the Grampians on the N., to which it owes the mildness, dryness, and general salubrity of its climate. The Allan flows for the most part in a southerly direction through the parish, and between the town of Dunblane and Bridge of Allan presents many features of great beauty. Sheep and cattle are pastured on the hills. Among the principal landed proprietors may be mentioned the Earl of Kinnoul, Sir James Campbell, Bart., Stirling of Kippendavie, and Stirling of Keir. The principal seats are Kilbride Castle, Kippendavie House, and Keir House. The battle of Sheriffmuir, to the N.E. of the town, was fought on the 13th of November, 1715. The road from Stirling to Crieff traverses the parish, and the Scottish Central railway has stations at Dunblane, Kinbuck, and Greenloaning. This parish is the seat of a presbytery in the synod of Perth and Stirling, and is in the patronage of the crown. The minister has a stipend of £275. The chancel of Dunblane cathedral serves as the parish church. Here is a Free church, also two United Presbyterian churches, and an Episcopalian chapel. The town of Dunblane stands on the road from Stirling to Crieff, 2 miles N. of Bridge of Allan, and 5 N. of Stirling. It is pleasantly situated close to the river Allan. The principal street runs parallel to the river, and ascends towards the cathedral, a venerable pile, rebuilt about 1240, and said to have been founded by David I. in 1142. It contains the graves of Lady Margaret Drummond, the mistress of James IV., and of her sisters Euphemia and Sibylla, who were poisoned in 1502. Dunblane is a burgh of barony in the barony of Cromlix, the superior of which is the Earl of Kinnoul. Here the sheriff substitute of the district of Western Perth resides, and holds his court every Wednesday during session. The Commissary Court is also held every Wednesday during session. The town has neither government nor property. The library, contained in a building near the cathedral, originally belonged to Robert Leighton, Bishop of Dunblane from 1662 to 1670, and afterwards Archbishop of Glasgow. Two miles N. of the town are saline mineral springs, similar to those at Bridge of Allan. A market is held every Thursday, and cattle fairs are held in March, May, August, and November."

"BUTTERGASK, a village in the parish of Dunblane, in the county of Perth, Scotland, 2 miles to the N. of Dunblane. It is seated on the river Allan, a branch of the Forth."

"GLASSINGALL, a village in the parish of Dunblane, county Perth, Scotland, 4 miles N.E. of Doune."

"GREENLOANING, a village in the parish of Dunblane, county Perth, Scotland, 5 miles S.S.W. of Muthil. It is a station on the Scottish Central railway. The village contains an United Presbyterian church. Fairs are held in February, April, July, September, and October."

"KINBRICK, a village in the parish of Dunblane, county Perth, Scotland, 2½ miles N.E. of the town of Dunblane. It is a railway station on the Scottish Central line."

"ROTTEARN, a village in the parish of Dunblane, county Perth, Scotland, 7 miles N.E. of Doune."

"SHERRIFFMUIR, a barren spot in the parish of Dunblane, county Perth, Scotland, 5 miles N.E. of Stirling, famous as the scene of a battle fought in 1715 between the Earl of Marr and the Duke of Argyll, and is the subject of one of Burns's songs. Fairs are held on the first Tuesday in May, and on the Saturday before Falkirk Tryst."

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

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