THE PARISH OF BALMERINO, popularly termed Balmirnie, is in the north of the County. It is bounded by the Firth of Tay on the north, by the parish of Forgan on the east, by Kilmany on the south, and by Creich and Flisk on the west, Its medium length from east to west is about three and a half miles, and its greatest breadth about two and a quarter miles. Two hilly ridges, spurs of the Ochils, traverse it from east to west, the highest point being Coultra Hill, exceeding 500 feet in height, and wooded to the top. Along the Tay the shore is bold and rocky. There are four villages in the parish, viz., Gauldry in the south-east, Coultra tow girds the west, Balmerino on the coast, and Kirkton a little inland. Balmerino is a nice little village, and a creek of the port of Dundee, with which it communicates by packet once a week. There are several stations for salmon fishing on the Tay, but the quantity caught is now much less than formerly. The parishioners are either engaged in the weaving of the coarser descriptions of linen goods, salmon fishing during the season, or in agricultural pursuits. The greater part of the land is in a high state of cultivation.
The lands of Balmerino were bought by Queen Emergarde, mother of Alexander II., in the thirteenth century, who founded an Abbey at Balmerino, and dying in 1233, was buried before the high altar. After the Reformation the lands belonging to the Abbey were erected into a temporal lordship, in favour of Sir James Elphinston, in whose family they continued until the forfeiture and execution of his descendant, Arthur, the 6th lord Balmerino, in 1746. The remains of the Abbey are now of trifling extent. An arcade of pointed arches supported on short thick pillars, and two vaulted apartments still remain, but the Chapel has entirely disappeared. A little to the east of the Abbey are the ruins of the ancient Castle of Naughton, surmounting an isolated mass of rock. There is a battle-field in the neighbourhood of Naughton, called Battle Law, where the Danes in their flight from the battle of Luncarty, made a vigorous stand against the Scots and Picts, under Kenneth III., but were again put to flight with severe loss, and compelled to take refuge in their ships at the mouth of the Tay. The Parish Church is at Bottomcraig, and was built in 1511. The Free Church has a Station at Gauldry, the Minister of Logie preaching there every Sabbath afternoon. The Parish School is at Gauldry, and there is a Female School at Kirkton, in connection with the Established Church.
There is no Post-Office in the Parish. A walking postman starts from Coultra every lawful (lay at six o'clock morning, for Newport Post-Office, calling on his way at Balmerino, Kirkton, Bottomcraig, Naughton, and Gauldry, where he collects letters, &.c. He leaves Newport about mid-day, and delivers in the afternoon along the same route.
BLACKSMITHS.
Mitchell, David, Byres, Balmerino
Mitchell, Thomas, Gauldry
Murdoch, David,
Veitch, Robert, Balmerino
Richardson, Helen, Kirkton
BOOT & SHOEMAKERS.
Foulis, John, Gauldry
Foulis, James, do
Graham, Ales., Byres, Balmerino
Johnstone, David, Gauldry
CARRIERS.
Scott, William, Gauldry, to Cupar, Tuesday and Saturday. To Dundee on Friday
Scott, George, Gauldry, to Dundee, on Friday
CARTERS.
Scott, George, Gauldry
Scott, William,
DRESSMAKERS.
Duncan, Agnes, Gauldry
Foulis, Janet,
McKean, Miss, Bottomcraig
Paterson, Miss A., Fincraigs
Richardson, Helen, Kirkton
Williamson, Mrs George, Gauldry
FARMERS.
Arthur, Robert, Grange
Gardner, Gilbert, Coultra
Henderson, John, Gauldry
Henderson, George, Coultra
Johnstone, George, Fincraigs
McKenzie, Mrs., Naughton
Melville, Alex., Killburns
Reid David, Peasehills
Simson, John, Balmerino
Taylor, Mrs James, Bottomcraig, Birkhill
Thomson, Arthur, Ballemlean
Wedderburn, F. L. S., Esq., Home Farm,
GENTRY & PEOPLE OF INDEPENDENT MEANS.
Mollison, Francis, Esq., Naughton House
Wedderburn, F. L. S., Esq., Birkhill
GROCERS.
Boyter, William, Kirkton
Henderson, James, Gauldry
Saunders, Mrs James, do
Scott, Mrs George, Kirkton
Smith, Mrs John, Gauldry
Terras, Mrs James, Kirkton
Williamson, Isabel, Gauldry
JOINERS & WRIGHTS.
Those marked thus * are also Cabinet Makers.
Malcolm, William, Gauldry
McTavish, Duncan, do
*Williamson, Alex., do
SALMON FISHERS.
Johnstone, George, Norham
Melville, Alexander, Killburns
Taylor, Mrs James, Bottomcraig
TAILORS.
Scott, Walter, Gauldry
TEACHERS & SCHOOLS.
Ballingall, Wm., Parish School, Gauldry
Stewart, Margaret, Parochial Female School, Kirkton
VINTNERS.
Kerr, David, Balmerino
Williamson, Alex., Gauldry
WEAVERS' AGENTS.
Buist, James, Gauldry
Scott, William, do
MISCELLANEOUS.
Ballingall, William, Inspector of Poor, Registrar, &c.
Brabner, James, Surgeon, Gauldry
Campbell, Rev. James, Bottomcraig, Minister of Parish
Dorward, Captain Peter, M. S., Kirkton
Keddie, James, Corn Miller, Balmerino
Neil, David, Road Contractor, Corbiehill
Taylor, James, Manufacturer, (Linen and Sacking) Coultra
ADD
Findlay, William, Farmer, Little Inch
Curling Club, John Henderson, Gauldry, Sec.
DELETE
Malcolm, William, Joiner & Wright Balmerin
ERRATUM.
For Keddie, James, Corn Miller, Balmerino, read Thomas Keddie