PARISH OF COLLESSIE.

THIS PARISH is in the north-west of the County, and contains the villages of Collessie, Giffordtown, Edenstown, Monkstown, and Ladybank, but the two latter are so contiguous as to form only one village. Ladybank, which is the largest village in the Parish, chiefly owes its growth and importance to its being at the junction of the two forks of the E. P. & D. Railway, and of the Fife and Kinross Railway. The Parish is bounded on the north by Abdie, on the east by Monimail and Cupar, on the south by Kettle and Cults, and on the west by Auchtermuchty. Its western boundary is near the town of Auchtermuchty. Its greatest length south-westward is eight miles, and its greatest breadth five miles. Its southern division is very flat, various in soil, and entirely free from stones, great or small. The northern and north-western divisions slope up to a spur of the Ochils, and, having a fine southern exposure, and a good deep soil upon a whinstone bottom, are in a high state of cultivation, and very fertile. The central and south-eastern divisions are in general light and sandy, and to some extent covered with fir plantations, having been found unsuitable for cultivation. About 120 years ago, Rossie Loch, a sheet of water covering upwards of 300 acres, was drained, and its bed now forms excellent meadow land and pasture. The Eden runs for about three miles along the southern boundary. At that place and farther on in its course it gives its name to the Strath which forms its bason, and glides noiselessly along through "the Howe of Fife." Formerly its course was very winding, and in spring and autumn used to overflow its banks and work much damage; but about 1787 it was deepened and directed into a straight course, so as to do no injury to the adjacent property. Excellent whinstone is found in the Parish, and marl, both shell and clay, is abundant. The chief mansion-houses are Rankeillour Makgill, Pitlair, Kinloch, and Rossie. The road from Cupar to Kinross traverses the Parish westward, and the Perth fork of the E. P. &. D. Railway runs through it north-westward, with stations at Ladybank and Collessie.

The village of Collessie is situated about six miles west from Cupar, three east from Auchtermuchty, and about two hundred yards to the north of the road which leads to these two places. It is a confused collection of thatched houses, and is a place of small importance. The Parish Church, which is built on a height at the east end of the village, is a fine modern building, surmounted by a Spire; there is also a Free Church at Giffordtown. The Parish School, which is at Trafalgar, a short distance from Collessie village, was erected in 1847, and is a commodious and suitable building. There is another School in connection with the Established Church, at Ladybank, and there is a Free Church School at Giffordtown. A Female Industrial Department is connected with each school.

The country population is mostly engaged in labours connected with agriculture, and the villagers, who are chiefly weavers, are supplied with work by the linen manufacturers of Newburgh, Kettle, Freuchie, and Auchtermuchty. In addition to the usual sprinkling of tradesmen, a number at Ladybank are employed in duties connected with the railways.

The POST TOWN is Ladybank, James Crombie, Post Master, with a Sub-Office at Collessie, James Dalgleish, Sub-Post Master.- A walking postman leaves the Post Office about 8.45 A.M., and delivers letters along the route by Giffordtown to Collessie; he leaves that village on his return at 2.10 P.M., and arrives at Ladybank in time for the afternoon despatch to the south at 3.15 P.M.

BOOT & SHOEMAKERS.

Birrell, David, Collessie

Lumsden, Walter, Ladybank

Miller, James, Collessie

CARTERS.

Christie, Angus, Monkstown, by Ladybank

Douglas, John, Ladybank

Miller, William, Collessie

CLERGY.

Anderson, J. A., Free Church, Giffordtown

Williamson, It., Parish Church, Collessie

DRESSMAKERS.

Birrell, Miss Catherine, Collessie

Burns, Misses, Jeaniestown, by Pitlessie

Dall, Janet, Ladybank

Muckersie, Miss Ann, do

Smith, Mrs David, Collessie

Thomson, Miss J., & H., by Ladybank

FARMERS.

Auchterlonie, William, Jeaniestown, Pitlessie

Bett, James, Shiels, by Ladybank

Buttercase, Robert, Daftmill

Dudgeon,-----, Kinloch, by Collessie

Forrester, John, Brucefield, by Ladybank

Gentle, Charles, Kilwhiss

Graham, R., Lumquhat, by Auchtermuchty

Hart, Mrs, Peterhead, by Springfield

Honeyman, Thomas, Lumquhat Mill, by Auchtermuchty

Honeyman, T., Wester Hallo Mill, by Pitlessie

Horn, Wm., Drumtenant, by Ladybank

Kinnear, Charles, Esq., Home Farm, Kinloch, by Collessie

Mackie, George, Heatherinch, Ladybank

Maitland, Captain J., Rossie, by Auchtermuchty

Martin, Robert, Drumlie

McCash, Andrew, Meadow Wells

Paterson, Wm., Charleston, by Ladybank

Pearson, Peter, Hallhill, by Collessie

Ramage, Mrs, Ann's Muir, by Ladybank

Scott, George, Innerleith

Scott, William, Dubs, by Dunshalt

Smith, Andrew, Collessie Mill

Storrar, Richard, Wester Rossie, by Auchtermuchty

Thomson, James, Coldwells, by Collessie

Wallace, Mrs, Newton of do

Wallace, Thos., Kidd's Cottage, by do

Wallace, Thomas, Weddersbie, by do

Webster, John, Bowhouse, by Dunshalt

Wemyss, J., Easter Ballo Mill, by Pitlessie

Williamson, R., & Son, Lizzie's Wells, by Collessie

Wise, Thomas, Innerleith, by Ladybank

GARDENERS.

Anderson, James, Rossie House, by Collessie

Furmage, J., Kinloch House, by do

Honeyman, James, (Jobbing) Collessie

Honeyman, Wm., (Jobbing) do

GENTRY & PEOPLE OF INDEPENDENT MEANS.

Arnott, Mrs M. R., Lochiehead, by Collessie ,

Henderson, J., Giffordtown, by Ladybank

Maitland, Captain J., Rossie, by Auchmuchty

Kinnear, C., Esq., Kinloch, by Collessie

Walker, Misses, Pitlair, by Ladybank

Wallace, Mrs, Newton of Collessie

Wilkie, James, Rossie Den Cottage

GROCERS.

Durie, William, Collessie

Forrester, John, Ladybank

Henderson, John, Giffordtown, by Ladybank

Henderson, Mrs, Collessie

Johnston, John, Ladybank

Reidie, Henry, do

JOINERS & WRIGHTS.

Durie, Thomas, Collessie

Pentland, John, Trafalgar, Collessie

LAND LABOURERS.

Balfour, William, Ladybank

Duncan, George, Monkstown, by Ladybank

Garland, Walter, Giffordtown, by do

Moyes, John, Ladybank

Muckersie, D, Monkstown, by Ladybank

Petrie, William, Monkstown, by do

MASONS.

Aitken, John, Edenstown, by Ladybank

Henderson, W., do by do

Scott, A., & A., Innerleith, by do

Scott, James, do b do

Stewart, David, Windmill, by Collessie

RAILWAY AGENTS.

Iliff, Alexander, Collessie

Innes, David, Ladybank

SAWMILLERS & WOOD MERCHANTS.

Brown, Thomas, Peterhead, by Springfield

Paterson, Wm., Giffordtown, by Ladybank

Robertson, George L., Ladybank

TEACHERS & SCHOOLS.

Leslie, A., Madras School, Ladybank

Leslie, Miss, Female Industrial Department, Madras School, Ladybank

Officer, George, Collessie Free Church School, Giffordtown, by Ladybank

Somers, Robert, Parish School, Collessie

VINTNERS.

Dickson, James, Ladybank

Durie, Henry, Trafalgar, by Collessie

Elder, Mrs, Railway Refreshment Rooms, Ladybank

MISCELLANEOUS.

Buttercase, R., Corn Miller, Daftmill

Drysdale, J., Blacksmith, Trafalgar, Collessie

Henderson, Wm., Inspector of Poor, Edenstown

Leitch, David, Tailor, Collessie

Moyes, A., Coal Agent, Collessie

Scott, James, Millwright, Giffordtown, by Ladybank

Simpson, C., China Merchant, Ladybank

ADD

Tod, William, Farmer, Lawfield.

DELETE

Thomson, James, Farmer, Coldwells,

Wilkie, Mr James, Rossie Den Cottage.