PARISH OF FERRY-PORT-ON-CRAIG.
This PARISH, containing the large village of its own name, is situated in the extreme north-east of the County. It is bounded by the German Ocean on the east, by the parishes of Leuchars and Forgan on the south, by Forgan on the west, and by the Firth of Tay on the north. Its length south-eastward is about four miles, and its breadth from half a mile to a mile and a half, its narrowest part being at the middle, to the south-east of the town of Ferry-Port-on-Craig. The north-western district is comparatively high and rocky, forming the termination of the most northerly spur of the Ochils, which here sinks into the Tent's Muir, a low tract of level ground only about fifteen feet above high water mark, and which stretches from the terminus of the Ochils, in the parishes of Leuchars and Ferry-Port-on-Craig, to the German Ocean. All along the low ground the soil is light and sandy, or with light loam on a sandy bottom, which in seasons not too dry, yields good crops of oats and barley. At the south-western extremity there is an extensive range of links, which affords pasturage chiefly for sheep, and are besides stocked with rabbits, the annual rent of the warren amounting to a considerable sum. In the north-western district the soil is a black loam on a whinstone bottom, and produces excellent crops of all kinds. There is an extensive salmon fishery along the whole extent of the shore of the Parish, which is in the hands of the proprietor, and still yields a handsome revenue, though not equal to what it was in the palmy days of the salmon fishery. The Dundee fork of the E. P. & D. Railway crosses the Parish, and has its ferry station at the town. The turnpike roads from Newport and St Michaels to Ferry-Port-on-Craig, also traverse the Parish.
The whole of the Parish is comprised in the estate of Scotscraig ; and the mansion of the proprietor, a large and substantial edifice built in 1807, stands amidst pleasant enclosures near the north-west border. At an early period this estate belonged to the Bishops of St Andrews, by one of whom it was feued, during the reign of Alexander II., to Sir Michael Scott, of Balwearie, father of the famous Sir Michael Scott; and it was through that family that the estate received the appellation of Scotscraig. After that period, it several times changed owners, until, during the reign of Charles II., it became the property of Archbishop Sharp, from whose successors it was purchased by Mr Alexander Colville, the representative of the Lords Colville of Culross. From this family the estate was purchased by the Rev. Robert Dalgleish, D.D., who was minister and proprietor of the whole Parish. The present proprietor is Captain W. M. H. Dougal.
The town of Ferry-Port-on-Craig, known also as Tayport, the appellation applied to it by the Directors of the E. P. & D. Railway, stands close to the shore, three and three-fourth miles as the crow flies from Dundee, five north of Leuchars, nearly three east from Newport, and forty-four by Railway north north-east of Edinburgh. With a small exception all the inhabitants of the Parish reside in the town, the exception being those connected with the mansion-house, and the few farms and labourers' cottages in the country parts. The town or village may be said to consist of two parts-the village of Ferry-Port-on-Craig, proper, and the more modern suburb of the "Leys," which is chiefly inhabited by weavers and their families. The town, and even the suburb of the Leys, is divided into three streets, with occasional cross lanes. Many of the houses are substantial and of recent erection, a number of the inhabitants letting out a part of their premises to temporary visitors during the bathing season. The beach, both to the west and east of the village, being very suitable for bathing ground. The town has long been noted for its ferry, and its importance in that respect has greatly increased since the opening of the railway. Great harbour works have been constructed here, to render communication with Broughty Ferry and the north effective and convenient. A deep water basin has been excavated, two hundred yards long by seventy in breadth, with a depth of twenty-six feet of water at full spring tides, and six feet at the lowest tides; which, with suitable piers, affords every facility for the landing and embarkation of passengers. There is also a landing slip, similar to those at Burntisland, Granton, and Broughty Ferry, by which waggons filled with coals or goods, are run right into, or out of, the goods steamers without breaking bulk. This excellent contrivance was the invention of Mr Bouch, at one time engineer to the railway company. In 1860, there were shipped here, 30,000 tons of coal, brought by railway from collieries in the west of Fife, 8,662 quarters of grain, and 78 cargoes of potatoes, amounting to upwards of 5,000 tons. During the same year, 328 sailing vessels and 71 fishing boats entered the harbour; of these 41 were from foreign ports, with cargoes of timber, guano, and grain. There are two saw-mills in the town, one driven by steam and the other by water-power.
A number of the inhabitants are employed in weaving the coarser kinds of linen and Jute fabrics to Dundee manufacturers, while a number are connected with sea-faring pursuits, either as shipowners, shipmasters, or seamen. About fifty are engaged in the salmon fishery during the season, and a number in duties connected with the harbour or railway. There is also the usual sprinkling of tradesmen and shopkeepers, and a comparatively small number of ploughmen and rural labourers.
The Parish Church is a substantial edifice, repaired in 1825, and contains about 850 sittings. There is also a Free Church, a handsome U. P. Church, and a small Baptist Chapel. Besides the Parish School, which cannot be called a very suitable building, there is a Subscription School and a Female Industrial School.
The POST TOWN is Ferry-Port-on-Craig, Alexander Christie, Post Master.-Letters from Dundee and the north arrive about 6.30 A.M., and 3 P.M, and are despatched at 9 A.M., and 5.15 P.M. Letters from Edinburgh and the south arrive about 9 A.M., and 5.35 P.M., and are despatched at 6.15 A.M., and 2.45 P. M.
BAKERS,
Henderson, John, Castle Street
Maxwell, Alexander, Greenside Place
Wallace, William, Whitenhill
BLACKSMITHS.
Beat, Alexander, Bridge Street
Keay, William, Tay Street
Ogilvie, David, Ferry Toll
BANK.
CITY OF GLASGOW BANK, Castle Street. James White, Agent
BOOT & SHOEMAKERS.
Black, William, Castle Street
Keay, Robert, do
Meldrum, Henry, Queen Street
Simpson, James, Dalgliesh Street
BUILDERS.
Kidd, John, Castle Street
Kirk, Robert, Albert Street
CARRIER.
Black, Thomas, Rose Street, from Ferry-Port-on-Craig to Dundee, by Newport, every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
CARTERS & LAND LABOURERS.
Black, John, Tay Street
Black, Thomas, Rose Street
Beatt, William, Jun., Nelson Street
Dutch, James, & William, Bridge Lane
Haxton, Alexander, Dalgleish Street
Kidd, Robert, Nelson Street
Pattie, William, Cowgate
CHINA & EARTHEN WARE MERCHANTS.
Harris, Roderick, Whitenhill
Mitchell, James, Dalgleish Court
Scott, Sarah, Greenside Place
Taylor, David, Tay Street
White, Thomas, do
CLERGY.
Falconer, William P., Free Church, Free Church Manse
Muckersie, Walter, U. P. Church, U. P. Manse
Rose, David, Parish Church, Manse
--------, --------, Baptist Chapel
COAL MERCHANTS.
Brown, John, Tay Street
Hardie, Peter, Nelson Street
Haxton, Alexander, Dalgleish Street
Horsburgh, James, Craigroad
White, James, Castle Street
CORN MERCHANTS.
Milne, John, Castle Cottage
White, William, (& Chemical Manure Agent) Viewbank
DRAPERS.
Crocket, Susan, Castle Street
Martin, Mrs William, Dalgliesh Street
Smith, Mrs Robert, Castle Street
DRESSMAKERS.
Baldy, Miss, Castle Terrace
Campbell, Miss Mary, do
Dandie, Miss Isabella, Tay Street
Feathers, Misses A., & J., Dalgleish Street
Herd, Misses H., A C., Castle Street
High, Misses J., & R., Castle Road
Key, Miss Margaret, Castle Street
Wallace, Miss Jessie, Dalgleish Street
Wemyss, Miss Agnes, Tay Street
FARMERS.
Brown, David, Channell
Christie, Peter, Mains, Scotscraig
Dougal, Captain W. H. Maitland, R. N., Home Farm, Scotscraig
Nicol, David, Garpet
FURNISHED LODGING-HOUSE KEEPERS.
Adamson, Thomas, West Lights
Barron, Misses, William Street
Bishop, Mrs Archibald, Queen Street
Black, Robert, West Lights
Black, Mrs Thomas, Rose Street
Brown, Mrs, Mercury Cottage
Caithness, Mrs, Wellcraig Cottage
Cathie, Mrs, Dalgleish Street
Chalmers, Mr James, Maringo Villa
Christie, Miss, Tay Street
Clark, Mrs William, Craigroad
Cook, Mrs John, Dalgleish Street
Duncan, Captain John, Albert Street
Dutch, Mrs, Inn Street
Hill, Mrs, Tay Street
Ireland, Mrs James, Castle Street
Kirk, Robert, Albert Street
Martin, Mrs William, Jun. , Dalgleish Street
Mather, Mrs James, Jun., West Common
Patrick, Mrs, West Lights
Pryde, Mrs James, Inn Street
Robertson, Mrs, William Street
Scott, Mrs Robert, Albert Street
Scott, Mrs Robert, Rose Street
Struthers, Mrs, West Lights
Young, Mrs David, William Street
Young, Mrs George, Craigroad
GARDENERS.
Melville, William, (Market) Gray Street re
Urquhart, John, Scotscraig House
GENTRY & PEOPLE OF INDEPENDENT MEANS.
Barron, Mrs James, Argyle House
Bell, James, Esq., Maryfield House
Berwick, The Misses, Daisy Cottage
Brewster, Mrs, Tay Cliff
Brown, Mr William, Grey Street
Cameron, Mrs Alexander, do
Christie, Miss Ann, Comely Bank
Donaldson, James, (of G. & J. Donaldson), Wood Merchant
Dougal, Captain W. H. Maitland, R. N., Scotscraig House
Gulland, Mr David, West Common
Gulland, Miss Agnes, do
Hamilton, Mrs John, Queen Street
Herriot, Mrs, Tay Cliff
Ireland, Mrs William, William Street
Mills, David, Esq., Mount Pleasant
Mills, James, Esq., The Cottage
Simpson, Mrs Robert, William Street
GROCERS.
These marked thus * are also Spirit Dealers.
* Cook, John, Castle Street,
Cook, Mrs, Tay Street
Culross, Margaret, Castle Street
Dutch, Mrs, (& Coffee House) Inn Street
Hardie, Robert, Ogilvie Street
Harris, Roderick, Whitenhill
Henderson, Andrew, Henderson Street
Henderson, Andrew, Nelson Street
*Jack, John, Castle Street
Johnson, John, Tay Street
Keay, David, Dalgleish Street
Kiddie, John, Mason Lane
*Laing, James, (& Ironmonger & Sub-Distributor of Stamps) Broad Street
Mather, Mrs Alexander, Castle Street
Mitchell, James, Dalgleish Street
Nicol, John, School Wynd
Scott, Mrs Robert, Rose Street
Scott, Sarah, Greenside Place
Taylor, David, Dalgleish Street
Thomson, Mrs, Castle Street
White, And., (& Ironmonger),Castle Street
White, Thomas, Tay Street
INSURANCE AGENTS
Laing, Jas., Merchant, Scottish National
White, James, Banker, Norfolk Farmers' Cattle, and Scottish Union
JOINERS & WRIGHTS.
Berry, Charles, Castle Street
Cunningham, James, Dalgleish Street
Cunningham, D., & S., do
Dutch, John, Ogilvie Street
Keay, David, Dalgleish Street
Melville, Win., (& Glazier) Grey Street
Welch, William, Mill Lane
MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS.
Laing, George, William Street
Low, Andrew, Castle Terrace
PILOTS.
Henderson, David, Inn Street
McIntosh, James, Cowgate
SHIPPING AGENTS.
Key, Thomas, Dalgleish Street
Pryde, Robert D., (& Coal & General Merchant) Woodbank House
SHIPMASTERS & OWNERS.
Adamson, David, (E. P. & D. Railway Steamer) Tay Street
Aitken, John, Castle Terrace
Baird, George, Dalgleish Street
Barron, James, William Street
Bishop, David, Craigroad
Bishop, Fleming, William Street
Black, James, Rose Street
Clark, William, Craigroad
Cook, Thomas, Albert Street
Coss, John, Castle Street
Davidson, William, do
Duncan, James, Dalgleish Street
Duncan, John, Albert Street
Gorrie, Thomas, Castle Street
Greig, Andrew, Dalgleish Street
Gregory, James, Castle Terrace
Gregory, J. B., Castle Street
Herd, George, do
Higgie, Alexander, do
Husband, John, Dalgleish Street
Husband, Robert, William Street
Ireland, William, do
Jervis, John, Albert Street
Keay, George, Castle Road
Keddy, Alexander, do
Key, Thomas, Dalgleish Street
Kilgour, James, William Street
Mather, James, Jun., Albert Street
Melville, James, Castle Road
Methven, John, (E. P. & D. Railway Steamer) Tay Street
Pattie, William. Whitenhill
Pryde, David, Tay Street
Rogers, Alexander, Castle Street
Simpson, David, William Street
Smith, David, Keay Street
White, Alexander, William Street
White, George, Albert Street
White, George, Dalgleish Court
White, John, do
White, Thomas, Tay Street
SHIP CHANDLERS.
Laing, James, Broad Street
White, John D., do
White, Thomas, Tay Street
SAW-MILLERS & WOOD MERCHANTS
Donaldson, G. & J., (& Importers) Green side Place
Welch, William, Mill Lane
SOCIETIES & CLUBS.
Ferry-Port-on-Craig Benefit and Deposit Society, William Simpson, Sec., Robert Livingston, Treas.
Ferry-Port-on-Craig Building and Investment Society, James White, Banker, Sec., City of Glasgow Banking Co., Bankers
Scotscraig Curling Club, James Kilgour, President, Charles Rattray, Sec.
TAILORS.
Brown, Charles, Newport Road
Carmichael, A., (& Clothier) Broad Street
Higgie, James, Castle Street
Hogg, John, do
Mitchell, George, Dalgleish Street
TEACHERS & SCHOOLS.
Bisset, Miss, Music and Female Industrial School, William Street
Chalmers, James, Subscription School, Maringo Villa
Scott, Robert, Parish School, (& Registrar) Albert Street
VINTNERS.
Coss, Mrs, Inn Street
Keay, John, Dalgleish Street
Smith, John S., (Hotel License) Inn Street
Smith, Mrs John, Whitenhill
WEAVERS' AGENTS.
Berry, David, Jun., Henderson Street
Simpson, William, Ogilvie Street
MISCELLANEOUS.
Black, John, Flesher, Tay Street
Bruce, James, Painter & Paper-Hanger, Castle Street
Christie, Alexander, Inspector of Poor and Collector of Poors' Rates, Post Office, Castle Street
Dickie, William, Ship Carpenter, William Street
Greig, J., Light-House Keeper, East Lights
Haxton, Alexander, Railway Agent, Tayport Station
Henderson, William, Manager, Scotscraig Salmon Fishery, Henderson Street
Hill, John, Principal Coast Officer and Landing Waiter, William Street
Ireland, John, Sec. to Gas Light Co., Castle Street
Jack, r., Harbour-Master, Tay Street
McManus, Patrick, Licensed Hawker, Greenside Place
Menzies, J., Goods Manager, E. P. & D. Railway, William Street
Rattray, Chas., Factor, Scotscraig Estate, William Street
Rodger, D, Corn Miller, Garpet
Simpson, Robt., Marine Architect, William Street
Simpson, Thomas, Slater, Craigroad
Simpson, W., Parish Sexton, Ogilvie Street
FERRY-PORT-ON-CRAIG.
In the introduction to this Parish, substitute the following for the last sentence of the second paragraph: - From this family the estate was purchased, about the year 1720, for Captain Alexander Dalgleish, then in India; who, along with other English gentlemen, was massacred at Judda, when on his way home. He was succeeded in the estate by his next brother, William, minister of Carnbee, whose son James, Sheriff of the County, was the next proprietor ; and who, dying unmarried, was succeeded by his brother, Robert Dalgleish, D.D. This gentleman held the very unusual position of minister and sole heritor of his Parish, and also of a considerable portion of the adjoining parish of Forgan. As a proof of the great increase in the value of land in Scotland since 1720, it may be stated that Scotscraig was then purchased, for £5000.
For Haxton, Alexander, Railway Agent, read J. Menzies.
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