PARISH OF KILCONQUHAR.

THIS PARISH, containing the Royal Burgh of Earlsferry, and the villages of Colinsburgh, Kilconquhar, Barnyards, and Largoward, is in the south-east of the County. It extends in an oblong form for about seven and a half miles from north to south, and its breadth, which is nearly five miles at the broadest part, averages about two miles. It is bounded by the Firth of Forth and the parish of Elie on the south, by Abercrombie, Carnbee, and Cameron on the east, by Ceres and Cameron on the north, and by Largo and Newburn on the west. The general surface is highly diversified. Rising directly from the beach, at the southern end of the Parish, is Kincraig Hill, about 200 feet above the level of the sea, presenting at its southern front a rugged wall of trap-rock. From the summit of this hill the ground descends until it becomes nearly level, and then gently ascends to Reris and Kilbrackmont, where it is 600 feet above the level of the sea. North of this it descends into a deep ravine, and again rises for two miles, until it reaches its greatest elevation at Dunnicker Law, which is 750 feet above the sea. From thence it declines for upwards of a mile, and again ascends to Bruntshields, at the northern extremity of the Parish. The largest stream is Balneil Burn, which, though a mere brook, drives several corn and barley mills, and a saw-mill, and falls into Largo Bay at Ruddon's Point, on the boundary between Kilconquhar and Newburn. Kilconquhar Loch, lying to the south of the village of that name, is a fine sheet of water, about two miles in circumference. It is screened with wood on three sides, and has long been a favourite haunt of swans.

The soil throughout the Parish is very variable, but on the whole is very fertile. About 1000 acres are said to be under wood, and there is a considerable extent of land in the north of the Parish under pasture. There are several fine mansion-houses in the Parish, among which is Kilconquhar House, the seat of Sir John Trotter Bethune, Bart. Sir John is a lateral descendant of the noble family of Crawford, and represents the Lindsays of Pyatstone. His predecessor, Sir Henry Lindsay Bethune, was created a Baronet for distinguished services in Persia. Perhaps the most elegant mansion is Balcarres, which is situated a small distance to the north of Colinsburgh, and is the seat of Sir Coutts Lindsay, also a descendant of the Crawford family. The other mansions are, Lathallan, Charleton, Cairnie, and Falfield. The family of Gourlay have been proprietors of Kincraig for about six centuries, the first of the family having come from England in the reign of William the Lion. The Parish is traversed in all directions by good roads, and the Kilconquhar Station of the East of Fife Railway is near the south border, a little to the west of Kilconquhar.

The principal village in the Parish is Colinsburgh- on the north turnpike road leading from Anstruther to Largo- about six miles from the former, and four from the latter place. It was originally built by Colin, third Earl of Balcarres, who died in 1722, and is named after him. It contains a number of good houses and shops, and a small currying establishment. Kilconquhar and Barnyards are closely contiguous to each other, about a mile to the south of Colinsburgh: they are old villages, and are not of much importance. Earlsferry, which is a Royal Burgh, is on the sea-coast, close to the village of Elie. It is a decayed place, with only the importance of a village. The date of its erection into a Royal Burgh is a matter of dispute, as its earliest charter was destroyed by fire in Edinburgh. A new one was in consequence granted by James IV., in which it is narrated that the burgh of Earlsferry was "of all past memory of men erected into a Royal Burgh," &c. By this charter all its ancient privileges were renewed and confirmed. Its magistrates have the same powers with other magistrates of Royal Burghs, but it does not appear at any time to have exercised its power of sending a Commissioner to the Scottish Parliament. Williamsburgh and Liberty are sometimes called separate villages, but they are in reality only small and unimportant suburbs of Earlsferry, beyond the royalty. Largoward is a scattered village, about three miles to the north of Colinsburgh, and is inhabited chiefly by miners, who are employed at the Largoward and Cassingray collieries. The well-being of the Parish may be said to depend chiefly on agriculture; and the only other branches of industry carried on to any extent, is the colliery at Largoward, and the linen manufacture at Earlsferry, but the latter is now comparatively of little importance.

The Parish Church, which is at the village of Kilconquhar, is a handsome Gothic building, with a tower SO feet high. It was built in 1821, and contains upwards of 1000 sittings. There is also a U. P. Church at Colinsburgh, an Independent Chapel at Earlsferry, and a Quoad Sacra Parish Church at Largoward. There was formerly a U. P. Church at Barnyards, but it has been shut up for some years. The Schools are, the Parish School, which is at Kilconquhar, a Subscription School at Colinsburgh, and an Infant School, and a Subscription School at Earlsferry. There is a Bell's School and a Female Industrial School at Largoward, and a Seminary for Young Ladies, at Colinsburgh.

There are POST OFFICES at Colinsburgh and Kilconquhar for these villages and districts, Mrs Ronald, Post Mistress, Colinsburgh, and Alexander Wilkie, Post Master, Kilconquhar.- Letters arrive at Colinsburgh from Kilconquhar Station, via East of Fife Railway, about 9.20 A.M. and 6 P.M., and are despatched at 6 A.M. and 2.30 P.M. Letters reach Kilconquhar about 9 A.M. and 5.45 P.M., and are despatched at 6.20 A.M. and 2.50 P.M. Postal arrangements for Earlsferry and district are the same as Elie (which see), and for Largoward district same as for Lathones, -under Cameron (which see). There is one or two places in the neighbour-hood of Peat Inn, the Post Office for which is Cupar; and they are entered as such in the Directory.

BAKERS.

Braid, Wm, (& Confectioner) Colinsburgh

Dowie, William, Barnyards

Mackie, John, Kilconquhar

Morris, John, Earlsferry

BANK.

COMMERCIAL BANK OF SCOTLAND, Colinsburgh. John Wood, Agent'

BLACKSMITHS.

Edmonstone, A., Gateside, by Colinsburgh

Gourlay, Mrs, Colinsburgh (Andrew Swan Manager)

Greig, George, Kilconquhar

Izat, George, do

Ramsay, William, Charleton, by Colinsburgh

Simpson, John, Largoward

BOOT & SHOEMAKERS.

Bruce, Robert, Bankfoot, by Colinsburgh

Herd, James, Kilconquhar

Hutt, Alexander, Colinsburgh

Morris, James, Colinsburgh

Nicol, William, Kilconquhar

Niven, Andrew, Colinsburgh

Niven, John, Williamsburgh, by Elie

Thomson, James, Barnyards

Thomson, Thomas, Largoward

BUILDERS

Buist, Charles, Largoward

Lees, John, Barnyards Maitland, Robert, do

Oliphant, William, Colinsburgh

Pearson, Alexander, Barnyards

Sunter, David, Earlsferry

CARRIERS.

Brown, William, from Kilconquhar, by Largoward, to Cupar, every Thursday

Mackie, Alexander, from Kilconquhar to Largo, Leven, Kirkcaldy, &c., every Tuesday

CARTERS.

Bayne, Robert, Largoward

Davidson, David, Colinsburgh

Given, Peter, Williamsburgh, by Elie

Methven, Robert, Largoward

Motion, Archibald, Earlsferry

Pearson, John, do

Ritchie, Alexander, Colinsburgh

Straiton, Thomas, do

Wallace, John, Barnyards

Webster, William, Largoward

CHINA, STONEWARE, & RAG MERCHANTS.

Davidson, John, Barnyards

Pearson, Mrs Robert, Kilconquhar

Ramsay, W., Barnyards

Ritchie, Alexander, Colinsburgh

CLERGY.

------, -, Parish Church, Kilconquhar

Jackson, John C., U. P. Church, Colinsburgh

Millar, John, Quoad Sacra Parish Church, Largoward

COACHES.

Marshall, Mrs, from Kilconquhar Station, by Elie, to St Monance, Pittenweem, and Anstruther, on the arrival of the morning and afternoon trains

Smith, Thomas, from Kilconquhar Station, by Elie, to St Monance, Pittenweem, and Anstruther, on the arrival of the forenoon and evening trains

DRAPERS.

Gordon, Thomas, Colinsburgh

Melville, William, do

DRESSMAKERS & MILLINERS.

Brown, Miss Agnes, Largoward

Mackie, Miss, Barnyards

Malcolm, Miss Lindsay, Colinsburgh

Marr, Miss Agnes, do

Mathewson, Misses M., & M., do

Morris, Miss Jessie, do

Norrie, Miss Elizabeth, Kilconquhar

Somers, Miss Jean, Colinsburgh

Straiton, Miss Catherine, do

Urquhart, Miss Christian, Barnyards

FARMERS.

Anderson, Robert, Colinsburgh

Beveridge,. J., Kilbrackmont, by Colinsburgh

Bogie, William, Balneil, by do

Brown, David, Reris, by do

Brown, John, Broomlees, by Kilconquhar

Buist, Charles, Largo ward

Buist, Thomas, Kilconquhar Mill

Davidson, Andrew, Kilconquhar Mains

Elder, Andrew, Home Farm, Pitcorthie, by Colinsburgh

Ewan, Miss Elizabeth, Balcarres Mains, by Colinsburgh

Finlayson, Alexander, Grange, by Elie

Jack, John, South Falfield, by Largo

Laing, John, Cairn, by Colinsburgh

Lawson, Bernard, Lathallan Mill, by Colinsburgh

Lindsay, Sir Coutts, Home Farm, Balcarres, by Colinsburgh

Luke, John, St Fort, by Elie

Lumsdaine, Stamford R., Esq., Home Farm, Lathallan, by Colinsburgh

Mackie, Andrew, Barnyards,

Morgan, Mrs Margaret, Kilconquhar

Morrison, B. J. W., Esq., Home Farm, Falfield, by Cupar

Ramsay, William, Barnyards

Russell, Mrs Elizabeth, Kincraig, by Elie

Scott, George, Bowhill, by Largoward

Scott, James, do by do

Seath, James, Reris, by Colinsburgh

Swan, William, Kilconquhar

Thomson, John A., Esq., Home Farm, Charleton, by Colinsburgh

Thomson, John, Balcarres Ward, by Colinsburgh

Todd, Dr. John, Colinsburgh

Watson, William, Kilconquhar

Webster, James, East Loans, by Largoward

Williamson, J., Balbuthie, by Kilconquhar

Wilson, David, Kilconquhar

FISHCURERS.

Finnock, Forrester, & Co., Earlsferry

Meldrum, William, & Sons, Colinsburgh

Murray, John, Earlsferry

Sunter, David, do

GARDENERS.

A damson ,Robert, Balcarres, by Colinsburgh

Brown, John, Lathallan, by do

Christie, David, Kilconquhar House

Hunter, Thos., Charleton, by Colinsburgh

Reid, Donald, Cairnie, by do

GENTRY & PEOPLE OF INDEPENDENT MEANS.

Bayley, Mrs Catherine, Earlsferry

Bethune, Sir John, Bart., Kilconquhar House (occasionally resident)

Davidson, W., Esq., Cairnie, by Colinsburgh

Kid, Mr James, Mayfield, by do

Lindsay, Sir Coutts, Bart., Balcarres House, by Colinsburgh

Lumsdaine, Stamford R., Esq., Lathallan House, by Colinsburgh

Mathers, Mr David, Colinsburgh

Morrison, B. J. W., Falfield House, by Cupar

Nairn, Mrs, St Fort Cottage, Earlsferry

Randall, Captain, R. N., Manilla Cottage, Earlsferry

Thomson, J. A., Esq., Charleton, by Colinsburgh.

Trail, William, Esq., Colinsburgh

Wilkie, Thomas, do

GROCERS.

Those marked thus* are also Spirit Dealers.

*Anderson, Robert, Colinsburgh

Cuthbert, John, Kilconquhar

Dall, Andrew; Largoward

Dewar, Andrew, Kilconquhar

Dowie, William, Barnyards

Forrester, James, Earlsferry

Jervis, Isabella, do

Kier, Mrs, do

Laing, David, Kilconquhar

*Marshall, James, Earlsferry

*Methven, William, Kilconquhar

*Morton, Mrs Alice, Colinsburgh

*Murray, John, Earlsferry

Paton, John, Largoward

Pearson, Robert, Barnyards

Pryde, Mrs Margaret, Kilconquhar

* Ramsay, William, Barnyards

* Ronald, Thomas, Colinsburgh

Robertson, Mrs Helen, Kilconquhar

Steel, John. Colinsburgh

Smith, Agnes, Barnyards

Sunter, Alexander, Earlsferry

* Sunter, James, do

* White, Robert, Colinsburgh

Webster, David, Largoward

INSURANCE AGENTS.

Briggs, James, Auctioneer, Colinsburgh, City of Glasgow, life

Meldrum, Alexander, Cooper, Colinsburgh, Patriotic of Ireland

Ronald, Thomas, Merchant, Colinsburgh, Caledonian fire and life

Wood, George, Writer, Colinsburgh, North British, fire and life

Wood, J., Banker, Colinsburgh, Standard, life, and Insurance Co. of Scotland, fire

JOINERS & WRIGHTS.

Dewar, Thomas, Largoward

Lonie, Archibald, Colinsburgh

Mackie, John, Balchristie, by Colinsburgh

Mackie, Thomas, Colinsburgh

Niven, Andrew, Colinsburgh

Norrie, Robert, Kilconquhar

MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS.

Robertson, William, Earlsferry

Todd, John, (& Druggist) Colinsburgh

MILLERS.

Buist, Thomas, (Corn) Kilconquhar Mill

Lawson, Bernard, (Flour, Corn, & Barley) Lathallan Mill, by Colinsburgh

SADDLERS.

Fairnie, Thomas, Kilconquhar

Hay, Alexander, Colinsburgh

SLATERS.

Batchelor, Ninian, Kilconquhar

Honeyman, John, Colinsburgh

Robb, John, Kilconquhar

SOCIETIES & CLUBS.

Earlsferry Mortcloth & Hearse Society, John Bennet, Sec. & Treas.

Earlsferry and Elie Golf Club, R. Leitch, Sec.

Hercules Curling Club, William Melville, Colinsburgh, Sec..

Kilconquhar Curling Club, David Henderson, Sec

Kilconquhar Junior Curling Club, Peter Proudfoot, Sec.

Largoward Miners' Society, R. Berwick, Sec.

Largoward Subscription Library, Thomas Bonnar, Librarian

TAILORS.

Donaldson, David, Largoward

Gulland, Andrew, Colinsburgh

Pratt, Henry, Kilconquhar

Somers, George, Colinsburgh

Tulloch, Andrew, Earlsferry

Turpie, Alexander, Colinsburgh

TEACHERS & SCHOOLS.

Bell, Miss, Infant School, Earlsferry

Bonnar, Thomas, Bell's School, Largoward

Haxton, Misses, Seminary for Young Ladies, (Music and Modern Languages) Colinsburgh

Henderson, James, Subscription School, Colinsburgh

McCraw, Miss, Adventure School, Barnyards

Moir, J. W., Subscription School, Earlsferry

Petrie, Miss Elspit, Female Industrial School, Largoward

Proudfoot, P., (& Registrar) Parish School, Kilconquhar

VINTNERS.

Dull; David, Largoward

Given, Peter, Williamsburgh, by Elie

Maw, Robert, (Inn license) Colinsburgh

Muir, William, Kilconquhar

Nelson, Mrs, Colinsburgh

Pearson, Mrs Alexander, (Porter & Ales) Earlsferry

Pratt, Henry, Kilconquhar

Simpson, Andrew, Colinsburgh

WEAVERS' AGENTS.

Forrester, James, Earlsferry

Sunter, James, do

WRITERS & NOTARIES PUBLIC.

Waddell, James, Kilconquhar

Wood, George, Colinsburgh

MISCELLANEOUS.

Bonnar, Mrs, Milliner & Straw Bonnet Maker, Largoward

Briggs, James, Auctioneer, Inspector of Poor & Collector of Poors' Rates, and Manager of Colinsburgh Gas Works, Colinsburgh

Brown & Kidd, Coalmasters, Largoward

Duncan, Archibald, Veterinary Surgeon, Colinsburgh

Fraser, David, Flesher, Colinsburgh

Galloway, James, Currier & Leather Merchant, Colinsburgh

Gray, Philip, Plumber & Tinsmith, Colinsburgh

Jamieson, Allan, Esq., Factor for Elie Estate, St Ford House, by Elie

Lund, M., & M. A., Sub-Distributors of Stamps, Colinsburgh

Marr, Thos., Land Surveyor, Colinsburgh

Meldrum, William, & Sons, Coopers, and Imperial Bushel Makers, Colinsburgh

Niven, Thomas, Sheriff Officer, Barnyards

Reid & Co., Animal Grease & Manure Manufacturers, Kilconquhar Mills

Robertson, D., Clock & Watchmaker, Colinsburgh

Symington, A., Bookseller & Stationer, Colinsburgh

Thom, Hugh, Cork Screw & Vermin Trap Manufacturer, Colinsburgh

Thomson, James, House Painter & Paper-Hanger, Colinsburgh

Walker, T. S., Railway Agent, Kilconquhar Station

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