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KILRBNKT. 



KINCABDIKBBHIRE. 



iU 



KILREKNT. [Fifmbirb.] 



KILRUSH, county of Clkro, Iraluid, a Ma-port town and the seat of 

 a Poor-Law Union, it aituated at the head of a amall bay on the north 

 Bhora of the aatoaty of the Shannon, 26 milea S.W. from Ennis, 145 

 mUe* W.aW. from Dublin, in 62° 88' N. Ut, 9° 29' W. long. 

 The population in 18S1 waa 4471, besides 4790 inmates of the 

 workhouaea. Kilnuh Poor-Law Union oontains 27 electoral divisions, 

 with an area of 186,788 acres, and a population in 1851 of 61,247. 



Kilruah Harbour is the first above the mouth of the Shannon, and 

 the roadst e ad opposite it, sheltered by Soattery Island, is the first 

 secure anchorage from westerly gales. The pier, which projects in 

 tike direction of Hog Island from the entrance of the creek, has been 

 recantly extended, and affords shelter and accommodation to sailiug- 

 oraft and staamen. Kilrush is a market for the sale of the iu-sbore 

 and deep-aea fisheries of the Hilltown Miilbay fishing district. Largo 

 qoaatitiea of fish are shipped to Limerick. A considerable trade is 

 uao earned on with Limerick in turf, cut in the extensive bog which 

 oztatds northward from Kilrush to Dunbeg Bay. The town is much 

 reaorted to for the benefit of sea-bathing. It has a good weekly 

 market on Saturday, and annual fairs on May 10th and October 12th. 

 The town consists mainly of two wide streets running along two sides 

 of a large square, the centre of which is occupied by a handsome 

 maricet-house. There are a new church, a spacious Roman Catholic 

 chapel, a custom-house, a bridewell, police barracks, fever hospital, 

 workhouse, and several large corn-stores. The Methodists have a 

 chapel, and there are several schools. Quarter and petty sessions are 

 held in the town. The island of Scattery abounds in ancient eccle- 

 nastical remains, among which is a round tower 120 feet high. The 

 mansion and extensive demesne of C. M. Yandaleur, Esq., the pro- 

 prietor of Kilrush, are close to the town. Steamers ply reguhu-ly 

 between Kilrush and Limerick. Kilrush is one of the stations of the 

 Royal Western Yacht Club. 



KILSYTH. [Stiblinqshibe.] 



KILWINNING. [Atbshibb.] 



KILWORTH. [CoBK.] 



KlMIiOLTON. [HtNTINGDONSHIBE.] 



KINCARDINE. [Kincardineshike ; Pebthsbire.] 



KINCARDINESHIRE, sometimes called the Heams, a maritime 

 county in the east of Scotland, lying between 66° 46' and 57° 9' 

 N. Ut., 2° 3' and 2° 47' W. long., and bounded N. and N.W. by Aber- 

 deenshire, S. and S.W. by Forfarshire, and E. by the ocean. Its 

 greatest length along the sea-shore, from the Bay of Aberdeen on the 

 north to the mouth of the Esk on the soutb, is about 30 miles; and 

 it stretches inland 22 miles. Its area is 252,250 acres, or 304 square 

 milea. The population in 1841 was 33,076; in 1851 it was 84,598. 

 The county returns one member to the Imperial Parliament. 



Cocat-line. — The coast from the mouth of the North Eek to Bervie 

 is generally low ; all along it are rocks, mostly covered at high water. 

 Johnthaten, on this port of the coast, is a small fishing village in 

 Benholme parish, with a small harbour, to which belong a few sloops 

 engaged chiefly in importing coal and exporting grain. A mile south 

 of Bervie is the village of Gourdon, where is au excellent harbour, at 

 which large quantities of grain are annually shipped. There are 

 17 feet of water here at high tide, and a good quay, to which vessels 

 drawing 12 feet of water may come at low tide. Several fishing-boats 

 belong to Oourdon. From Bervie to Stonehaven the coast is formed 

 of a diain of cliffs, which rise from 150 to 300 feet out of the sea. 

 There is no beach except where there are occasional breaks in the 

 cliffs, forming little bays with a coarse gravelly shore. In Dunnottar 

 parish are some remarkable caves, and the clifis here are much 

 frequented by sea-fowL In this part of the coast are two small 

 fisluiig villagra, C'atterline and Crawtoum, at each of which are small 

 harbours. From Stonehaven northward the coast continues bold and 

 rocky, but the indentations in the rocks and occasional level shores 

 are more frequeut and extensive, and there are in this part of the 

 county many natural harbours. Skateraw, Portlethen, and the Cove 

 nu^ be mentioned as small harbours, chiefly for fiahing boats. 



Surface, Hydrography, and Oomtiutnication4. — The &ampian range, 

 the extremity of which forms the promontory of Qirdlencss in this 

 oonnty, occupies the western, central, and more northern parts of 

 Kincardineshire. To the south of the Qrampians the county descends 

 into what is locally termed the 'How or Hollow of the Meams,' which 

 is tlia eastern extremity of Strathmore. Strathmore commences at 

 StonebsTen in this county, and extends in a south-westerly direction 

 a distance of 80 miles. [Oreat BitiTaiM.I There are high grounds 

 •11 along the southern part of the coast, a little way inland, the more 

 important of which are the HUls of Garvock, Bruxy Hill, and 

 Langmuir Law. 



The principal rivers are the Dee on the north [Abebdeenbhibe] 

 and the North Esk on the sooth [Forfarshire]. The Bervie River 

 risss in the Gnunpiana, and after a winding course in a south-eastern 

 dirsotion Calls into the sea at Bervie. The rivers Cowie and Carron 

 both travam that part of Strathmore immediately north of the 

 district wst«red by the Bervie. The northern part of the county is 

 abundantly wateiwl by the tributaries of the North Esk. The nver 

 Aven is part of the north-western boundary of the county. The 

 Djt, formed by the numerous mountain streams of the Qrampians in 

 the north-west, joins the Aven a few miles before it falls into Uie Dee. 



In all these streama there are aalmon fisheries. The roads of the 

 county are numerous and kept in fair order. The Aberdeen railway 

 crosses the BUk near Marykirit, and traverses the county by Laurence- 

 kirk and Fordoun to Stonehaven, after which it follows the line of the 

 northern part of the coast. By the southern lines in connection with 

 this railway the county has direct communication with all parts of the 

 kingdom. 



Otology, liauralogy. — On the cosst the prevailing rock is gneiss. 

 Porphyry is ooossionally found, and quarries of it are worked in Dun- 

 nottar and Arbuthoot. Granite is found on the coast, and south of 

 Stonehaven there is a great deal of conglomerate. Sandstone is found 

 occasionally. In the northern part of the county granite prevails. 

 In the south specimens of red-freestone, quartz, felspar, granite, mica, 

 porphyry, wtiinstone, and limestone are to be found in every kind of 

 position and variety. Porcelain clay of fine quality is found on the 

 banks of k>me of the smaller streams in this port of the county. 

 Iron-ore has been found near the village of Dalboy. In the parish of 

 Laurencekirk and many other places there are quarries of limestone. 



Climate, Soil, Agriculture. — 'The prevailing winds arc the north and 

 north-east in winter, the south and south-east in spring, and south- 

 south-west and north-west in summer and autumn. The climate is 

 generally salubrious. 



Strathmore contains about 60,000 acres of comparatively low, 

 fertile, and generally well-cultivated land, comprising about 8000 

 acres of thriving plautationa Along the coast, from the North Esk 

 River to Stonehaven, the soil consists chiefly of a deep strong loam on 

 a clay bottom, and a large portion of this district is in a high state of 

 cultivation, the remainder being occupied with pasture, moor, and 

 woodland. A third arable district is comprised within the narrow 

 valley of the Dee. Cattle and sheep are extensively raised in Strath- 

 more and on the high lands in the north-west of the county. Of late 

 years the agriculture has been much improved, and there has in con- 

 sequence been a very considerable rise in the value of land. The 

 ordinary term of agricultural leases is 19 years. Farm buildings are 

 but indifferent, and there is a deficiency of inclosures throughout tho 

 county. 



Pivitiont, Towns, Ac. — The county is divided into 19 parishes. Tho 

 principal towns are Bervo! and Stonehaven. 



Stonehaven or Stonehyve Mariichall is the county-town and is 

 reputed a burgh of barony. It is conveniently situated near the 

 mouth and on both sides of the river Carron, about 16 miles S. &om 

 Aberdeen, in 56° 56' N. lat., 2° 12' W. long. The population in 1851 

 was 3240. Stonehaven has a small but convenient harbour. There is 

 little trade except that of importing coal. About 70 or 80 fishing 

 boats belong to the place. The town is well supplied with water and 

 is lighted with gas. The episcopal chapel, which is iu the form of a 

 Greek cross, is one of the oldest in Scotland. The Episcopalians have 

 recently erected handsome schools. There are two chapels of the 

 Free Church, and one chapel for United Presbyterians, which have 

 schools attached, besides which there is Donaldson's Free school. The 

 public buildings are the county cuurt-house, and the jail. At Stone- 

 haven is a station of the Aberdeen railway. The ]>lace is frequented 

 as a summer resort by sea-bathers. Jews-harps and tobaoco-pi{iea are 

 made here, and there are a fish-curing establishment, a brewery, and a 

 power-loom linen weaving factory. Hand-loom weaving is carried on. 

 The old market-cross bears the armorials of the Earls Marischall. 

 Near the town, in Fetcresso parish, is the tomb of Malcolm I. 



The following are the only villages which require to be noticed 

 besides those already mentioned on the coast ; the populations are 

 those of 1851 :— 



Kincardine, in the parish of Fordoun, was at one time the county- 

 town, and had its chapel, its cross and its ports or gates, but is now a 

 poor place having only a few houses. In the neighbourhood are 

 traces of the Castle of Kincardine, where Kenneth III. is said to have 

 been murdered, and where Baliol resigned the crown to Edward I. 

 Laurencekirk, population of the village, which is a burgh' of barony, 

 1611, is 30 miles S.W. from Aberdeen. Several fairs are held here in 

 the course of the year. In addition to linen fabrics it produces the 

 well-known snuff-boxes which bear its name. There are tho parochial 

 school and two Free schools, an episcopal chapel, three public libraries, 

 and several friendly societies. At Laurencelurk is a station of the 

 Aberdeen railway. 



Uatkry, Antiquitiet, <tc. — Kincardineshire has been the scene of 

 few events of national interest. The Romans were defeated in Strath- 

 more by Galgacus. David II. landed at Bervie. Tho duke of 

 Cumberland traversed and occupied this part of the country in 1745. 

 In nearly every part of the county are to be found cairns, memorial 

 stones, stone circles, and other vestiges of the aboriginal inhabitnuti 

 of our island. There are several traces also of Roman camps ; and 

 Roman coins and arms have been found. Of the antiquities of more 

 modem times there remain towers and castles of the barons and 

 landowners of the feudal age. Dunnottar Castle, in the parish of 

 Dunnottar, once a strong fortress, is almost surrounded by tho Ger- 

 man Ocean. In the reign of James IL it was used for some time by 

 the .Scottish Privy Council as a place of confinement for nonconfor- 

 mitts, IGO of whom were imprisoned at one time in a largo dungeon, 

 having a window opening to the sea over a high precipice. In this 

 dungeon many of them died and • tomb-stone iu the neighbouring 



