AIRTH, a parish, in the county of Stirling, 65
miles (N.) from Falkirk; containing, with the villages
of Airth and Dunmore, 1493 inhabitants, of whom 561
are in the village of Airth. The Gaelic term ard or
ardhe, signifying "a hill", is supposed to have given the
name to this place, the eminence called the Hill of Airth
being a conspicuous figure, and forming a striking contrast
to the level district by which it is surrounded.
The parish is situated on the shore of the Forth, which
is its boundary on the north and east for about eight
miles and a half; and contains the three small landingplaces
or harbours of Newmiln, Airth, and Dunmore.
Its length, from north to south, is six miles and a half,
and its breadth three and a half; comprising 16,400
acres of land, mostly in tillage. The small river Pow
is the only water besides the Forth; it rises in the
parish of St. Ninian's, and after being crossed by several
stone bridges, falls into the latter river near Kincardine
ferry. The prevailing soil consists of alluvial deposits
from the Forth; and the layers of shells at a small
depth from the surface, on the lower grounds, afford
plain evidence that this portion of the parish formed
originally a part of the bed of the river. Most kinds of
grain and green crops are raised, averaging £100,000 in
annual value; and the general husbandry, which has
been for some time advancing, is considered equal to
that of the best cultivated districts. The rocks comprise
distinct varieties of sandstone, differing in colour,
texture, and extent; and there are several quarries.
Argillaceous rock of the fire-proof species also exists
here, on which rest beds of coal, belonging with their
appropriate strata to the great coalfield of Scotland, but
which are not at present worked, the pits formerly ia
operation, near the village of Dunmore, having been
closed since 1811 on account of their exhausted state.
The annual value of real property in the parish is £12,4'20.
The plantations are chiefly in the vicinity of the beautiful
Hill of Airth, and Dunmore Park, the most prominent
and striking portions of the parish. On the hill is
situated Airth Castle, a very ancient building, with a
new Gothic front, surmounted in the centre by a tower,
the whole forming a picturesque object from every part
of the surrounding country. In Dunmore Park is the
mansion of the Earl of Dunmore, in the Elizabethan
style, built about twenty-five years since, and standing
upon an extensive lawn richly diversified with trees, and
encompassed with grounds thickly planted, like those of
the Castle, with larch, Scotch fir, birch, oak, and beech.
About 185 acres of land, recovered from the sea, have
been added to the Airth estate, and 150 acres to the
estate of Dunmore, within the last fifty or sixty years:
the land is secured by embankments of soil and turf^
defended by stone facings. Considerable tracts of moss,
also, are annually recovered by the employment of what
are called " moss lairds", who by hard labour are gradually
reducing the large extent of moss, amounting to
between 300 and 400 acres, receiving for their work £24
per acre.
The parish is traversed by the Glasgow turnpikeroad,
and there is constant communication with Edinburgh,
by means of steam-boats plying on the Forth,
throughout the whole year. Over the small river Pow,
up which the tide flows for above a mile, is the Abbeytown
bridge, situated on the road from Airth and Dunmore
to Carron and Falkirk: it received this name
from a town, as is supposed, to which it led in a direct
line, and near which was an ancient abbey. There are
two old ferries, called Kersie and Higgin's Neuek, the
latter about a mile across, and the former half that distance.
The small harbours of Airth, Dunmore, and
Newmiln are within the jurisdiction of the custom-house
of Alloa, and there are four registered vessels belonging
to the parish. An annual fair is held on the last Tuesday
in July, chiefly for the hiring of servants as shearers.
Ecclesiastically the parish is in the presbytery of Stirling,
synod of Perth and Stirling, and in the patronage of the
family of Graham of Airth; the minister's stipend is
£281. 12., with a manse, and a glebe of ten acres (including
the site of the manse and garden) valued at £27
per annum. The church, which is conveniently situated,
was built in 1820, and is capable of accommodating 800
persons. There is a place of worship for the United
Presbyterian Synod. The parochial school affords instruction
in Latin, book-keeping, and the usual elementary
branches; the master has a salary of £34, and £40
fees. A school attached to the United Presbyterian
place of worship is supported by subscription; and near
the north-west extremity of the parish is a school, built
and maintained by the Countess of Dunmore. A deadfund
society was established in 1821, and the poor
enjoy the benefit of several considerable bequests. The
family of Murray, Earls of Dunmore, derive their title
from their ancient seat of Dunmore, in the parish.
See Dunmore.