ARDERSIER, a parish, in the county of Inverness;
containing, with the village of Campbelton proper,
and the garrison of Fort-George, 14*5 inhabitants, of
whom 716 reside in the village. This parish, called in
ancient documents Ardrosser, is supposed to have derived
its name from a bold promontory towards the western
shore, which rises to a height of 200 feet above the
level of the sea. A considerable portion of the lands
belonged to the diocese of Ross, and in 1574 was granted,
with consent of the dean and chapter, to John Campbell
of Calder, ancestor of the present proprietor, Earl Cawdor,
who still pays to the crown an annual sum as
bishop's rent. The Knights Templars had also some
lands in the parish, over which they possessed a jurisdiction
of regality; and the last preceptor. Sir James
Sandilauds, obtained from Mary, Queen of Scots, the
erection of his estates into a temporal barony, and, in
1563, was created Lord Torphichen.
The PARISH, which is bounded on the north and west
by the Moray Firth, extends about four miles in length,
from north-west to south-east, and is two miles in
breadth, comprising 3250 acres, of which 1434 are
arable, about 500 in plantations, and the remainder,
meadow, pasture, and heath. The surface, with the
exception of the high grounds to the west and north, is
generally flat, and, towards the coast, low and sandy.
In some parts the soil is a deep black mould, in others
of lighter quality, and in some places a strong clay,
alternated with shallow sand. The usual crops of grain,
and large quantities of potatoes, are raised; the lands
have been partly inclosed, and the modern improvements
in husbandry are gradually taking place. The annual
value of real property in the parish is £ 1 540. A salmonfishery
on the coast is carried on to a moderate extent,
there being two stations, the rents of which together
amount to £60 per annum. Ecclesiastically Ardersier
is within the bounds of the presbytery of Nairn and
synod of Moray: the minister's stipend is £158. 6. *.,
part of which is paid from the exchequer; with a manse,
and a glebe valued at £25 per annum: patron. Earl
Cawdor. The church, situated in the eastern part of
the parish, was built in 1802, and is a neat structure,
containing 500 sittings. There are places of worship
for the United Presbyterian Synod and members of the
Free Church. The parochial school is well attended;
the master has a salary of £36. 7. if., with a house and
garden, and the fees average about £20 per annum.
On the heath near the borders of the adjoining parish
of Nairn, is an obelisk supposed to indicate the spot where
the Danes were repulsed; and at Achnuallan were the
t-emains of a Druidical circle, near which a horn filled
with silver coins was found in ISOO; but those remains
have been removed for building materials. At Dalyards,
the ruins of a building thought to have belonged to the
Knights Templars have disappeared in the progress of
agriculture; and on a hill behind Campbelton is a circular
mount 120 yards in diameter at the base, and
surrounded towards the summit by a rampart of clay
and earth: it was called (in the Gaelic) Cromal, now
corrupted into " Cromwell's mount", and has been partly
destroyed, like many other fortlets. A Roman sword;
the head of a spear; and some stone-axes supposed to
be of Danish origin, have been found in the parish.