CAMPSIE, a parish, in the county of Stirling,
3^ miles (E.) from Strathblane; containing, with the
villages of Birdstone, Haugh-head, Lennoxtown, Milton,
Torrance, and the Clachan, 6402 inhabitants. This
parish, previously to the year 1649, was much larger
than at present; and on account of its isolated situation,
arising from its natural boundaries, it was distinguished
by many peculiarities and singular customs.
At the period named, its southern extremity was erected
into a new parish called Baldernock, and its eastern
extremity united to Kilsyth. It now extends in length
about seven miles, and six miles in breadth, comprising
an area of 17,000 acres, of which about 7550 are hills,
7550 arable, 500 wood and plantations, and the remainder
lakes, &c. The surface consists of two ranges of
hills, and the intermediate valley, running nearly from
east to west. The highest eminences are those forming
the northern boundary, called Campsie fells, rising at
their greatest elevation 1500 feet above the sea, and
intersected with numerous glens of exquisite beauty,
exhibiting a profusion of romantic scenery on their
rocky sides. In the glen called Kirktoun glen artificial
terraces have been cut, shrouded with ferns, lichens,
and all kinds of wild flowers; and numbers of persons
resort to it in fine weather, on account of its attractive
scenery, and to witness the variety and grandeur of the
prospect from the neighbouring heights. The southern
range, called the Brae, is a continuation of the braes of
Kilpatrick, and rises about 700 feet. The valley is
covered throughout with a succession of undulations,
reaching to the precipitous sides of the northern fells,
whence several burns pour down, three of which, uniting
their streams, form the river Glassert, which, after traversing
a considerable extent of ground in the parish,
falls into the Kelvin near Kirkintilloch.
Near the base of the fells, which are clothed to their
summit with rich verdant pasture, the soil is chiefly a
light clayey earth, and the subsoil till)', and exceedingly
tenacious; the hillocks and undulations in the strath
are frequently a light earth, resting on sand and gravel,
and in several places loamy. The southern brae is all
under tillage, with the exception of about 500 acres of
heath, and 250 of wood, and has a clayey soil on its
side towards the Kelvin, which is succeeded by lower
grounds of a sandy, gravelly, alluvial, and mossy character,
reaching to the neighbourhood of the river. On
account of the proximity of the parish to Glasgow, dairy
produce forms a leading object; other branches of husbandry,
however, share much attention, and all kinds of
grain, pulse, and green crops are raised, under the best
system of management, and of excellent quality. The
Ayrshire breed of cows, without any admixture, is kept
for the dairy; the cattle grazed on the hills are mostly
West Highlanders, and the sheep the black-faced breed.
The annual value of real property in the parish is
£18,140. The mineral contents of the district are extensive
and valuable, consisting of most of the varieties
of the trap rocks, and coal, with the layers of which
latter, beds of freestone, aluminous clay-slate, ironstone
of the argillaceous kind, and limestone, are found alternating.
About 35,000 tons of coal, and large quantities
of lime, are every year produced. Alum is obtained
from a schist found in the coal strata, and ironstone has
been partially wrought lately, and is abundant. The
plantations, comprising larch, Scotch fir, spruce, sycamore,
oak, and ash, have been much increased since the
close of the last century, especially in the vicinity of
Woodhead. In the same neighbourhood stands Lennox
Castle, on the acclivity of the south brae, 500 feet above
the level of the strath, and commanding extensive views.
This splendid mansion was finished in 1841, in the Norman
style; and nearly opposite is situated the mansion
of Craigbarnet, and a little eastward that of Balancleroch;
besides which, the parish contains those of Kincaid, Antermony,
Glorat House, and Auchinreocb.
The inhabitants are partly employed in weaving, and
in mills for cotton-printing, and bleachfields, the operations
of which have been greatly extended on account
of the large supply of coal and of water. At Lennoxmill,
employing 700 persons, every description of cotton
fabrics is printed, from the coarsest to the finest, and
about 250,000 pieces are every year finished, partly for
home use, and partly for exportation. The other establishments
are, Clachan bleachfield, commenced in 1819,
for preparing various kinds of muslins for exportation;
Kincaid, established in 1785, for bleaching aud printing
cottons; Lillyburn, commenced in 183 1, for the printing
of linen and calico shawls and handkerchiefs; and
Glenniill, begun in January 1S31, chiefly for bleaching
book-muslins. There are also works for the manufacture
of alum, copperas, prussiate of potash, Prussian
blue, &c. A turnpike-road from Strathblane to Kilsyth
passes through the parish from east to west, and another
crosses this, and runs over the fells, from Glasgow
to Fintry and Kippen; the Glasgow road, also, to Stirling,
by Kilsyth, passes the south-east corner, and the
Forth and Clyde canal on the southern extremity.
Great facility of intercourse is afforded by the Campsie
branch of the Edinburgh and Glasgow railway.
Ecclesiastically the parish is in the presbytery of
Glasgow, synod of Glasgow and Ayr, and in the patronage
of the Crown; the minister's stipend is about
£285, with a manse, and a glebe valued at £18 per annum.
The church formerly stood at the Clachan, but
the present edifice was built in 1829, on a far more convenient
spot, at Lennoxtown; it is a handsome structure,
capable of accommodating 1550 persons, and cost nearly
£8000. There is a place of worship for the United
Presbyterian Synod. The parochial school affords instruction
in all the ordinary branches of education; the
master has a salary of £30, with £18 fees, and the interest
of £"2/0 left by Robert Blair, Esq., of Glasgow.
Two other parochial schools are supported by the heritors,
at Craighead and Torrance, the master of the former
of which, in addition to the salary of £41. 5. 11., receives
£20 per annum from Messrs. Inglis, who, in connexion
with Mr. Lennox, have rebuilt the premises on
a much larger scale. There are also two subscription
libraries. The remains of two forts of native construction
are visible at the base of the Campsie fells: and
Roman urns, and coins of Elizabeth, James I., and
Charles I., have occasionally been dug up.