CARGILL, a parish, in the county of Perth, 7^
miles (N. by E.) from Perth; containing, with the villages
of Burreltown, Wolfhill, and Woodside, 1642 inhabitants.
This place, the name of which, of Celtic origin, signifies
a village with a church, originally formed a portion of
the parish of Cupar-Angus, from which, according to
ancient records, it was separated prior to the year 1514.
It was for many generations the chief seat of the family
of Drummond, of whom Annabella, daughter of Sir John
Drummond, was married to Robert III., King of Scotland,
and crowned with that monarch at Scone in 1390; she
was the mother of James I., from whom descended the
royal family of Stuart. Stobhall, the seat of the Drummonds,
now almost in a ruinous state, came into the
possession of the family by the marriage of Sir John
Drummond with Lady Mary, eldest daughter of Sir
William de Montife.x, lord justiciary of Scotland. The
ancient mansion, which appears to have been built at
different periods, is romantically situated on a narrow
tongue of land, on the banks of the river Tay.
The I'ARisH, which is in the valley of Strathmore, is
about six miles in length, and four in average breadth.
Its surface is diversified, and the parish is bounded on
the west and north-west by the Tay, and on the north
by the river Isla, which flows into the Tay about half a
mile above the village of Cargill. The land rises by a
gradual ascent, from the margin of the river Tay, for
nearly a mile, till it attains an elevated plain, varied with
occasional eminences interspersed with small glens; the
Sidlaw hills form the eastern boundary. The scenery is
pleasingly enriched with plantations, chiefly of Scotch fir,
with coppices of birch and oak; the native woods, which
were formerly extensive, and afforded secure concealment
to Sir William Wallace and his adherents from the pursuit
of their enemies, are greatly diminished. The soil,
along the banks of the river, and on the other low lands,
is a humid clay, but fertile, producing abundant crops of
grain, and gradually inclines, as the ground ascends, to
a rocky marl; towards the base of the hills it is a light
dry gravel, and, on the summit of the elevated plain,
partly loam and moorland. The system of agriculture is
in an improved state, but much yet remains to be done.
The annual value of real property in the parish is £7786.
The Tay abounds with salmon, of which there is a valuable
fishery, and with trout and pike, and is a favourite
resort for anglers. Near the west end of the parish it
flows over a rugged basaltic dyke, where it forms a fine
cascade called the Linn of Campsie. In another part it
is crossed by the Perth and Forfar railway, which thence
intersects the parish, on its way to Cupar-Angus. The
substratum of the parish is chiefly freestone, of good
quality, and of excellent colour, which has been extensively
wrought: limestone is also found, but it is not
much in operation; and rock marl of a reddish colour is
abundant, and might be rendered available to the improvement
of the moorlands in the upper parts. The
only manufacture carried on is the weaving of linen for
the Dundee manufacturers, which affords employment to
a few families.
Ecclesiastically the parish is within the bounds of the
presbytery of Dunkeld, synod of Perth and Stirling; the
patronage is in the Crown, and the minister's stipend is
£224. 16., with a manse, and a glebe valued at £14 per
annum. Cargill church is a neat and well-arranged
structure, erected in 1832, and situated on the sloping
bank of the river Tay. There is a place of worship for
members of the Free Church. The parochial school is
well attended; the master has a salary of £34, with a
house and garden, and the fees average about £15, to
which Lady Willoughby de Eresby adds £10 for teaching
the poor gratuitously. There were traces, till within the
last few years, of a Roman station and road; but under
the extension and improvements in agriculture, they have
been almost entirely obliterated. Near the Linn of
Campsie was an ancient cell dependent on the abbey ot
Cupar-Angus; but only very slight vestiges of it can be
traced. Stobhall gave the title of Baron to the Earls of
Perth, who were Lords Drummond and Stobhall, till the
forfeiture in 1 746.