DOUGLASTON, a village (manufacturing), in the
parish of Kinnettles, county of Forfar, 3 miles (S. W.)
from Forfar; containing 81 inhabitants. This place derives
its name from the late Robert Douglas, Esq., by
whom it was erected in 1792, for the accommodation of
the persons employed in his extensive works. A spinning-
mill, of stone, roofed with blue slate from the quarries
of the parish, and four stories in height, was completed
here towards the close of the last century; and
the introduction of the spinning of yarn, which furnished
employment to a considerable number of hands, was
followed up by the erection of looms for weaving the
yarn into various fabrics, the principal of which were
Osnaburgs, Hessians, and brown and bleached sheetings.
The machinery is of the most improved kind, and is
propelled partly by a steam-engine of seven-horse power,
and partly by water power equal to that of five horses.
The village is pleasantly situated on the banks of the
Kerbit rivulet, over which is a very handsome stone
bridge of three arches, erected in the j'car 1770. A
branch post between Forfar and Glammis delivers letters
here; and the road from Dundee to Forfar, and also
the Strathmore road, pass through the village.