DUN, a parish, in the county of Forfar, 4 miles
(X. W. by W.) from Montrose; containing 581 inhabitants.
This place is supposed by some antiquaries to
have derived its name from the family of Dun, who
were its ancient proprietors; and by others, with apparently
greater probability, from its elevation above the
level of the river South Esk, which forms its boundary
on the south. The parish is about four miles in length,
and of nearly equal breadth, comprising 3480 acres, of
which 2600 are arable, 300 meadow and pasture, 550
woodland and plantations, and about 100 uncultivated
moor. A small part of the lands, called Fort Hill, is
divided from the rest by the estuary or basin of Montrose.
The surface is very irregular; near the river and
the basin it is level, but towards the north rises gradually
to a considerable elevation. Within the limits of the
parish is a lake called Dun's Dish, covering about forty
acres; it is supplied from numerous springs in the
adjacent grounds, and forms a reservoir for the use of
various mills. The scenery is enriched by luxuriant
woods and thriving plantations on the demesnes of Dun
House and Langley Park.
The SOIL in the vicinity of the basin of Montrose,
from the encroachment of which the lands are defended
by an embankment, is a loamy clay of great fertility. In
the rising grounds it is a deep rich loam, and in other
places light and sandy. The crops are oats, barley,
wheat, peas, beans, potatoes, and turnips; the system
of agriculture is improved, and the five and six .shift
courses of husbandry are generally practised, the former
in the upper and the latter in the lower districts. The
lands are well drained and inclosed; the farm-buildings
are mostly substantial and commodious. The cattle
reared in the parish are mainly of the black Angus
breed, resembling the Galloway; they thrive well, and
grow to a great weight. A fishery in the South Esk, in
which salmon and trout are plentiful, produces about
£100 annually; and there is a fishery in the sands of
the basin of Montrose, chiefly for muscles, and of nearly
equal value. Facility of communication is afforded by
the Aberdeen railway, the Brechin branch of which
commences here. There are also good roads, of which
that from Brechin to Montrose passes through the
parish. Dun House, a substantial mansion, built in
1/30, is now the property of the Marquess of Ailsa,
in right of the marchioness, who is daughter of the
late John Erskine, Esq.; it is finely situated on rising
ground, is surrounded with old wood, and, having a
southern aspect, presents a beautiful object from the
opposite side of the South Esk. East of Dun House is
Langley Park, the handsome seat of the Cruickshank
family. The annual value of real property in the parish
is £6818. Dun is ecclesiastically in the presbytery of
Brechin, synod of Angus andMearns, and in the patronage
of the Marchioness of Ailsa; the minister's stipend
is £159, with a manse, and a glebe valued at £15 per
annum. The chapel formerly attached to the old mansion-
house of the family of Dun having fallen into a
dilapidated state, a church was erected in lieu of it, on a
site a short way off, in 1834. The parochial school is
well attended; the master has a salary of £34, with
£13 fees, and a house and garden. A savings' bank
has been established; and the poor have the benefit of
some money placed in the hands of three of the heritors,
who pay interest for it to the kirk-session.
Burgh Seal.