EARN-BRIDGE-OF, a village, in the parish of
DuNBARNY, county of Perth, 3 miles (S. by E.) from
Perth; containing 369 inhabitants. This place, which
takes its name from its situation near a bridge across
the river Earn, consists of two portions. One of these
was commenced about 1769, by Mr. John Gilloch, who
had obtained from Sir William Moucrieffe a ninety-nine
years' lease of a tract of land between the old bridge
of Earn and Scale's bridge. The other was erected in
1832, and forms a street of regularly-disposed houses,
intended chiefly for the accommodation of persons
visiting the celebrated mineral wells of Pitkeithly, at a
short distance from this spot, and within the confines
of the parish. These waters belong to the saline class,
as distinguished from the acidulous, chalybeate, and
sulphureous, and contain carbonate of lime, sulphate of
soda, chloride of calcium, and chloride of sodium, the
two last being the principal ingredients; there are
also portions of carbonic acid and nitrogen. They
have long been in repute for their efficacy in hepatic,
scrofulous, and many other complaints, and are visited by
numerous invalids. The water is used both internally
and externally, and both warm and cold. There is an
inn near the wells, fitted up for the accommodation of
strangers, and at one time forming the mansion-house
occupied by the proprieter of Pitkeithly; but the chief
inn is the Moncrieffe Arms, at the village. Apartments
of every kind may also be obtained at the several lodginghouses;
and a regular post-office is established here for
the surrounding district. One of the most picturesque
and interesting objects in the scenery is the new and
elegant bridge of three elliptical arches, erected over the
river in IS'Sl by the city of Perth, at a cost of £16,000,
in place of the old bridge, built about 500 years since,
and of which two of the five arches still remain, overgrown
with ivy. Moncrieffe hill, to the north of Bridgeof-
Earn, commands one of the most magnificent prospects
in Britain. The road between Edinburgh and Perth
passes through the village, and the Perth line of the
Edinburgh, Perth, and Dundee railway company has a
station in the vicinity. The parish church and manse
are situated here.