FAIRLIE, a village, and a quoad sacra district (for a time),
in the parish of Largs, district of CunningHAME, county of
Ayr, 3 miles (S. by E.) from Largs;
containing 521 inhabitants. This district consists of
the southern division, and comprehends about one-third,
of the parish of Largs. It is bounded on the west by
the Firth of Clyde, and the land rises rather abruptly
from the shore, and terminates in two distinct chains of
hills on each side of the Kelburn. The loftiest of these
hills attains an elevation of nearly '2000 feet, and their
substrata are red and white freestone to the height of
between 300 and 500 feet, and whinstone on the upper
range: at the division of the hills pudding-stone abounds.
Of 5000 acres, not more than 200 or 250 are under tillage,
and about the same quantity iu natural wood and
plantations; the low parterres of Kelburn, the richest
in Ayrshire, let at from five to si.v pounds per acre. The
chief owner of the soil is the Earl of Glasgow, whose
seat of Kelburn is a beautiful mansion, of which the
more substantial part was built in 1556, and the principal
modern additions in 1715.
Fairlie village is seated on the coast of the Clyde, and
on the line of the turnpike-road from Greenock to Ayr.
It is a very pleasant little place, much frequented during
the summer and autumn by visiters who resort hither
from the large and populous towns for the benefit of the
sea air and for bathing. The climate is remarkably
salubrious; and the retired and picturesque character
of the vicinity, ornamented with numerous villas and
much beautiful scenery, renders it a popular and very
favourite spot, preferred by many strangers to the
bustling town of Largs, also a well-frequented wateringplace.
There is much cod, ling, and haddock fishing,
and herrings are occasionally caught: at Kelburn is a
salmon-fishery. Steam-boats from Glasgow and Greenock
call at the village daily in summer. Ecclesiastically,
Fairlie is within the bounds of the presbytery of Greenock,
synod of Glasgow and Ayr, and the patronage is vested
in the Managers and Communicants: the minister's
stipend is £"5, arising from seat-rents, and from ordinary,
and two special, collections. The church was built in
1833-4, at an e.\pense of about £650, and contains 300
sittings. The members of the Free Church have a place
of worship. There is an excellent school-house, the
master of which has the interest of £300 bequeathed by
Lady Jane Boyle, and of £100 added by Glasgow gentlemen
who have summer residences around Fairhe: the
noble proprietor of Kelburn has also given him a house.
Attached to the church is a library, and another to the
school. Of Fairlie Castle, a strong square building, said
to have belonged to Hardicanute, the walls are still entire;
and not far from it, but in West Kilbride parish,
are remains of an ancient chapel, round which are some
fine old trees. Kelburn confers the title of Viscount on
the Earl of Glasgow.