KEMBACK, a parish, in the district of St-Andrew's,
county of Fife, 3 miles (E. by N.) from Cupar;
containing, with the village of Blebo-Craigs, 778 inhabitants.
It is supposed to derive its name from the
rivulet called the Kem or Kam, which rises in the hills
of the parish of Scoonie, and flowing through this parish,
falls into the river Eden. The parish is bounded on the
north by the river Eden, and measures about three miles
in length and a mile and a half in breadth, comprising
2200 acres, of which 1700 are arable, with a due proportion
of meadow and pasture, and 320 are woodland and
plantations. Its surface is varied with hills, of which
a ridge traverses the parish from east to west, sloping
gently towards the south, and more abruptly towards the
north; the highest eminence is Clatto hill, rising 548
feat above the level of the sea. The whole of this range,
formerly a wild barren heath, is now covered with thriving
plantations, adding greatly to the beauty of the scenery,
for which this district is distinguished. The river Eden
flows in a winding course, along the boundary of the
parish, between banks which in some places are level
with its stream, and in others rise into precipitous elevation;
while the Kem brook, frequently called the Ceres
burn, runs through a thickly-wooded ravine called Dura
Den, nearly a mile in length, abounding with romantic
scenery, and enlivened by a picturesque cascade. The
Eden contains plenty of trout in the spring and autumn,
and is a favourite resort for anglers.
In this parish the soil displays every possible variety;
along the banks of the river, a rich alluvial clay of great
fertility; in other parts, black and brown loam, alternated
with peat-moss, sand, and gravel. The system of
agriculture is in an improved state; the farm-buildings
are substantial, and on many of the farms arc threshingmills,
driven by horses, water, or steam. The substratum
is chiefly sandstone of a bright yellow colour, occurring
in beds of great thickness, and abounding with organic
remains; there are some quarries of whinstone, and coal
and ironstone have been discovered, but are not wrought.
The annual value of real property in the parish is £3515.
Blebo House, the seat of (jeneral Alexander Bethune,
the principal landed projjrictor, is a handsome modern
mansion; there are also good houses at Dura and Kemback,
belonging to other proprietors, and the latter of
which is an ancient building. The village is small, and
consists chiefly of scattered cottages, on the road to St.
Andrew's. The inhabitants are partly employed in the
spinning of yarn, for which there are two mills belongK
ing to Mr. David Yool, both situated on the Ceres burn.
Of these, Yoolfiekl mill was built in 1839, and the machinery
is impelled by a water-wheel of thirty-nine feet
diameter, and, when water is scarce, by steam; Blebo
mill, farther up the stream, is driven by a water-wheel,
and a steam-engine of ten-horse power. In the two
about 19.5 persons are employed, of whom 12.5 are females.
Connected with the Blebo mill are a meal-mill, a barleymill,
and a mill for scutching flax; and lower down the
stream, at Kemback, is a mill, also belonging to Mr.
Yool, driven by a water-wheel of si.xteen-horse power,
for grinding meal, sawing timber, and crushing bones.
Ecclesiastically the parish is within the bounds of the
presbytery of St. Andrew's and synod of Fife. The
minister's stipend is £159. 7-, with a manse, and a glebe
valued at £24 per annum; patrons, the University of St.
Andrew's. Kemback church, erected in 1814, is a neat
plain building. The parochial school is attended by about
forty children; the master has a salary of £34, with a
good house and garden, and the fees average £16 per
annum. There are three other schools, partly supported
by subscription and the fees. The poor have bequests
producing £10 per annum. There are several tumuli in
the parish j and some relics of Roman antiquity have
been occasionally discovered.