KINISBARNS, a parish and village, in the district
of St-Andrew's, county of Fife; contiiining 968 inhabitants,
of whom 529 are in the village, .'J miles (.\. N. W.)
from Crail, and 6 (s. K. by K.) from St. Andn'w's. This
place derived its name from its having been appropriated
as a granary by the kings of Scotland, to whom it belonged
as part of their private estate, during their residence
at Falkland; and near the village arc vestiges of
an ancient building, said to have been a castle, though
in all probability its strength and fortifications were intended
only for the protection and security of the grain
deposited there for the use of the royal household. The
remains of this building, situated on the beach, and
consisting only of the foundations, were removed by the
tenant a few years since, and from their small extent,
showed no indications of the edifice having ever been
occupied either as a royal or baronial residence. The
parish is situated on the coast, between the Firths of
Forth and Tay, and is nearly equal in length and breadth,
comprising about 3860 acres, of which 3650 are arable,
199 woodland and plantations, and the remainder rocky
land along the shore. Its surface, sloping gradually to
the sea, is tolerably even, attaining no considerable degree
of elevation; the shore is low, and interspersed
with rocks, that form somewhat of a barrier against the
encroachment of the waves, which make considerable
inroads. In the lower portion of the parish, towards the
sea, the soil is rather light and sandy, and farther inland
a deep black loam, in some parts inclining to clay: both,
under proper management, are fertile and productive.
A good system of husbandry is prevalent, and the crops
are, wheat, barley, oats, potatoes, beans, turnips, &c.
The prevailing breed of cattle is the Fifeshire: the Teeswater
breed was introduced by the late Earl of Kellie,
but it has not been found so well adapted to the land,
or so profitable to the farmer. About 150 head of cattle
are on the average annually fattened for the market.
Sheep are kept only for home use. The woods are chiefly
forest-trees; but the plantations, mostly around the
houses of the resident gentry, consist only of shrubberies
and evergreens. The farm houses and offices are substantially
built, and conveniently arranged; and considerable
improvements have been made in draining and
fencing the lands. The annual value of real property in
the parish is £7849.
The substratum is generally limestone and freestone,
interspersed in parts with boulders of granite. Coal
appears to have been worked formerly in some places;
and at present, where it occasionally crops up, it is
quarried by the poorer classes; but from the quantity
of water to be drained off, it would require a considerable
effort and an extensive capital to render the coal-beds
available to the supply of the parish. Lime is burnt on
the lands of Cambo, for the use of the tenants; but no
regular quarries of limestone have been opened, though
both the quantity and quality of the stone would amply
remunerate the expense of working it on a larger scale.
Ironstone is found near the shore, and a few persons are
employed in procuring it by digging; what is thus obtained
is usually shipped to Newcastle, and exchanged
for coal. The gentlemen's seats are Cambo and Pitmilly,
both of them ancient mansions of handsome appearance.
The village has been greatly improved within the last
few years; the streets have been levelled, and many of
its old houses have been taken down, and replaced by
others of larger dimensions, with neat flower-gardens in
the front. Its appearance is lively and cheerful, and
the village has l)ecome a pleasant place of residence.
Some of the inhaliitants are engaged in weaving with
hand-looms at their own dwellings: the general articles
manufactured are, linens for domestic use, dowlas, and
Osnaburgs; about twenty hxmis are employed, and on
un average 50,000 yards of the fabrics are produced annually.
A subscription library has been for some time
established in the village; and a savings' bank has also
been opened. There are fairs in July and October, but
little business is transacted except the sale of pedlery.
Ecclesiastically the parish is in the presbytery of St.
Andrew's, synod of Fife, and in the patronage of the
Earl of Glasgow: the minister's stipend is £'251. 18.,
with a manse, and a glebe valued at £30 per annum.
Kingsbarns church is a neat structure in the later English
style, thoroughly repaired in 1811. The parochial
school affords a liberal course of instruction; the master
has a salary of £34, with £30 fees, and a dwelling-house
and garden. There is also a Sabbath evening school.
In levelling the coast, several stone coffins containing
human bones were found; and in one instance, some of
the bones had the appearance of having been burnt.