KINNAILLI, a parish, in the county of Perth;
containing, with tlie hamlets of Craigdallic, Flawcraig,
Nethermains, and Pitmiddie, 458 inhabitants, of whom
90 are in the hamlet of Kinnaird, 4 miles (N. by W.)
from Errol. The name is derived from a compound
word of Celtic origin, signifying " high end or head",
and is descriptive either of the elevated site of the
village, or of the high ground at the end of the estate of
Kinnaird, on which stands an ancient castle. Very
little is known concerning the early history of the place;
but it is recorded that it belonged originally to the noble
family of Kinnaird, whose present seat is Rossie, in the
neighbouring parish of Inchture. In the reign of King
William, in 1 170, Randolph Rufus obtained from that
prince the lands of Kinnaird, from which he took his
surname, and w'hich continued in his family till the
time of Charles I. The parish is nearly three miles
long and two broad, and contains above 3000 acres.
It is situated half way between Perth and Dundee, and
has a fine south-eastern exposure, looking down on the
Carse of Gowrie, part of which is contained within its
bounds. Kinnaird has the parish of CoUace on the northwest,
the parishes of Errol and Inchture on the southeast,
Abernyte on the north-east, and Kilspindie on the
south-west. Some of the higher grounds command extensive
views, especially of the Highland mountains.
The land which is included in the Carse, though small
in extent, is the richest part of the parish, the soil being
a fertile black clayey earth. On the south side of the
braes skirting the Carse, the land, though good, is inferior
to the former, and chiefly a stringent binding
earth; on the north side the soil is light and shallow,
and covered for the most part with bent and heath,
intermixed occasionally with natural pasture. About
1550 acres are under tillage; and 1500 are uncultivated,
consisting principally of moor ground, pastured with
Highland sheep in the winter, and at other times with
oxen. Green crops are cultivated; but grain is the
chief produce of the arable land, most of which is capable
of yielding wheat, in general of very good quality.
Live stock are but little attended to. The husbandry is
excellent; and improvements, commenced here at an
early period, have been ever since gradually advancing.
The parish is entirely agricultural. Its annual value
of real property amounts to £3195. The chief communication
of the people is with Perth and Dundee, the
great road between which places passes within half a
mile; and there is a port on the Tay, about four miles
off, from which much grain is shipped, and at which
coal and lime are imported. The higher and lower
parts of the parish have been connected by a new road,
that forms a kind of thoroughfare between Strathmore
and the Carse of Gowrie. Ecclesiastically the parish is
within the bounds of the presbytery of Dundee, synod
of Angus and Mcarns; patron, the Crown. The stipend
of the minister is £184, with a commodious and substantial
manse, lately built, and a good glebe of ten
acres. Kinnaird church is large, built only a few years
ago, and fitted up in a comfortable manner. There is a
parochial school, the master of which has the maximum
salary, with about £24 fees. The only relic of antiquity
is the ruin of the ancient castle, erected in feudal times,
with massive walls, and strong stone arches under the
floors, and evidently intended as a place of defence as
well as residence.