KIPPEN, a parish, partly in the county of Perth,
but chiefly in the county of Stirling; containing, with
the greater portion of the former quoad sacra parish of
Bucklyvie, the village of Kippen, and the hamlets of
Arnprior, Cauldhame, Kepp, and Shirgarton, ig^'Z inhabitants,
of whom 397 are in the village of Kippen, 10
miles (W.) from Stirling. This place derives its name,
in the Gaelic language signifying " a promontory ", from
the situation of the village at the extremity of an eminence
which terminates near Boquhan, in the eastern
portion of the parish. Few events of historical importance
are recorded in connexion with the place, though,
from the names of several localities, indicating ancient
fortresses, of which there are now scarcely any vestiges
remaining, it appears to have been the scene of frequent
hostihties between the different clans in the vicinity. In
the reign of James V., a dispute arose between the inhabitants
of the baronies of Arnprior and Glentirran,
respecting the course of the stream issuing from Loch
Leggan, which dispute terminated in a sanguinary battle
near the loch, when many persons on each side were
killed. Upon this occasion, the king, who at that time
resided in the castle of Stirling, ordered the stream to
be diverted into the channel it at present occupies, and,
depriving both parties of their claim, erected on its
banks a mill, which still retains the appellation of the Royal Mill.
The parish is bounded on the north by the river
Forth, and is about eight miles in extreme length, varying
from two to four miles ia breadth, and comprising
rather more than 10,000 acres, of which .5300 are arable,
600 woodland and plantations, and the remainder meadow,
pasture, and waste. The surface of the parish,
which contains two portions of the county of Perth,
stretching from north to south, and detaching nearly
one-third of Kippen from the county of Stirling, ispleasingly
diversified with rising grounds of moderate
elevation. Along the shore of the Forth extends a level
tract of carse land in a state of the richest cultivation,
from which the ground rises towards the south by a
partly abrupt, but generally gradual, ascent for more
than a mile, beyond which it again subsides by a gentle
declivity. From the higher grounds is obtained an extensive
and varied prospect over the surrounding country,
embracing the whole of the carse, Stirling Castle, the
rocks of Craigforth and the Abbey Craig, the braes of
Monteith, and the range of the Grampians from the
Ochil hills to Ben-Lomond. The river Forth is here of
inconsiderable width, and the stream greatly discoloured
by the floating moss, which has also injured the fishery,
previously very lucrative. Several rivulets flow through
the glens that intersect the parish, and most of them
abound with trout of good quality. The burn of Broich,
issuing from Loch Leggan, runs along the beautiful glen
of Broich, and afterwards, in its course to the Forth,
serves chiefly to float off the moss in the plain below.
The burn of Boquhan, which is the boundary line between
this parish and Gargunnock, has its rise in the
rock of Ballochleam, and in its descent has made for
itself a channel through the substratum of red sandstone,
which it has excavated into caverns of singular form:
flowing along the richly-wooded glen of Boquhan, it falls
into the Forth at the bridge of Frew. Some smaller
rivulets, in their way through their respective glens, exhibit
picturesque cascades; and on the moor of Kippen
is Locli Leggan, a fine sheet of water about a mile in
circumference, whose shores are well wooded, and which
is the only lake in the parish.
For some breadth from the shore of the Forth the
SOIL is light and fertile, and in the carse betvk'een it and
the higher grounds a deep rich clay; on the acclivities,
a loam alternated with sand and gravel; and towards
the summit, of lighter and less productive quality.
There are also considerable tracts of moss, with which,
indeed, the whole carse appears to have been formerly
overspread. The crops are wheat, oats, barley, beans,
potatoes, and turnips; the system of husbandry is in a
highly-improved state. The lands have been drained,
and are generally well inclosed; and much moss has
been reclaimed and brought into cultivation: the farmhouses
are substantial and commodious, and on most of
the farms are threshing-mills. Dairy-farming is well
managed; the cows are usually of the Ayrshire breed.
Considerable attention is paid to live stock, and all the
more recent improvements in the construction of agricultural
implements have been adopted. There are
about sixty or seventy acres of ancient woods remaining.
The plantations, which are extensive, are chiefly larch
and Scotch fir on the higher lands, and on the lower
comprise oak, ash, and elm, which are all in a thriving
state. In the glens are also large tracts of coppice-wood,
and a great part of the moor has recently been planted.
The principal substrata are red sandstone, and limestone;
and coal is supposed to exist, though some attempts to
explore it have not been attended with success. The
sandstone is extensively quarried on the moor; it is soft
when taken from the quarry, but hardens on exposure
to the air, and is of excellent quality for building, for
which purpose large quantities are sent to a considerable
distance. The limestone is found chiefly in the southern
district of the parish, and is also of good quality; but
from the want of coal, which is to be obtained only from
a great distance, it is but little wrought for burning into
lime. The annual value of real property in the parish
is £8*75. The seats are, Garden, a handsome modern
mansion, to which additions have been made; and
Broich House, also a modern residence, beautifully situated.
In the grounds of the latter is an extraordinary
yew-tree; it is of great age and size, and does not appear
to have been ever lopped or pollarded. An engraving
of this fine tree is given in the Gentleman's Magazine
for April 18.50.
The village of Kippen has a pleasingly-rural appearance.
A public library is supported by subscription,
and there is a library of religious books for gratuitous
circulation; a post-office is established under that of
Stirling, and has a daily delivery. Fairs for cattle are
held on the first Wednesday in January, the second
Wednesday in April, the ^Gth of May, the 23 rd of October,
and the first, second, and third Wednesdays in
December. Facility of communication is maintained by
the road from Stirling to Dumbarton, which passes for
seven miles through the parish; by a turnpike-road
from the village to Glasgow, which intersects the parish
for three miles in a south-west direction; and by bridges
over the Forth, in excellent repair. For ecclesiastical
purposes the parish is within the limits of the presbytery
of Dunblane, synod of Perth and Stirling. The minister's
stipend averages £260, with a manse, and a glebe
valued at £12 per annum; patrons, the family of Galbraith
of Blaekhouse. Kippen church, erected in 1825,
is a handsome structure in the later English style of
architecture, with a square embattled tower, and contains
about 800 sittings. The members of the Free Church
have a place of worship. A church in connexion with
the Establishment was built in 1835 at Bucklyvie, where
is also a place of worship for the United Presbyterian
Church. There are two parochial schools, one at Kippen,
the master of which has a salary of £27. 15. 6.,
with a house and garden, and fees amounting on the
average to £20; and the other at Claymires, in Bucklyvie,
the master of which, in addition to the fees, has a
salary of £5. 11., with a house and garden. The late
Rev. James Miller of Edinburgh, who was a native of
this parish, bequeathed, in trust to the Kirk Session of
Kippen, property for the foundation of a bursary of £24
in each of the universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow,
for young men prosecuting their studies with a view to
the ministry in the Established Church of Scotland.
The Kirk Session of Kippen are the patrons, and the
election is directed to be made on Mr. Miller's father's
gravestone in Kippen churchyard. There are no remains
of the ancient castle of Arnfinlay, or of the Tower
of Garden, formerly in the parish; and of several small
h'eights called Keirs, supposed to have been originally
Pictish or Celtic fortresses, and on which are still vestiges
of military works, nothing of the history is distinctly known.