PORTMOAK, a parish, in the county of Kinross,
6 miles (S. E. by E.) from Kinross; containing, with
the villages of Kinnesswood and Scotland- Well, I6l6
inhabitants. This place, anciently called Servaniis, derived
that appellation from a priory on the island of St,
Serf, or Servanus, in Loch Leven. Its present name,
upon very questionable authority, has been derived from
St. Moak, to whom a priory by the side of the lake is
said to have been dedicated, and from the village affording
a convenient landing-place for the monks. The
parish is about nine miles in length and five in breadth,
of very irregular form, and bordering on the lake, which
adds greatly to the beauty of the place. It comprises
10,644 acres, of which 6444 are arable, 2000 pasture
and meadow, 400 woodland and plantations, and 1800
covered by the water of the loch. The surface rises gradually
from the east margin of the lake till it attains a
considerable elevation at the eminence called Bishop's
hill, which is more than 1000 feet above the level of the
sea; while on the south of the lake, the land ascends
more abruptly, forming the hill of Benartie, of nearly
equal height. Beyond these points the surface becomes
level, constituting an extensive and pleasant plain. The
river Leven issues from the lake here, and two excellent
stone bridges have been erected over it. There are also
numerous springs of pure water, several of w-hich are
very copious, especially Scotland-well, and might be
rendered available to the working of mills. The scenery
has been much improved by comparatively recent plantations,
and some pleasing views of the surrounding country
are ol)tained from the higher lands.
In this parish the soil is various; in some parts, a
heavy loam; in others, light and sandy; and in some,
a deep moss covered with heath: in many parts it is
very fertile. The crops are, grain of all kinds, potatoes,
and ttirnips. The system of agriculture is in an improved
state; the lands have been drained and inclosed,
and a considerable quantity of unprofitable ground has
been brought into cultivation. In general the farm
houses and offices are substantial and well arranged,
and all the more recent improvements in the construction
of implements have been adopted. Great improvements
have been lately made on land reclaimed by the
drainage of part of Loch Leven; the employment of
workmen by Sir Graham Montgomery has been of no
small advantage to the population, and excellent crops
and beautiful fields now take the place of waste and
barren soil. Much attention is paid to the rearing of
live-stock; the cattle are of the Fifeshire breed, and
about '250 milch-cows, 350 calves, and I'JOO head of
young cattle, are on the average pastured. The sheep
are of the Leicestershire and Cheviot breeds, of which
many are bred; and there are about 300 horses, of
equal quality to those of the Lothians. The annual
value of real property in the parish is £8468. There
are plantations principally of larch and Scotch fir, occasionally
intermixed with hard-wood, for which the soil
is well adapted. The substrata are chiefly whinstone,
freestone, and limestone. The whinstone is of great
compactness, and, from the difficulty of working it, little
is quarried; the freestone, except in some few instances,
is soft and porous. The limestone, which is of excellent
quality, was extensively quarried, and about 4000 tons
were annually raised, of which much was made into
lime for use in farming; but from its elevated situation,
the working of it is attended with an expense which has
tended to diminish the demand for it since other quarries
in the neighbourhood have been opened. The manufacture
of parchment has for a long period been conducted
with success, and a manufactory for woollen
shawls gives employment to nearly 100 workpeople, old
and young: there were formerly a tannery and a thread
manufactory, but they have both been discontinued for
some time. Fairs are held, but very little business is
transacted at them. A post-office has been established,
and facility of communication is afforded by good roads
with Kinross, the nearest post-town, and with other
places in the district.
Ecclesiastically the parish is in the presbytery of
Kirkcaldy, synod of Fife, and in the patronage of Sir
Graham Montgomery: the minister's stipend is £254.
2. 5., with an excellent manse in a beautiful situation,
and a glebe valued at £10 per annum. Portmoak
church was erected in 183'2, in place of an older edifice
which was found to be too small, and also unsafe; the
present edifice, the cost of which was about £800, is
neat and substantial, and is adapted for a congregation
of 800 persons. There is a place of worship for members
of the Free Church. The parochial schoolmaster
has a salary of £34. 4. 4., with £20 fees, and a house
and garden. Of two libraries, one is parochial. In
draining part of the lake, some spear heads and a shield
were dug up. There are some remains of the priory of
the island of St. Serf, and also of an ancient chapel at
Scotland-Well. See Kinross.