RUTHVEN, a parish, in the county of Forfar, 3
miles (N.) from Meigle; containing, with the hamlets
of Balbirnie, Barberswells, Bridgend, and Whins, 471 inhabitants.
This place was for many generations the seat
of a branch of the Crichton family, of whose ancient
baronial castle there are still some remains; the family
becoming extinct in 1742, the lands were purchased by
Thomas Ogilvy, Esq. The parish is pleasantly situated
on the north side of the vale of Strathmore, near the
base of the Grampian hills. It is about two miles in
length, and nearly of equal breadth; comprising an area
of 2034 acres, of which 1336 are arable, 452 woodland
and plantations, and the remainder meadow and pasture
land. The surface, which has a gentle declivity towards
the south, is diversified with some inconsiderable eminences,
one of them called Gallows hill. The river Isla,
after forming for some distance its northern boundary,
intersects the remainder of the parish, and, passing
under an ancient and picturesque bridge of two arches
on the road from Blairgowrie to Kirriemuir, and falling
from some ledges of broken rock, descends into a wide
pool which towards the south divides into two streams,
inclosing an island of about si.x acres in extent. This
river abounds with small trout and par, and in the
spawning season with salmon. In general the soil is a
light loam, resting on a substratum of gravel; and the
crops are oats, barley, for which the soil is especially
adapted, turnips, and potatoes. The state of agriculture
is much improved; bone-dust and guano are extensively
used as manures, and the rotation system of
husbandry is prevalent. The lands have been drained
and inclosed; and the farm-buildings, which are chiefly
of modern erection, are substantial and well arranged.
Considerable attention is paid to the rearing of cattle, and
the feeding of sheep on turnips. The woodlands consist
chiefly of oak, of which there are extensive copses on
the banks of the Isla; and the plantations are of larch
and Scotch fir. In this district the scenery is of pleasing
character, in some parts beautifully picturesque; the
upper lands command fine views of the surrounding
country. The substratum is of the old red sandstone
formation, with a few pebbles of quartz, and some .slight
traces of organic remains; freestone of excellent quality
is found, and quarried to a moderate extent. Tlie annual
value of real property in the parish is £1457.
Ruthven House, the scat of Mrs. Weddcrburn Ogilvy, is
a handsome modern mansion pleasantly situated on the
Isla, near the site of the ancient castle, which, having
become ruinous, was taken down all but a fragment many
years since.
There is no village properly so called. The spinning
of flax was introduced soon after the commencement of
the present century, and two extensive mills have been
built for that purpose on the banks of the Isla, in which
together about 180 [jersons are employed, in connexion
with the linen manufacturers of Dundee. On the same
river are mills for meal and corn, two threshing-mills,
and a saw- mill. Facihty of communication is afforded
by convenient roads, of which that from Blairgowrie to
Kirriemuir passes through the parish; and by a hne of
railway within a few miles, whence coal and other requisite
articles are brought for the supply of the parish,
and to which corn and other agricultural produce are
conveyed, to be forwarded to Dundee and shipped for
the London market. Ecclesiastically this place is within
the bounds of the presbytery of Meigle, and synod of
Angus and Mearns. The minister's stipend is £150, of
which nearly three-fourths are paid from the exchequer;
with a manse, and a glebe valued at £95 per annum:
patron, the Crown. Ruthven church, an ancient structure,
is, according to some accounts, supposed to have
been erected by an Earl of Crawford as a chapel for his
tenants of the barony of Inverquiech, and to have been
subsequently obtained by the proprietors of Ruthven,
and appropriated as a parish church for their barony.
Tiie parochial school is well conducted; the master has
a salary of £30, with a house and garden, and the fees.
On the south-west side of the parish were until lately the
remains of an intrenchment called Castle-Dykes, probably
once a safe retreat in times of danger; the ramparts
were of earth, and had been apparently very
strong, and surrounded with a fosse. During the wars
in the reign of Edward of England, a battle is said to
have taken place in the vicinity of this parish; and on
the south side of the vale of Strathmore are some remains
of a camp occupied by the English, and thence
called Ingleston, or " English town ". Stone coffins containing
fragments of human bones have been dug up;
and there are several cairns.