AIRLIE, a parish, in the county of Forfar, 4 miles
(W. S. W.) from Kirriemuir; containing 868 inhabitants.
The name of this place, written in ancient records
ErroUy, EroUy, Irolly, and Airlie, is altogether of uncertain
derivation: by some it is supposed to come
from the Gaelic term Aird, signifying the " extremity
of a ridge", which description is applicable to the locality
of Airlie Castle. The parish is situated at the western
extremity of the county, bordering on Perthshire,
and measures in extreme length six miles, from east to
west; while the breadth varies from half a mile to four
miles; the whole comprising 8600 acres, of which
6843 are cultivated, 1365 in wood, and 387 in pasture,
waste, &c. The southern part of the district lies in the
vale of Strathmore, from which the land rises towards
the north in a succession of undulated ridges, forming
a portion of the braes of Angus, and the southern Grampians.
In this direction, the Isla pours its waters
through a deep rocky gorge, out of the higher into the
lower country; and the ravine, separating at Airlie
Castle into two channels, makes courses respectively
for the Isla and Melgum streams. The scenery about
this spot, which is highly picturesque, is to a great extent
indebted for its attractions to the romantic Den of
Airlie, extending for above a mile from the confluence
of the two streams. The pellucid stream of the Isla,
sweeping in some places over a rocky channel, pursues
its winding course among the thickly-wooded and precipitous
braes; and the pleasing landscape in this part
is completed by the interesting feature of the Kirktown,
situated about one mile and a half south east from the
castle, and less than a mile east of the river. All the
streams are famed for their abundance of- fine, trout, and
are the favourite resorts of anglers; the Isla and Melgum
are also much visited by salmon. In the Dean is
found the fresh-water muscle, often mistaken for the
pearl oyster so common in the South Esk; and some
of the rivers are frequented by numerous migratory
birds, some of them being of very rare species. The
Den of Airlie is distinguished for its botany, containing
some plants that are not to be found in any other place
in Scotland.
The SOIL runs through the several varieties of fine
brown and black loam in most of the better portions of
the district. There are also gravelly, sandy, and clayey
tracts in different places, varying in quality from very
fertile to unproductive: on the sand and gravel is a
considerable tract of inferior soil which, if allowed to
remain long in grass, becomes overspread with broom.
In the northern part is a thin barren earth on a tilly
subsoil. But though much of the land is either very
poor or only of moderate fertility, there are some rich
tracts in the parish, particularly a long and broad strip
of deep alluvial loam, along the whole course of the
Dean river. The agriculture of the parish has been
greatly improved since the beginning of the present
century, and deep and extensive drains have been constructed;
furrow-draining, with tiles and stones, has
been practised, and shell-marl is much used as manure.
The number of sheep and cattle, and the superiority of
the breeds, furnish a striking contrast to the state of
the district in these respects about thirty or forty years
since. Most of the thinner soils are now covered with
flocks of native black-faced sheep, besides regular stocks
of Leicesters in other parts; and in addition to the Angus,
a very fine description of cattle is to be seen on several
of the larger farms, which is often crossed with the
Teeswater. Since the introduction of steam navigation,
large numbers have been sent to London, exclusively of
those sold at Edinburgh and Glasgow, and they obtain
the highest prices.
The strata consist entirely of the old red sandstone,
with the exception of a trap-dike crossing the channel
of the Isla, near Airlie Castle. The upper beds are in
general too friable for use, crumbling almost as soon as
they are exposed to the air; but those at a considerable
depth are of tenacious consistence, and, having several
varieties of fine and coarse grain, are capable of being
applied to many purposes. Most of the rocks are overlaid
with debris, of different depth, and above are
usually beds of sand and gravel. At Baikie is a bed of
marl once covering forty acres, and extending from one
to six or seven yards in depth, but which has been
much employed for agricultural use: it lies under a surface
of peat. Antlers of deer and horns of oxen have
been found in the moss. Many plantations have been
formed in the present century, comprising the usual
kinds of trees; but they are to a great extent in a pining
state, especially the larch, numbers of which have been
entirely destroyed by blight and canker. The annual
value of real property in the parish is £7434.
Airlie Castle, a plain modern residence, situated at the
north-western point of the parish, on a lofty precipice,
is the property of the family of Ogilvy, who became
connected with the parish in 1458, when Sir John Ogilvy
of Lintrathen, received a grant of the barony from
King James II. The family were created Barons Ogilvy
in 1491, and Earls of Airlie in 1639. One side only of
the ancient castle remains, the rest having been burnt
down by the Earl of Argyll, in the year 1640, during
the absence of the Earl of Airlie, a zealous supporter of
the royal cause, which event is celebrated in the popular
ballad entitled " Bonnie bouse ofAirlie". The present
peer succeeded to the titles and property in 1849. Lindertis
House is a handsome edifice of recent date, beautifully
situated on the northern slope of Strathmore,
and commanding fine views of an extensive range of
country. A considerable number of the inhabitants of
the parish are engaged in weaving coarse linens for
Dundee houses. Several public roads, leading to some
of the great thoroughfares, pass through the place; and
the Midland Junction railway passes along the southeastern
border. Ecclesiastically the parish is in the
presbytery of Meigle, synod of Angus and Mearns, and
in the patronage of the Earl of Strathmore; the minister's
stipend is £219. 1. o., with a manse, and a glebe of
nine acres valued at £12 per annum. The church is a
very neat edifice, built in 1781, and substantially repaired
in 1S44. A Free Church place of worship has
been erected in the southern part of the parish, with a
manse. The parochial schoolmaster has a salary of
£34. 4. 4., with a house, and £13 fees. Near Cardean
are the remains of a Roman camp, and also of the great
Roman road which ran from this spot along the valley
of Strathmore.