ARBIRLOT, a parish, in the county of Forfar, 2^
miles (W.) from Arbroath; containing, with the village
of Bonnington, 1045 inhabitants, of whom 77 are in the
village of Arbirlot. This place appears to have derived
its name, a contraction of Aber-Elliot, from the river
Elliot, which runs into the sea a little below its eastern
boundar}'. The earliest account connected with its history,
states, that a member of the ancient family of
Ochterlony originally owned the castle of Kelly, in the
parish. This family was succeeded by the Irvines, who
also held the castle, which afterwards came into the
possession of the Maule family, now sole proprietors of
Arbirlot. The parish is about four miles long and three
broad, and contains .5050 acres, of which 4200 are cultivated
or occasionally under tillage, 800 waste, and
fifty wood. It is intersected by the Arbroath and
Dundee road and railway, and is bounded on the south
by the sea, which at this parish has an extent of coast
nearly three miles long, level and sandy, and much frequented
in the summer for the purpose of bathing. In
the interior, also, much of the surface is low and flat;
and the rest gradually rises to a gentle acclivity. There
is no part deserving of particular notice, e.xcept the immediate
vicinity of the ancient castle of Kelly, which is
situated on the banlt of the Elliot, and is in good preservation,
and surrounded by scenery that is highly
picturesque. The Elliot, a stream of inconsiderable
size but of great beauty, rises in Ditty Moss, in the
parish of Carraylie, and pursuing a south-eastern course
for a few miles, through a deep and romantic glen, falls
into the sea in the east part of the parish. It has numerous
mills erected upon it, and formerly abounded in
salmon, but since the construction of some dam-dykes,
these fish have forsaken it: the stream is still frequented
by good trout. There is a chalybeate spring in the
parish, of some little celebrity, but it is not now so much
frequented as formerly.
The soil in the lower parts consists chiefly of a light
productive loam, but on the higher portions is damp
and mossy, and in some places mixed with clay; the
subsoil is a gravelly clay: on the northern boundary
is an extensive muir. The average annual produce is
valued at £15,000, chiefly derived from crops of oats,
barley, hay, and potatoes; the annual value of real
property in the parish is £6395. The only mansionhouse
is the seat of Kelly, situated in the vicinity of the
old castle. A small fair is held once a j'ear. Near the
mouth of the river, at Wormy-hills, is an establishment
for bleaching yarns, and on the same stream are three
meal-mills and a flax-mill. There is also a meal-mill
on a small river which forms the boundary line between
this parish and Panbride. Ecclesiastically Arbirlot is
within the bounds of the presbytery of Arbroath and
synod of Angus and Mearns; the patronage is vested
in the Crown, and the minister's stipend is £184. 4. 5.,
in addition to which he has a manse, and a glebe of the
annual value of £6. The church, rebuilt in 1832, is an
elegant structure, situated on the bank of the Elliot, and
containing about 640 sittings. A place of worship has
been erected for members of the Free Church. There
is a parochial school, the master of which has a salary
i)f £34. 4., and £20 fees, &;c., with a house and garden.
A savings' bank managed by the minister, and a parochial
hbrary, consisting of above 500 volumes, kept in
the manse, are also supported.