FERRYPORT-ON-CRAIG, a parish, in the district
of St-Andrew's, county of Fife, 1 1 miles (N. E. by N.)
from Cupar; containing 1741 inhal)itants, of whom 1556
are in the village. This place formed part of the ancient
lands of Craig, belonging to Archbishop Sharp of St.
Andrew's, who, by authority of the pope, granted them
on lease to the Scotts of Balwearie in Fifeshire, from
whom, to distinguish them from others in the county, of
the same name, they received the appellation of Scots-
craig, which they still retain. The name of the village is
obviously derived from the establishment of a ferry over
the Tay to the opposite shore at Broughty, to which
ferry, previously to the erection of a pier for their better
accommodation, passengers had access only by means of
a platform of timber extending to the boats from the
rugged rocks which girt the coast. The lands are supposed
to have been part of the parish of Leuchars previously
to the year 1606, when, by act of James VI.,
they were erected into a distinct parish: one of the fields
is still called the Chapel, probably from the existence of
a chapel of ease to the mother church prior to the separation.
There was a castle at this place, but at what
time or by whom it was founded does not appear: from
the style of the building, as far as can be ascertained
from the small portions of it still remaining, it seems to
have been adapted for the use of cannon, and to have
been erected to defend this pass of the river, in conjunction
with the castle of Broughty in Forfarshire.
The parish is bounded on the north by the river Tay,
which washes its coast for nearly five miles before joining
the German Ocean. It differs greatly in breadth, not
exceeding in the widest part a mile and a half, and comprises
2600 acres, of which 1400 are arable, 120 woodland
and plantations, and the remainder rough pasture
and waste. The surface is abruptly varied, being in the
eastern parts flat and low, and in others rising into ridges
of craggy rock. Its rugged aspect has under recent improvements
been considerably softened, and many rucks
near the village, which is situated on the shore, have been
removed; but to the west the lands are still precipitous,
and very irregular. Except the Tay, there is no stream
of any consequence; but numerous springs in the higher
grounds, descending to the low lands, afford an abundant
supply of excellent water. In the lower parts of the parish
the soil is a light loam, resting on a bed of sand;
and in the higher, a rich black loam, on a substratum of
whinstone. The agricultural district is under good cultivation,
and extremely productive; the crops are barley,
oats, rye, and wheat, with potatoes, of which considerable
quantities are raised for the London market, turnips,
and the usual green crops. Flax was formerly grown to
a good extent, but for many years its culture has been
totally discontinued. The pastures maintain large numbers
of sheep and cattle, the former chiefly a cross between
the Cheviot and Leicestershire breeds, and the
latter a mixture of the Fife, Angus, and Ayrshire. There
is a small undivided common of about twenty acres, on
which all the inhabitants have a right of pasturage. The
woods consist mainly of larch and oak, aud the latter,
though of recent introduction, appears to thrive well.
The farm-buildings are in general substantial and commodious,
and some, of more modern erection, are of a
very superior order; but little progress has hitherto been
made in inclosing the lands, which, with the exception of
a few fields, are wholly open. The annual value of real
property in Ferryport-on-Craig is £3191.
The principal proprietor in the parish is the owner of
Scotscraig, whose mansion, erected in 1807, is a spacious
structure, beautifully situated in grounds tastefully laid
out, and embellished with plantations. Ferryport village
consists of more than 300 neatly-built houses, chiefly one
story in height, with a few of two stories, and some
larger houses of recent erection, which are handsomely
built, and roofed with blue slate. The shore has been
greatly improved by the levelling of various eminences
that impeded the communication between the village and
the river. There are two piers at the ferry, at the larger
of which, vessels laden with coal and other necessaries
land their cargoes for the supply of the neighbourhood,
and grain, potatoes, and other agricultural produce are
shipped for the London market. In 1846 the Edinburgh,
Perth, and Dundee railway company were empowered to
purchase, and in 184* were empowered to improve, the
ferry across the Tay. There is an extensive salmonfishery
belonging to the proprietor of Scotscraig, and
extending along the coast for the whole length of the
parish; it formerly produced an annual rental of £2000,
but since the disuse of stake-nets, which were formerly
employed, it yields only about £600. Many of the inhabitants
of the village and parish are occupied in handloom
weaving for the manufacturers of Dundee, to which
they devote their chief attention during the winter
months, in the summer resuming their agricultural labours.
A fair, at one time very numerously attended, is
held in the village on the first Tuesday in June (O. S.),
and resorted to by a few dealers in general merchandise.
Facility of communication is afforded by the Dundee line
of the Edinburgh, Perth, and Dundee railway. A library
has been established in the village, and there is a savings'
bank, opened in 1836, which has proved very successful.
Ecclesiastically the parish is within the bounds of the
presbytery of St. Andrew's, synod of Fife; patron, the
Crown: the minister's stipend is £159. 13., with a manse,
and a glebe valued at £42 per annum. Ferryport church,
rebuilt in 1825, is a neat and substantial edifice situated
in the village, and adapted for a congregation of 900
persons. There are also places of worship for members
of the Free Church and the United Presbyterian Synod.
The parochial school affords an extensive course of instruction;
the master has a salary of £30, with £19 fees,
and a good house and garden. Five free scholars are
taught by the master in consideration of a bequest for
that purpose by William Dalgleish, Esq.; they are nominated
by the proprietor of Scotscraig and the incumbent
of the parish, and remain in the school for five
years. There are also several Sabbath-evening schools,
supported by contributions collected at the church.
Some vestiges of the Archbishop of St. Andrew's palace
here are yet remaining.