GARTMORE, a quoad sacra parish (for a time), in
the parish of Port-of-Monteith, county of Perth, 1,5
miles (W. by S.) from Doune; containing 347 inhabitants,
of whom 253 are in the village. This district is
about two miles and a half in length, and one mile and
a half in breadth, and comprises about 1360 acres, of
which 760 are in tillage and pasture, 200 under plantation,
and 400 uncultivated. Its surface partakes of the
general mountainous character of the Highland country
of which it forms a part, and the prevailing scenery is
beautifully diversified: the substratum is red sandstone.
The river Forth flows on the north and north-east, the
Kelty on the south, and the road from Dumbarton to
Stirling passes within four miles. A market or fair
takes place on the 1 6th of June, at which cattle of all
descriptions are exposed for sale, and servants for the
ensuing year are engaged. Gartmore House, a substantial
and very commodious mansion, is of considerable
antiquity, and stands in grounds tastefully embellished,
and commanding some interesting views. The village
is pleasantly situated, and has a rural aspect; the inhabitants
are chiefly employed in agriculture, and partly
in the handicraft trades requisite for the wants of the
district. Ecclesiastically Gartmore is in the presbytery
of Dunblane, synod of Perth and Stirling, and the patronage
is vested in the communicants: the church,
erected in 1790, at an expense of £400, raised by subscription,
is a neat plain edifice, containing 415 sittings.
The members of the Free Church have a place of worship;
and there are two schools, one of which, for sewing
and knitting, is taught by a female.