KINCARDINE, a sea-port and town and burgh of
barony, in the parish of Tulliallan, county of Perth,
a miles (S. E.) from Alloa, and 12 miles (E. S. E.) from
Stirling; containing 287.5 inhabitants. The name of
this now considerable place was formerly West Pans,
from its salt-pans, which in I7SO were fifteen in number,
though none exist at present. It is pleasantly seated
on the north-east bank of th"e river Forth; and though
irregularly built, and having some narrow streets, it
contains several streets of good breadth, with a number
of substantial houses and neat villas, surrounded by
gardens. The harbour, which is one of the best for
trade on the Forth, is capable of admitting vessels of
between three and four hundred tons' burthen; and as
many as a hundred of this size may have safe anchorage
within it. Shi|)-I)uilding, princi|ially of the class of
vessels adapted to coasting trallic, was largely carried
on here, but it is greatly on the decline: rope-making,
and the manufacture of sail-cloth, also employ part of
the i)0[)ulation. There arc about forty ship-owners in
tlie town, who form a local marine insurance association,
and have a considerable capital; and ships belonging
to the port, whose aggregate burthen exceeds 9000 tons,
visit America, the West Indies, the shores of the Baltic,
and St. Petersburgh. Kincardine is a creek subordinate
to the port of Alloa. It has two good inns, a post-office,
a library consisting of more than 1000 volumes, and
two branch banks, these last affording great encouragement
to enterprise, and accommodation to the surrounding
district. The coast-road from Stirling passes through
it; the river is crossed by a ferry, upon which two
steam-boats are constantly plying, and the steamers
that ply between Stirling and Edinburgh take in passengers
at the pier. The trustees of Lord Keith are
the superiors of the town, and they appoint baronbailies,
who act as magistrates. A sheriff small-debt
court is held four times a year. There is an elegant
new church; also a place of worship for the United
Presbyterian Church, and schools in which the ordinary
branches of education are taught. It was from this
barony that the ancient and illustrious family of Bruce
took the title of Earl, now conjoined with the earldom
of Elgin, the present, and sixth, Earl of Elgin being also
eleventh Earl of Kincardine.