KINCLAVEN, a parish, in the county of Perth,
5 miles (.S. by W.) from Blairgowrie; containing 880
inhabitants. This place, the name of which, of Celtic
origin, is descriptive of the situation of its church, is
bounded on the north by the river Tay, which separates
it from Caputh; and on the east and south by the
same river, which divides it from the parish of Cargill.
It is bounded on the west by the parishes of Avichtergaven
and Little Dunkeld, and is about five miles in
length and two miles in average breadth, comprising an
area of ten square miles. The ancient castle, now in
ruins, is said to have been built by Malcolm Canmore,
and to have been for many centuries an occasional residence
of the kings of Scotland, from which several of
their charters are dated. During the wars that arose,
from the contested succession to the throne, between
Bruce and Baliol, the castle was occupied by an English
garrison, wliicli, being at an unguarded moment surprised
by Sir William Wallace, was taken and dismantled
so far as to render it no longer tenable as a place of
strength. It is situated on a rising ground ojjposite to
the junction of the Tay and Isla, and is the property
of Baroness Keith, who pays annually a small sum to
the Duke of Atholl, its hereditary constable. The parish
comprises about 6400 acres, of which 3900 are aralile,
1500 woodland and plantations, SOO moorland pasture,
and the remainder moss, water, and waste. Its surface
is broken by an elevated ridge, extending across the
centre of the parish from north-east to south-west, and
from which the lands slope in a gentle declivity to the
Tay on the north and south. The scenery, enlivened by
the windings of the Tay, and enriched with woods and
plantations, has a very pleasing appearance. The river
Isla, descending from the lower Grampian range, flows
through the vale of Strathmore. and falls into the Tay at
the eastern extremity of the parish; and there are several
lakes, in which pike, perch, and eels are found.
Though various, the soil is generally fertile, producing
good crops of wheat, barley, oats, turnips, and
potatoes, of which last great quantities are raised for
the London market. The state of agriculture is much
improved; the rotation plan of husbandry is in use, and
carefully adapted to the different soils. The lands have
been well drained; several tracts of moorland have
been brought into profitable cultivation, and the various
farm-buildings are substantial and commodious, and
some of them highly ornamental. Ayrshire cow s, and
bulls of the Teeswater breed, have been introduced; and
the horses, previously of small size, are now improved
by the introduction of the Clydesdale breed. The plantations
are chiefly larch and common fir, the former not
in a very thriving state; and there are numerous coppices
of oak, which are generally felled when they have
attained twenty-five years' growth. The annual value
of real property in the parish is £4.537. There were
formerly several small villages, the sites of which are
only to be distinguished by some of the ancient trees
yet standing: Arntully {which see), though much reduced
in extent and population, is still remaining. The roads
from the ferries at Caputh, Kinclaven, and others over
the Tay, afford facilities of communication, and the
railway from Perth to Forfar crosses the river about a
mile below the manse: the post-town is Perth, to which,
and also to Dunkeld, a sub-office has been established at
the neighbouring village of Stanley. For ecclesiastical
purposes the parish is within the limits of the presbytery
of Dunkeld, synod of Perth and Stirling. The minister's
stipend is £'276. 11. 5., with a manse, and a glebe valued
at £18 per annum; patrons, the family of Richardson.
Kinclaven church, inconveniently situated at the eastern
extremity of the parish, contains 320 sittings: at the
east end is a large monument to the memory of Alexander
Campbell, Bishop of Brechin, who is styled " Laird of
Kerco, in this parish," and who died in 1608. The
church is in a very indifferent state of repair; and it is
expected that another will be soon built on a more convenient
site. There is a place of worship for members
of the United Presbyterian Church. The parochial school
is attended by about sixty children; the master has a
salary of £34, and a good house and garden, and the
school fees, with the other emoluments usually attached
to his office, average £24 per annum. There is also a
school in connexion with the dissenting congregation,
supported by subscription.