STRATHBLANE, a parish, in the county of Stirling,
10 miles (N. by W.) from Glasgow; containing
894 inhabitants. This place derives its name, signifying
in the Gaelic language " the strath of the warm river,"
from the sheltered situation of the vale through which
the river Blane has its course. It formed part of the
possessions obtained from Maldwin, Earl of Lennox, by
David Graham, in exchange for lands that had been
granted by William the Lion to his father, ancestor of
the ducal family of Montrose. The castles of Mugdock
and Duntreath, of the foundation of which little is
known, belong respectively to the families of Montrose
and Edmonstone. Of Mugdock Castle, which appears
to have been strongly fortified, there are still considerable
remains, consisting of a square tower nearly entire,
with a projecting gateway-turret at one of the angles.
It was defended on the east and north by a lake, which
supplied the fosse whereby the castle was surrounded
on the other sides. Part of the structure is in a state
of complete repair, and was till lately constantly occupied
by successive tenants of the Duke of Montrose.
At a distance of about 300 yards from this castle is a
remarkable echo, which distinctly reverberates a
sentence of six monosyllables, if uttered in a loud tone; and
this not till a few seconds after the sentence is completed.
Of the castle of Duntreath, which seems to
have been of the same date, and nearly of equal strength,
the north and east sides of the quadrangle are a heap of
ruins, and the arched gateway that formed the entrance
is completely detached from the rest of the building.
This castle, with the lands attached to it, was early the
property of the Edmonstone family, of whom Sir William,
of Culloden, married Lady Mary, daughter of
Robert III., and widow of Sir William Graham, of Kincardine,
ancestor of the Earls of Montrose: Sir Archibald
Edmonstone, Bart., is the present proprietor of it,
and chief landowner in Strathblane, possessing onethird
of the parish. The neighbourhood of Strathblane
appears to have been tributary to the notorious Rob Roy
AIcGregor, from whose depredations the inhabitants purchased
exemption by the payment of stipulated suras, in
proportion to the extent of their properties; and in 17-il
his nephew agreed with certain landowners here to recover
their stolen property, if speedily made aware of
their loss, in consideration of their paying him £,5 on
each £100 of valued rent.
The PARISH lies in the south-western part of the
county, and is about five miles in length and four in
breadth, comprising 14,0S0 acres, of which 3350 are
arable, 2000 woodland and plantations, and the remainder
meadow, pasture, and waste. The surface is diversified
with hills. A portion of the Lennox range extends
along the northern boundary, attaining at the
highest point, which is called the Earl's Seat, an elevation
of 1400 feet above the level of the sea. On the
south-west of the vale of Strathblane is the hill of Dungoiach,
of conical shape, rising to a height of 400 feet,
and clothed with wood to the summit, thus forming a
striking contrast to that of Dunglass, on the north-east,
which, though of nearly equal height, has a rugged and
desolate appearance. The vale intersects the parish
from north-west to south-east, reaching from the vale
of Endrick on the west to the vale of Campsie on the
east. Its surface rises, by gentle undulations, from a
height of about 100 feet at the entrance to an elevation
of 340 feet at the extremity; and the vale is inclosed
on both sides by low hills covered with verdure, between
which are narrow glens of picturesque aspect.
The whole of this beautiful vale, and the entrance to it
from the south-east, are marked with features of romantic
character; the scenery is enriched with wood of
stately growth and thriving plantations, and studded
with handsome villas and gentlemen's seats. On the
south side of the vale is an expanse of table-land, about
two miles in width, and nearly 400 feet above the level
of the sea, extending across the whole breadth of the
parish, and which was formerly a wild and barren moor,
but is now in a state of profitable cidtivation, producing
favourable crops of grain. The river IJlane has its source
near the Earl's Seat, among the Lennox hills, and taking
a southern direction, falls from several precipitous hills,
and forms a magnificent cataract descending from a
height of seventy feet, called tlie Spout of Balhigan, after
which, diverting its course to the north-west, it flows
through the valley of Strathblane into the Endrick.
There are numerous springs of water, one of which, on
the farm of Ballewan, possesses mineral properties. Of
the several lakes the principal are, Loch Ardiuniug,
about sixty acres in extent, but undistinguished by any
peculiarity of features; Loch Craigallion, containing forty
acres; Loch Mugdock, twenty-five acres in extent, surrounded
with beautiful scenery, among which the ancient
castle forms an interesting object; Loch Craigmaddie,
of ten acres; Loch Dumbroch, of the same extent; and
Loch Carbeth, containing only eight acres. The lakes
abound with pike and perch, and char are also found in
that of Dumbroch. Game of every kind is plentiful;
black and red grouse frequent the moors, and wildducks,
woodcocks, partridges, and pheasants are in abundance.
The SOIL, though various, is generally fertile, and well
adapted for the different crops, which comprise oats,
barley, wheat, beans, turnips, and potatoes, with the
usual grasses. Husbandry is greatly improved, and a
due rotation of crops is carefully observed. The lands
have been well drained, and inclosed with dykes of
stone, and, on some of the farms, with hedges of thorn;
the farm-houses and offices are substantial and commodiously
arranged, and all the more recent improvements
in the construction of agricultural implements have been
adopted. Great attention is paid to the dairies, the
produce of which is sent to the Glasgow market. The
sheep and cattle are of the several breeds common to
this part of the country; and a considerable stimulus to
improvement is afforded by an association called the
Farmers' Society, who hold their meetings annually,
and award prizes to the successful competitors. There
are some remains of natural wood, consisting of beech,
alder, hazel, and willow; and the plantations, which are
very extensive, are of larch, Scotch fir, oak, ash, elm,
beech, Huntingdon willow, Lombardy poplar, and other
kinds of trees. The substrata are of the old red sandstone
formation, which is chiefly visible in the lower
parts of the parish; in the hilly parts the sandstone is
in most places covered with trap, in which are found
veins of jasper, and occasionally chalcedony and zeolite.
Limestone and marl occur in some places; and there is
a quarry of sandstone in operation to a moderate extent.
The annual value of real property in the parish is returned at £5300.
Craigend Castle, the seat of John Smith, Esq., is an
elegant mansion, erected in 181'2, and beautifully situated:
Carbeth, erected in ISIO, is also a handsome
mansion; and Leddiegreen and Ballagan are both good
houses on pleasant sites. In the garden of Ballagan is
a yew-tree in full vigour, and presenting a fine appearance,
supposed to be five centuries old. There is no
village in the parish, properly so called; but three detached
hamlets have been formed, consisting of a few
houses. Some works for the printing of calico have
been established at Blancfield, which are thriving, and
occupy a considerable number of the ijopulation; there
is likewise a blcachfield at Dumbroch, where upwards of
sixty people are employed. The nearest market-town
is Glasgow, with which there is facility of communication
by two turnpike-roads from that city, one leading
to Drynien, and the other to Balfron, and both passing
through the parish: a post-ollice has been established
here under that of (ilasgow. The roads are excellent,
and well adapted for easy intercourse. A fair for cattle
is held annually, about the middle of November, but it
is not well attended. For ecclesiastical purposes this
parish is within the bouuda of the presbytery of
Dumbarton, synod of Glasgow and Ayr. The minister's stipend
is £231. 16. 5., with a manse, and a glebe valued
at £16 per annum; patron, the Duke of Montrose. The
present church, erected in 1803, is a handsome structure
in the later English style of architecture, and contains
450 sittings: the remains of Lady Mary, daughter
of Robert III., were interred in the family vault beneath
the old church. Strathblaue parochial school affords
instruction to about thirty children; the master has a
salary of £34. 4. 4., with a house and garden, and the
fees. A parochial library was established in 1817, and
now forms a collection of 700 volumes; a Bible society
was established in 1813, and a missionary society in
IS^S. There is a fund for the poor, of £400, the amount
of various charitable bequests. To the south-east of the
hill of Dungoiach are six erect stones, varying in height;
the highest is about six feet from the surface: nothing
of their history has transpired. Under the surface of
the moss at Craigend a small inclosure formed with
stakes of wood was discovered, in ISOO; but for what
purpose it was intended, is unknown. There seemed to
have been originally an entrance from the west; and a
few pieces of wood indicated that the inclosure had been
roofed. It was probably a place of shelter. The Duke
of Montrose takes the inferior title of Baron Mugdock
from this parish: the family at one time resided at Mugdock
Castle, and the great Marquess of Montrose was
born there, being the last of the family who was born
in the castle.