STRICKATHROW, a parish, in the county of Forfar,
5 miles (N. by E.) from Brechin; containing 553
inhabitants. This place comprehends the two ancient
parishes of Strickathrow, which originally formed the
prebend of the chantorship in the cathedral church of
Brechin, and Dunlappie, which was united to the former
in 1612, by act of the General Assembly. Strickathrow
is siqjposed to have derived its name (anciently Strath-
Calh-Ra, and signifying in the Celtic language "the
valley in which the king fought") from a battle that
took place here in 1130, between the army of David I.,
King of Scotland, and the forces of Angus, Earl of
Moray. The name of the latter parish, a compound of
Dun, "a hill" and Luppie, " water", is minutely descriptive
of the appearance of its surface; the north-western
portion is occupied by the hill of Lundic, near the base
of which flows the river Westwater, and the lower lands
are also traversed by numerous other streams. No
events of importance are authentically recorded: according
to tradition, the churchyard of Strickathrow was the
scene of the surrender of the crown and sovereignty of
Scotland, by John Baliol, to Edward L of England, in 1296.
The PARISH is bounded on tlie west, north, and northeast
by the river Westwater, which separates it from the
parishes of Lethnot and Edzell. It is nearly seven miles
in length and one mile and a half in breadth, comprising
5440 acres, of which 3100 are arable, 1540 meadow and
pasture, and 490 woodland and plantations. The surface
is greatly diversified. In the south-east is an extensive
tract of table-land, having an elevation of 400
feet above the vale of Strathmore, and commanding a
fine view of the strath for thirty miles in length and
almost ten miles in breadth: in front is seen the
entrance of Glen-Esk, with Mount Battock in the background,
2000 feet above the level of the sea; and in
the nearer view rise the Caterthuns and others of the
Grampian range. In the central portion of the parish
the ground is low and tolerably level; but towards the
north-west boundary, it rises into considerable elevation
in the hill of Lundie, already referred to, and others of
inferior height. The scenery is varied, and at many
points, enriched with plantations, is pleasingly picturesque.
The Westwater, after flowing for some miles
along the boundary of the parish, falls into the North
Esk, which appears to have formerly bounded Strickathrow
on the north, but which now intersects it for nearly
a mile. The Cruik, a small stream in summer, but in
winter, and after continued rains, an impetuous torrent,
winds through the parish in a north-eastern direction,
and flows into the North Esk near the church. There
are various smaller streams. The Cruik abounds with
trout; and in the North Esk are found salmon, of
which a fishery used to produce to the proprietor a rental of £25.
In this district the soil is various, but consists for the
most part of a black loam, of moderate fertility, on a
subsoil of cold retentive clay, or hard gravelly till. The
crops raised comprise grain of all kinds, with potatoes,
turnips, and the usual grasses. Husbandry is greatly improved,
and regard is paid to a due rotation of crops; tiledraining
has been partially introduced, and much waste
land has been brought into profitable cultivation. Bonedust
has been for some time used with success in the
growth of turnips, and guano and other sorts of manure
have been employed of late. In general the farms vary
from sixty to 400 acres in extent, but there are several
small crofts, none of which exceed eight acres; the farmhouses
are substantial and commodious. The lands have
been in some degree inclosed, and all the more recent improvements
in the construction of agricultural implements
have been adopted. The cattle reared are of the
native Angus breed; horses are bred for purposes of
husbandry, and sheep and swine fed for the neighbouring
markets. In this parish the plantations, which have
been greatly increased, and are generally in a flourishing
state, consist of ash, hme, beech, and the various kinds
of firs: the beech, for which the soil appears well adapted,
is the most prevalent, and there are some fine specimens
of ash, lime, and American spruce-fir. There are strata
of limestone and red sandstone, which latter is of durable
texture when taken at a considerable depth.' The limestone
was formerly worked to a large extent, and the
quarries yielded to the proprietor a net profit of £500
per annum; but they have lately become impracticable for
want of efficient means for draining off the water. The
annual value of real property in the parish is £3809.
The chief residences are, Stracathro House, an elegant
mansion in the Grecian style of architecture, beautifully
situated in grounds tastefully embellished, and commanding
extensive and finely varied prospects; Auchenreoch,
a substantial modern structure; and Newton Mill, an
old mansion in a sweet situation, belonging to the heirs
of the last baronet of the ancient family of Ogilvy of
Barras. The only approximation to a village is a cluster
of about ten or twelve houses called Inchbare, irregularly
built, and mostly occupied by persons employed in the
necessary handicraft trades. Facility of communication
is afforded by the old and new turnpike roads from
Aberdeen to Perth, which pass for two miles through
the parish; and by roads kept in repair by statute
labour. Ecclesiastically this place is within the bounds
of the presbytery of Brechin and synod of Angus and
Mearns. The minister's stipend is about £1*5, with a
manse, and the glebes of Strickathrow and Dunlappie,
valued together at £16. 10. per annum; patrons, the
Crown and the Earl of Kintore. The church, erected in
1791, and lately repaired, is a handsome structure in the
later English style of architecture, containing 360 sittings.
The parochial school affords instruction to about si.vty
children; the master has a salary of £30, with a house
and garden, and the school fees. A parochial library
containing about 300 volumes is supported by subscription.
On the farm of Ballownie was discovered, not
long since, in a circular mound forty yards in diameter
and about nine feet high, a square box formed of stones
placed edgewise, containing human bones in a very decomposed
state, among which were three arrow-heads of
flint. Numerous stone collins, none of which, however,
exceeded four feet in length, were dug up lately near the
church; and near the mound just noticed, and on the
hill of Strickathrow, are conical mounds which, from
their commanding situation, appear to have been signal
posts. The Right Hon. George Rose, president of the
Board of Trade, and treasurer of the navy, during the
administrations of Mr. Pitt and Lord Greuville, was a
native of this parish, of which his father, an episcopal
clergyinan, was for many years a resident; he was born
in 17-t4, and died in 181,S.