TORWOOD, a village, in the parish of Dunipace,
county of Stirling, 4 miles (N. W.) from Falkirk; containing
151 inhabitants. This village, which is chiefly
inhabited by persons engaged in agriculture, is beautifully
situated near some remains of the Caledonian forest,
and distinguished for the venerable ruins of Torwood
Castle, the ancient residence of the Lords Forrester.
By marriage with the daughter of the second lord, it
became the property of the Baillie family, from whom
it was purchased by the grandfather of Colonel Dundas,
the present proprietor. The high road from Falkirk to
Stirling passes through the village. The remains of the
castle are surrounded by a richly-wooded demesne, in
which was once an oak twelve feet in diameter, wherein
it is said the celebrated Sir William Wallace concealed
himself after the battle of Falkirk. Near the site of
this oak, Donald Cargill pronounced sentence of excommunication
against Charles II., the Duke of York, and
others, in Sept., I68O; but this act was never publicly
ratified by the Presbyterians.