Kirktoun

   1) KIRKTOUN, a village, in the parish of Burntisland, district of Kirkcaldy, county of Fife, 4 miles (S. by W.) from Kirkcaldy; containing 251 inhabitants. The village is pleasantly situated, and, from the favourable state of the climate, and the pleasantness of the surrounding district, is much resorted to during the season for sea-bathing, for which this part of the coast is celebrated. It is well supplied with provisions of every kind from the market-town of Kirkcaldy, with which it has facility of intercourse by good turnpike-roads; and there is intercourse with Newhaven and other towns by steam-boats, which regularly sail from the port of Burutisland.

   2) KIRKTOUN, a parish, in the district of Hawick, county of Roxburgh, 4 miles (E. by S.) from Hawick; containing 313 inhabitants. This parish is about eight miles in length, from east to west, and two miles in breadth, from north to south; and is bounded on the north-east by the parish of Hobkirk; on the west, partly by the parish of Cavers, and partly by that of Hawick; and in all other directions, by the parish of Cavers. The surface is undulated, rising in many parts into green hills of moderate elevation and of great variety of form; and is intersected by the river Slitrig, on the western bank of which the ground rises by a gradual and continued acclivity to the boundary of the parish. The scenery is generally pleasing; but the want of wood renders it comparatively barren of picturesque beauty. The soil is mostly fertile, and the pastures rich; the whole number of acres in the parish is estimated at 10,200, comprising arable, pasture, and uncultivated land, with a very small portion in wood and plantations. The system of agriculture is in an improved state; the lands have been well drained, and inclosed partly with stone dykes, and partly with hedges, kept in good order; a few farm-buildings are substantial and commodious, and the various improvements in the construction of implements have been adopted. A quarry of very excellent whinstone has been opened, which provides abundant materials for the roads and for other purposes. Facility of communication with the neighbouring market-towns is afforded by the roads from Hawick to Liddesdale and Newcastle, which pass through the parish; and there are various good roads kept in repair by statute labour. The rateable annual value of Kirktoun is £3599. The ecclesiastical affairs are under the superintendence of the presbytery of Jedburgh and synod of Merse and Teviotdale. The stipend of the incumbent is £174; the manse, with offices, was built in the summer of 1840, and the glebe is valued at £11 per annum. The church is a neat plain edifice, also built in the summer of 1840, but very inconveniently situated. The parochial school is well conducted and well attended; the master has a salary of £26, with a house and garden, and the fees average about £15 per annum. About a mile south-west of the church is an encampment, upon rising ground; and still further west, in one or two places, similar vestiges occur. Dr. Leyden, the eminent Orientalist, received the rudiments of his education in the parochial school of this place, his parents residing on the farm of Nether Tofts: his native place was Denholm, in the parish of Cavers.