Logie-Pert

   LOGIE-PERT, a parish, in the county of Forfar, 5 miles (N. W.) from Montrose; containing, with the villages of Craigo, Logie, and Muirside, 1560 inhabitants. This parish was formerly called Logie-Montrose; but, upon the annexation to it of the parish of Pert about the year 1610 or 1615, it assumed its present name of Logie-Pert. The word Logie, so frequently used in Scotland, is of Gaelic origin, signifying a "flat or low situation," and is strikingly applicable to the old church of Logie, situated in a hollow or piece of low ground close by the North Esk river. The name of Pert is very old, and of uncertain derivation; but its ancient church, like that of Logie, is still standing, though both have fallen into disuse since the erection of a central church for the accommodation of the united parish in the year 1775. The parish is about five miles in length and three in breadth, and is bounded on the north by the North Esk, which separates it from Kincardineshire; on the south by the parish of Dun, on the east by the parish of Montrose, and on the west by the parish of Strickathrow. The lower part lies along the banks of the river, which here makes a beautiful curve; the upper part is tolerably high, and generally with a gentle declivity to the river, though a considerable portion of it has a southern exposure. The river, sometimes called the North Water, gives the title of Earl to the noble family of the Carnegies, earls of Northesk, who formerly held a large tract of land in Pert and its vicinity, on both sides of the stream, which property now belongs to the Earl of Kintore and others. This river takes its rise, like the South Esk, from the Grampian torrents, and falls into the sea about three miles north of Montrose; it abounds with excellent trout and salmon, the fisheries of which yield a considerable revenue to the different proprietors.

   The soil in the lower part of the district is a fine deep loam, and in the upper part generally a black earth resting upon a subsoil of clay. About 3795 acres are under cultivation; 300 are waste, and 1100 are lying under wood, consisting mainly of larch, spruce, and Scotch fir. Oats and barley are the grain chiefly grown, the amount of wheat being small; and potatoes and turnips are produced in considerable quantities, with other green crops. A good revenue is also derived from the dairy produce, the chief part of which is disposed of at the Montrose market. The system of husbandry here followed is of the best kind; and the crops, especially the grain, are of excellent quality: the cattle are of the Angus breed, and a few sheep are kept for the purpose of consuming the turnips in the winter. The farm houses and offices are in general in superior condition, and some of them built even in a handsome manner. There are but a few thorn hedges, and scarcely any stone fences, the inclosures being mostly constructed of a strong and moveable paling. The chief improvement recently carried out has been extensive and effectual draining; scarcely any other is required. The limeworks formerly in operation are now given up; but there is an excellent freestone-quarry on the estate of Craigo, of which, however, the expense of working is so considerable that very few stones are sent out of the parish. There are two great manufacturing establishments at Logie and Craigo respectively, both situated on the banks of the North Esk, about a mile distant from each other. The Logie works belong to a company at Montrose, and comprise a bleachfield and flax-spinning mill, the former of which has existed nearly eighty years, and is at present employed in bleaching linenyarns, to be afterwards manufactured into different kinds of cloth for the home and foreign markets. Between forty and fifty persons are engaged in this branch, and the mill occupies about 130 hands. The works at Craigo comprise a flax-spinning mill of thirty-one frames, a bleachfield, some cloth-finishing machinery, and an alkali manufacture; 150 hands are constantly employed, and £100 per week are paid in wages. The rateable annual value of Logie-Pert is £6206.

   Brushwood, which abounds in the parish, is frequently used by the people as fuel; but the chief article of consumption is English coal, procured at Montrose. Two fairs are held every year for the sale of cattle and horses, the one on the second Tuesday in May, and the other on the third Thursday in June. A daily post runs through the parish from Montrose to Laurencekirk; and two public coaches between Edinburgh and Aberdeen pass along the turnpike-road, the line of which is about three miles long in this parish. There are two large bridges, one of which, the North Water bridge, consists of three arches, and was built above 300 years ago; the Marykirk bridge, a handsome structure of four arches, was built by shares, in 1814, at an expense of £7000, and has proved of great benefit in facilitating the intercourse between the two counties. Craigo House, built about fifty-five years since, is a spacious and excellent mansion; and the house of Gallery, of older date, is romantically situated on the bank of the Esk. The ecclesiastical affairs are directed by the presbytery of Brechin and synod of Angus and Mearns; patrons, the Crown, and St. Mary's College, St. Andrew's, alternately. The stipend of the minister is £219, with a manse, and a glebe of nine acres, worth about £2 per acre. The present church, which is situated in the centre of the parish, was built in 1840, and is a plain substantial structure, capable of accommodating about 700 persons with seats. There is a parochial school, where the usual branches of education are taught; the master has the maximum salary, with about £15 fees, and a house and garden. Unendowed schools have been recently built at each of the mills, where the same instruction is given as at the parochial school; and there are two small parochial libraries, and two or three savings' banks. The poor have the interest of £189, left by the late David Lyall, of Gallery. The only antiquities are three tumuli, on three laws of Craigo, in which human bones of an extraordinary size have been found, with several urns and other relics. The late James Mill, Esq., author of British India, was a native of the parish: he died in the year 1836.