Panbride

   PANBRIDE, a parish, in the county of Forfar; containing, with the villages or hamlets of East Haven, Gallowlaw, Muirdrum, Newtown of Panbride, and West Haven, 1380 inhabitants, of whom 134 are in the village of Panbride, and 75 in Newtown of Panbride, 6 miles (S. W. by W.) from Arbroath. This place derived its name, in the Celtic language signifying "the town of St. Bride," probably from the dedication of its church to that saint. The parish is rather more than five miles in length, and about two miles in breadth; it is bounded on the south by the sea, and comprises 5400 acres, of which 4100 are arable, 600 woodland and plantations, and 700 natural pasture and moorland. The surface is generally level, though in some places rising into hills of gentle elevation; the shore is flat, and interspersed with rocks, and towards the water's edge gravelly, and abounding with pebbles, of which some are found of a very handsome kind, resembling agate. A considerable portion of the lands appears to have been anciently covered by the sea; and there are in several parts of the coast evident traces of its having retreated. There is no river of any importance; but two small rivulets intersect the lands, and unite their streams about a mile before they fall into the sea: in some parts of their course they flow past rocky banks, which rise perpendicularly to the height of fifty feet. The soil is various; towards the coast it is light and sandy; in some places, a rich loam; towards the centre, clayey; and in other parts, inclining to a sterile moor. The crops are, grain of all kinds, turnips, and potatoes. The system of agriculture is in a very improved state; the lands have been well drained, and inclosed partly with stone dykes and partly with hedges of thorn, which are kept in excellent order; the farm-buildings are substantial and well arranged; and the more recent improvements in the construction of implements have been adopted. Due attention is paid to the rearing of cattle, generally of the common black breed; but no sheep or horses are bred, except for domestic uses.

   The woods and plantations, which consist of the ordinary forest-trees, and of Scotch fir, are well managed, and in a flourishing condition. The substrata are, sandstone of soft texture, intermixed with large masses of limestone of great compactness; and, in some parts, freestone of very excellent quality for building purposes: the freestone, which is of good colour, is extensively quarried; but the limestone is neither of good quality nor in sufficient quantities to remunerate the expense of working it. Panmure House, the seat of Lord Panmure, proprietor of the parish, is a spacious and handsome mansion, situated on an eminence in the north-western part of the parish, in a demesne richly embellished with woods and plantations, and commanding some beautiful views. At a short distance are the remains of the castle of Panmure, consisting chiefly of the foundations, and some of the vaults of that ancient structure, which was long the residence of the earls of Panmure, whose ancestor, Galfred de Maule, obtained from Edgar, King of Scotland, a grant of these lands in the year 1072. A lucrative fishery is carried on by the inhabitants of East and West Haven. The fish generally taken are, cod, haddock, lobsters, and crabs; the cod and haddocks are in great abundance, and considerable quantities of both are salted and dried for exportation. The fresh fish find a ready market at Dundee. The lobsters are caught from February to the end of May; and great numbers are sent to the London market, preserved alive during the passage in wells so constructed as to admit the sea-water to pass through them freely. Three boats at each of these places are employed in the fishery; and there are four vessels for general trade, varying from forty to sixty tons' burthen, belonging to the parish. The Dundee and Arbroath railway has an intermediate station at East Haven. About 100 persons in the parish are employed in hand-loom weaving, and there is a bleachfield which occupies thirty persons. The rateable annual value of Panbride is £4572. It is in the presbytery of Arbroath and synod of Angus and Mearns, and patronage of the Crown: the minister's stipend is £231. 1. 11., with a manse, and the glebe is valued at £10 per annum. The church is a very ancient, and was originally a cruciform, structure: by the removal of the transepts, however, and other alterations, its external character has been destroyed, and the interior of what remains displays no elegant architectural details. It was repaired in 1775, and is adapted for a congregation of 600 persons. The members of the Free Church have a place of worship. The parochial school is well conducted; the master has a salary of £34. 4., with the fees, and a house and garden. A Sabbath school is well attended; and there is a parochial library, containing volumes chiefly on religious subjects. The ancestors of Hector Boetius were for several generations owners of property at Panbride; and that eminent historian is supposed to have been born here. James Traill, Bishop of Down and Connor in Ireland, who died in 1783, was also a native of this parish, of which his father was minister; and his grandson, the Rev. David Traill, D.D., is the present incumbent.