Douglaston

   DOUGLASTON, a manufacturing village, in the parish of Kinnettles, county of Forfar, 3 miles (S. W.) from Forfar; containing 81 inhabitants. This place derives its name from the late Robert Douglas, Esq., by whom it was erected in 1792, for the accommodation of the persons employed in his extensive works. A spinning-mill, of stone, roofed with blue slate from the quarries of the parish, and four stories in height, was completed here towards the close of the last century; and the introduction of the spinning of yarn, which furnished employment to a considerable number of hands, was followed up by the erection of looms for weaving the yarn into various fabrics, of which the principal were Osnaburgs, Hessians, and brown and bleached sheetings. The machinery is of the most improved kind, and is propelled partly by a steam-engine of seven-horse power, and partly by water-power equal to that of five horses. The village is pleasantly situated on the banks of the Kerbit rivulet, over which is a very handsome stone bridge of three arches, erected in the year 1770. A branch post between Forfar and Glammis delivers letters here; and the turnpike-road from Dundee to Forfar, and also the Strathmore road, pass through the village.