Archiestown

   ARCHIESTOWN, a village, in the parish of Knockando, county of Elgin; containing 174 inhabitants. This is the only village in the parish, and is of modern origin, having been commenced about 1760, by Sir Archibald Grant, the great-grandfather of Sir James Grant, of Moneymusk, the present baronet. It is built on the moor of Ballintomb, and consists of a double row of houses, about three-quarters of a mile in length, having a square in the centre, of about half an acre, and some by-lanes. The village suffered severely in 1783, from an accidental fire, but it has latterly recovered from this calamity, and several new houses have been erected very recently. In a preaching station, which accommodates about 200 persons, divine service is performed once a month, by the minister of the parochial church; and a few dissenters belonging to the Associate Synod, also occasionally assemble here. There are schools likewise, which open and close with prayer.