Earn, Bridge Of

   EARN, BRIDGE OF, a village, in the parish of Dunbarny, county of Perth, 3 miles (S. by E.) from Perth; containing 369 inhabitants. This place, which takes its name from its situation near a bridge across the river Earn, consists of two portions. The one was commenced about 1769, by Mr. John Gilloch, who had obtained from Sir William Moncrieffe a ninety-nine years' lease of a tract of land between the old bridge of Earn and Seale's bridge; and the other was erected in 1832, and forms a street of regularly-disposed houses, intended chiefly for the accommodation of persons visiting the celebrated mineral wells of Pitkeithly, at a short distance from this spot, and within the confines of the parish. These waters belong to the saline class, as distinguished from the acidulous, chalybeate, and sulphureous, and contain carbonate of lime, sulphate of soda, chloride of calcium, and chloride of sodium, the two last being the principal ingredients; there are also portions of carbonic acid and nitrogen. They have long been in repute for their efficacy in hepatic, scrofulous, and many other complaints, and are visited by numerous invalids, and used both internally and externally, and both warm and cold. There is an inn near the wells, fitted up for the accommodation of strangers, and formerly the mansion-house occupied by the proprietor of Pitkeithly; but the chief inn is the Moncrieffe Arms, at the village. Apartments of every kind may also be obtained at the several lodginghouses; and a regular post-office is established here for the surrounding district. One of the most picturesque and interesting objects in the pleasing scenery of the vicinity is the new and elegant bridge, of three elliptical arches, erected over the river in 1821 by the city of Perth, at a cost of £16,000, in place of the old bridge, built about 500 years since, and of which two of the five arches still remain, overgrown with ivy. Two mail-coaches between Edinburgh and Perth pass through the village, besides many other conveyances to different parts. The parish church and manse, also, are situated here.