Parish of Glendevon

A historical perspective, drawn from the Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland: A Survey of Scottish Topography, Statistical, Biographical and Historical, edited by Francis H. Groome and originally published in parts by Thomas C. Jack, Grange Publishing Works, Edinburgh between 1882 and 1885.

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1791-99: Glendovan
1834-45: Glendovan

Glendevon, a parish in the Ochil district of Perthshire, containing Burnfoot hamlet on the right bank of the river Devon, 3 miles NNW of Muckart and 7 NNE of the post town, Dollar. A capital trouting station, it has a wool mill, and fairs on the first Thursday of April, the Wednesday after the second Thursday of July, the third Thursday of August, the fourth Thursday of September, and the third Thursday of November.

The parish is bounded N by Auchterarder, NE by Dunning, E by Fossoway, SE by Muckart, S by Dollar in Clackmannanshire, and W and NW by Blackford. Its length, from E to W, varies between 2 ¼ and 5 3/8 miles; its utmost breadth, from N to S, is 4 ½ miles; and its area is 9l54 ¼ acres, of which 21 2/3 are water. The 'clear winding Devon,' at 4 ½ miles from its source, begins to trace for 2 ½ miles the boundary with Blackford; then runs 2 3/8 miles eastward across the interior, on the right hand receiving Frandy, Glensherup, and Glenquhey Burns; and then, bending south-eastward, traces for 2 1/8 miles the boundary with Fossoway. Throughout this course its glen or narrow vale - Glendevon proper, from which the parish takes its name - is flanked immediately by broomy braes and swelling pastoral hills; remotely, toward the boundaries, by summit-lines of the Ochils. Opposite what is called the Black Linn is a conical knoll, much frequented by picnic parties, and commanding a beautiful view of the main reaches of the glen. In the extreme E the surface declines to 660 feet above the sea; and the chief elevations to the right or S of the Devon are Innerdownie (2004 feet), Tarmangie Hill (1868), and Bald Hill (1636), whilst to the left or N rise the Seat (1408), and, on the Auchterarder border, Sim's Hill (1582) and Carlownie Hill (1522). The rocks are chiefly eruptive. The arable land, consisting of scattered patches along the bottom of the glen, amounts to little more than 200 acres, and has a light dry soil, inclining to gravel. Glendevon House is surrounded by pleasure grounds, containing a small eminence called Gallows Knowe. An old castle stands on the Glendevon estate; is said to have belonged to William, eighth Earl of Douglas, slain in 1452 by James II. at Stirling; and continues in a state of good preservation. A spot on the hillside near the hamlet was covered once with a huge congregation, assembled from great distances to hear a sermon by the Rev. Ebenezer Erskine. The property is divided among five. Glendevon is in the presbytery of Auchterarder and synod of Perth and Stirling; the living is worth £192. The church is plain and very small; and a public school, with accommodation for 38 children, had (1881) an average attendance of 11, and a grant of £22, 14s. Valuation (1882) £3152, 15s. 6d. Pop. (1801) 149, (1831) 192, (1861) 138, (1871) 105, (1881) 147.—Ord. Sur., sh. 39, 1869.

An accompanying 19th C. Ordnance Survey map is available, or use the map tab to the right of this page.

Note: This text has been made available using a process of scanning and optical character recognition. Despite manual checking, some typographical errors may remain. Please remember this description dates from the 1880s; names may have changed, administrative divisions will certainly be different and there are known to be occasional errors of fact in the original text, which we have not corrected because we wish to maintain its integrity. This information is provided subject to our standard disclaimer

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