Aberdalgie and Dupplin, Perthshire

Historical Description

ABERDALGIE and DUPPLIN, a parish, in the county of Perth, 3 miles (S. W.) from Perth; containing 360 inhabitants. These two ancient parishes were united in the year 1618. They are beautifully situated on the northern side of the vale of Strathearn; they measure about three miles in length, from east to west, and two miles and a half in breadth, comprising 2900 acres, of which more than 2000 are under tillage, and the remainder wood and waste. The river Earn flows on the south, and, with its picturesque windings through the strath, and its banks ornamented with gentlemen's seats, good farm-houses, and well-cultivated lands, forms a principal feature in the interesting scenery of this locality. In the direction of the river, the prospect is terminated by the Ochil hills; whilst towards the north, where the higher lands of the parish gradually slope again in a northern direction, appear the vales of the Almond, the Tay, and Strathmore, the richly diversified views being bounded by the Grampian mountains. The parish consists of six large farms and three of smaller extent, which are under the best system of husbandry. In the northern district, where the climate is sharp and the soil cold and tilly, the lands produce oats, barley, peas, and beans; in the southern portion wheat is much cultivated, the greater warmth of the sun and the rich loamy and clayey soil favouring its growth. Among the many improvements in agriculture, wedge-draining has been of great service on the wet cold grounds, and is extensively practised: much benefit has also been derived from the introduction of turnip husbandry, and the increase in the growth of potatoes. The prevailing rock is the old red sandstone, of which there are several quarries. The annual value of real property in the parish is £3871. Here is the handsome mansion of Dupplin Castle, the seat of the Earl of Kinnoull, the sole heritor. The former house was accidentally burnt on the 11th of Sept., 1827, and a new edifice was erected on the same site, and completed about the year 1832, in the Elizabethan style, by the present earl, at a cost of upwards of £30,000. The wood on the property is exceedingly beautiful, extending over some hundreds of acres, and comprising sweet and horse chesnuts, beech, spruce, and Scotch fir, some of which are of large bulk and stature. Dupplin Castle was visited by Her Majesty, during her first tour in Scotland, on the 6th of Sept., 1842; she arrived here at two o'clock, and, after partaking of a sumptuous déjéuner, received a deputation from the city of Perth, consisting of the provost, magistrates, and other authorities, who presented a loyal address. There are considerable facilities of intercourse. The old road from Perth to Stirling passes through the northern declivity of the parish, and a new line running along the plain below was finished in 1811, for the commencement of which the Earl of Kinnoull advanced £3000. On the sides of this road, many excellent farm-houses have been built, and it has proved of great advantage to the locality for the conveyance of lime and manures, as well as for the export of general produce, consisting chiefly of grain and potatoes, sent to Perth and Newburgh.

Ecclesiastically the parish is in the presbytery of Perth, synod of Perth and Stirling, and in the alternate patronage of the Crown and the Earl of Kinnoull the minister's stipend is £157. 19. 4., with a manse, and a glebe of fourteen acres, including the site of the manse, garden, &c. The present church of Aberdalgie was built in 1773, and a vault was constructed under it for the Hay-Drummond family, though their ancient burial-place is at the church of Kinnoull. In the churchyard is the burial-place of the Lords Oliphant, of Bachilton, for centuries the feudal lords of Aberdalgie, and on the outside is a large stone with a well-executed figure of a warrior. The foundations of the old church of Dupplin are still remaining, within an inclosed churchyard. The parochial school affords instruction in the ordinary branches; the master has a salary of £34. 4. 4., with a house, and £14 fees. The Earl of Kinnoull takes the title of Viscount Dupplin from this place.

Maps

Online maps of Aberdalgie and Dupplin are available from a number of sites:

• Bing (Current Ordnance Survey maps).
• Google Streetview.
• National Library of Scotland. (Old maps)
• OpenStreetMap.
• old-maps.co.uk (Old Ordnance Survey maps to buy).
• Streetmap.co.uk (Current Ordnance Survey maps).
• A Vision of Britain through Time. (Old maps)