Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 1.djvu/903

Rh ELGIN. 893 ELIXG. extensively cultivated ; barley, beans, peas, clover, and grasses are also grown to a small extent, but oats are still the chief crop in the inland districts, which are less fer- tile. In the uplands there are extensive pastures, on which Cheviots, Leicesters, and black-faced sheep are bred, and a small variety of native cattle, recently improved by importations from Skye, Aberdeen, and Argyle. The hilly regions of the S. were formerly clothed in wood ; but most of the native forests having been cleared, vast tracts of land produce nothing but furze and broom. These have recently been planted ; and in some districts thriving plantations of Scotch fir, larch, and hard-wood are now to be met with ; but at present only about one-third of the surface of the whole county, which is estimated at 531 square miles, or 340,000 acres, is under cultivation. The old valued rent was 5,467 ; the valuation for 1857 was 116,851. There is one line of railway, the Inverness and Aberdeen Junction ; and steamboats sail regularly from one or more of the Elgin seaports (generally Burghhead) to London, Edin- burgh, Aberdeen, and other parts of Scotland. The principal roads are those from Elgin, the county town, to Forres, a royal burgh ; to Lossiemouth, the chief seaport for Elgin, which ia 5J miles inland ; to Burgh- head, the steamboat station ; and to Orton ; also from Burghhead to Forres, and from the last place to Granton. Besides these, many cross roads have been constructed during the last forty years, which have greatly facilitated the progress of agriculture and com- merce. The assessment in 1860 for military roads was 231 19s. 8rf. Besides the towns above mentioned, there arc several important villages, as Fochabers, a burgh of tarony, in the parish of Bellie, one of the most charm- ingly situated villages in the N. of Scotland ; Bishopmill, a small village, separated from Elgin by the Lossie, on which are several corn-mills ; Kingston, near the mouth of the Spey, a large fishing village, and the chief ship- building station on the Moray Firth. There are many ancient seats and mansions belonging to landed pro- prietors, as Innes, Duffus, Gordonston, Grant Lodge, Milton, Brodie, Bromoriston, Palmercross, Inverugie, Newton, and Westerton, in the vicinity of Elgin ; Sanquhar House, Invererne, Lea Park, Grange Hall, and Drumduan, in the vicinity of Forres ; Elchies and Orton, on the Spey ; Dalvey, Brodie, Moy, and Kiii- corth, on the Findhorn. The who)e of the county is included within the synod of Moray, and is divided into 23 parishes, without Elgin, which is a collegiate charge, and head of a presbytery, as also is Forres. The Free Church, United Presbyterian Church, Episcopalians, Independents, Baptists, and Roman Catholics have con- gregations and chapels. The principal manufactures are whisky and ale brewing, which are extensively carried on at Elgin and Forres, and a factory for tartins and plaids at Elgin. There are also a foundry, tanner}-, ropewalks, and brick and tile works ; the last being situated near the loch of Spynie. The chief exports consist of corn, timber, whisky, and salmon. The constituency in 1859 was 828, returning one member to parliament conjointly with Nairnshire. There are numerous indications of the occupation of this county by the Scandinavian tribes, but few traces of the Romana. The old church of Bcrnie, in which the early bishops of Moray lie buriod, was built before 1224; it is believed to be the oldest ecclesiastical building in the county. Another venerable pile is the abbey of Plus- carden, near Elgin, founded in 1230 for Cistercian monks. It stands in a well-wooded glen, and is now in ruins. The abbey of Kinloss, near Forres, is now a complete ruin, only the foundations and some detached portions of the walls remaining. The ruins of the cathedral, of the Grey Friars, and of the bishop's palace, are all objects of interest, the first being considered one of the finest ruins in Scotland. Darnaway Castle is interesting from its associations with the Regent Randolph, who buiit the spacious hall, with its oak roof, and from having been the residence for a time of Queen Mary, who held her court here in 1564. There are many other ancient buildings, as Coxton Tower, Dallas and Duffus castles, &c., which will be found under the respective places where they arc situated. ELHAM, a par. in the hund. of Loningborough, lathe of Shepway, co. Kent, 6 miles to the N.E. of Hythe, 12 S. of Canterbury, its post town, and 5 N. of the Westen- hanger station, on the South-Eastern railway. At the time of the Norman Conquest it was possessed by Earl Hugh, who procured for it many privileges ; it after- wards passed to the Loybourne and Oxenden families, and enjoyed the privilege of a weekly market, granted by Henry III., but which has long been discontinued. It is now a considerable village, pleasantly situated on the small river Stour, containing many neatly-built brick houses. The parish is well wooded, and the sur- face undulating. It is the seat of a deanery in the arch- deaconry and diocese of Canterbury, of a Poor-Law Union of 20 parishes, and of a superintendent registry. Petty sessions for the division are held monthly. The living is a vie.* in the dipc. of Canterbury, val. 390, in the patron, of the archbishop. The church is a com- modious structure, with a fine timber roof and handsome massive tower. It is dedicated to St. Mary, and con- tains some monumental tablets. The parochial endow- ments produce nearly 70 per annum, of which 65 is for the free school founded by Sir John Williams in 1720. The Wesleyans and Armenians have each a chapel, and there are National and British schools. Fairs are held on Palm, Easter, and Whit Mondays, and on the 20th October for horses, cattle, and pedlery. ELIBANK, an estate in the par. of Yarrow, co. Sel- kirk, Scotland, 8 miles N.W. of Selkirk. It is situated on the banks of the Tweed, and gave title of baron to Sir Patrick Murray in 1643. Russell, the historian, was born here. ELIE, a par. and post town in the district of St. Andrew's, co. Fife, Scotland, 5 miles S.E. of Largo. It lies on the N. coast of the Firth of Forth, stretching out to the formation of Elie Ness and Elie Bay. It is other- wise bounded by the pars, of St. Monance, Kilconquhar, and Newburn. Its length is 2 miles, its breadth but half a mile. The surface is perfectly flat, and the const basaltic rock. Elie is a coastguard station and watering- place of some repute. This par. is in the presb. of St. Andrew's, and synod of Fife. The minister has a stipend of 149. The church was erected in 1726. The village contains a Free church, Congregational chapel, two private schools, savings-bank, and library. This par. was returned as pail of Kilconquhar up to 1610. Elie. House is the seat of Sir W. Anstruther, who is the prin- cipal heritor. The village of Elie stands close on the coast of the bay, and from the character of many of its buildings, was formerly a place of importance. The greater part of the parish anciently belonged to the Dischington family, under the title of barons of Ardross. Sir William Scott next held it in the early part of the 17th century, from whom it descended to the Anstru- thers as a burgh of barony. The harbour is most com- modious, and includes Wadeshaven, so called from General Wade, who pointed out its fitness for a govern- ment shipping station. At Kincraig is Macduff s Cave. [Stee EAKLSFEHHY.] Coal scams exist. Weaving gives employment to many of the inhabitants. A coach goes to the Lcvcn railway. The Leilh and Anstruther boat touches here three times a week. ELING, a par. in the hund. of Redbridge, Romsey div. of co. Hants, 3 miles N.W. of Southampton, its post town. The Totton station, on the London and South-Western railway, is about 1 mile to the N.W. of the village. It is situated at the upper end of the South- ampton Water, near the river Test, and is of great extent, including several tnshps. and limits., the principal of which are North and South Eling, Marchwood, Netley, and Totton, and the manor of Bury Farm, which last is held of the crown by the tenure of presenting to the king, on his visiting the New Forest, a brace of white greyhounds in silver couples, which ceremony was last performed in 1789, on the event of George Ill.'s visit to Lindhurst. The village is called in Domesday Survey, Edlinges, and was at that time a place of considerable importance,