Post by mike on Jun 5, 2006 6:03:42 GMT 10
Clackmannanshire, The Wee County
Clackmannanshire is the smallest county in Scotland. It is located between the counties of Fife, Stirlingshire, Perthshire and the River Forth. It extends for approximately 10 miles north and south, between the Forth and Perthshire and approximately 11 miles east and west, between Fife and Stirlingshire.
Looking east, across Clackmannashire, from atop the Wallace Monument
Alloa
Alloa is located on the north bank of the River Forth. It is the administrative center of the Clackmannanshire Council area. The settlement arose, approximately 7 miles east of Stirling, at a for and ferry crossing of the Forth. This crossing was defended by Alloa Tower, on land that was owned by the Erskine family. Alloa Tower is one of the oldest tower houses remaining in Scotland.
In the late 18th and 19th centuries, Alloa became an important port, due to all of the industry that had sprung up in the area. Glass-making, rope-making, sawmilling, sail-making, distilling, brewing, shipbuilding and the coal industry were all a part of Alloa's development.
Clackmannan
Clackmannan derives its name from the clack (stone) that stands at the center of the town. The stone is believed to have been sacred to a sea-god, Mannan, that pre-dated Christianity.
Clackmannan is on the north side of the River Forth and is located approximately 2 miles SE of Alloa. Until 1822, Clackmannan was the county seat.
The parish church is alleged to have been founded by St. Serf in the 5th century and was redesigned by James Graham in 1815 and rebuilt according to those plans.
Atop Kings Seat Hill stand Clackmannan Tower, built in the 12th century as a royal residence for King Malcolm IV. This tower was turned over to the Bruces in the late 14th century, who rebuilt the structure and added to it in both the 16th and 17th centuries.
Tullibody
Tullibody is located between the Forth and Devon river valleys, approximately 2 miles NW of Alloa.
The church of St. Mungo dates to the 16th century and the bridge at Bridgend was built in 1697.
Tullibody is known today for its retailing and distilling.
Sauchie
Sauchie is a former mining and textile-weaving center, located between Alloa and Tillicoultry.
Sauchie Tower was built in the early 15th century by the Shaws and is currently undergoing renovation. The Sauchie Bean Engine House was built in 1865 to pump water from the former Devon Colliery.
Sauchie is also home to Gartmorn Dam, constructed in 1713 by Sir John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar, to power pumps which drained his local coal mines. This area is now a 300 acre park and nature reserve.
From one of the hills at Gartmorn Dam, looking west across Sauchie, to the Wallace Monument.
Looking south, to the Kincardine Bridge over the Forth
Menstrie
Menstrie,the western-most Hillfoot village in Clackmannashire, is situated between Alva to the east and Blairlogie to the west. The Menstrie Burn, which falls to the River Devon here, also divides Dumyat from Myretoun Hill.
The founder of Nova Scotia in Canada was Sir William Alexander, 1st Earl of Stirling, who was born at Menstrie Castle in 1567.
Alva
Directly to the east of Menstrie lays Alva, in the Devon Valley. Alva was developed in the late 18th century, due to the textile milles that were powered by Alva Burn. In the late 19th century, there were nine spinning mills here.
Tillicoultry
The next village to the east is Tillicoultry, situated to the north of the River Devon. Tillicoultry Burn flows through Mill Glen to the Devon and was another source of power for the textile mills that were located at Tillicoultry.
Dollar
Dollar is located to the east of Tillicoultry. The original village of Dollar was destroyed in 1645 by the Duke of Montrose, in his attack of the Covenanter stronghold of Castle Campbell, also known as Castle Gloom.
The Burn of Sorrow, flowing through Dollar.
Looking up the burn to the site of Castle Campbell (not visible in image).
Clackmannanshire is the smallest county in Scotland. It is located between the counties of Fife, Stirlingshire, Perthshire and the River Forth. It extends for approximately 10 miles north and south, between the Forth and Perthshire and approximately 11 miles east and west, between Fife and Stirlingshire.
Looking east, across Clackmannashire, from atop the Wallace Monument
Alloa
Alloa is located on the north bank of the River Forth. It is the administrative center of the Clackmannanshire Council area. The settlement arose, approximately 7 miles east of Stirling, at a for and ferry crossing of the Forth. This crossing was defended by Alloa Tower, on land that was owned by the Erskine family. Alloa Tower is one of the oldest tower houses remaining in Scotland.
In the late 18th and 19th centuries, Alloa became an important port, due to all of the industry that had sprung up in the area. Glass-making, rope-making, sawmilling, sail-making, distilling, brewing, shipbuilding and the coal industry were all a part of Alloa's development.
Clackmannan
Clackmannan derives its name from the clack (stone) that stands at the center of the town. The stone is believed to have been sacred to a sea-god, Mannan, that pre-dated Christianity.
Clackmannan is on the north side of the River Forth and is located approximately 2 miles SE of Alloa. Until 1822, Clackmannan was the county seat.
The parish church is alleged to have been founded by St. Serf in the 5th century and was redesigned by James Graham in 1815 and rebuilt according to those plans.
Atop Kings Seat Hill stand Clackmannan Tower, built in the 12th century as a royal residence for King Malcolm IV. This tower was turned over to the Bruces in the late 14th century, who rebuilt the structure and added to it in both the 16th and 17th centuries.
Tullibody
Tullibody is located between the Forth and Devon river valleys, approximately 2 miles NW of Alloa.
The church of St. Mungo dates to the 16th century and the bridge at Bridgend was built in 1697.
Tullibody is known today for its retailing and distilling.
Sauchie
Sauchie is a former mining and textile-weaving center, located between Alloa and Tillicoultry.
Sauchie Tower was built in the early 15th century by the Shaws and is currently undergoing renovation. The Sauchie Bean Engine House was built in 1865 to pump water from the former Devon Colliery.
Sauchie is also home to Gartmorn Dam, constructed in 1713 by Sir John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar, to power pumps which drained his local coal mines. This area is now a 300 acre park and nature reserve.
From one of the hills at Gartmorn Dam, looking west across Sauchie, to the Wallace Monument.
Looking south, to the Kincardine Bridge over the Forth
Menstrie
Menstrie,the western-most Hillfoot village in Clackmannashire, is situated between Alva to the east and Blairlogie to the west. The Menstrie Burn, which falls to the River Devon here, also divides Dumyat from Myretoun Hill.
The founder of Nova Scotia in Canada was Sir William Alexander, 1st Earl of Stirling, who was born at Menstrie Castle in 1567.
Alva
Directly to the east of Menstrie lays Alva, in the Devon Valley. Alva was developed in the late 18th century, due to the textile milles that were powered by Alva Burn. In the late 19th century, there were nine spinning mills here.
Tillicoultry
The next village to the east is Tillicoultry, situated to the north of the River Devon. Tillicoultry Burn flows through Mill Glen to the Devon and was another source of power for the textile mills that were located at Tillicoultry.
Dollar
Dollar is located to the east of Tillicoultry. The original village of Dollar was destroyed in 1645 by the Duke of Montrose, in his attack of the Covenanter stronghold of Castle Campbell, also known as Castle Gloom.
The Burn of Sorrow, flowing through Dollar.
Looking up the burn to the site of Castle Campbell (not visible in image).