In 1882-4, Frances Groome's Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland described Kilmany like this:
Kilmany, a village and a parish of N Fife. The village stands 2½ miles S of the Firth of Tay and 5½ N by E of Cupar, under which it has a post office. The parish, containing also Rathillet village, is bounded N by Balmerino and Forgan, SE by Logie, S by Dairsie and Cupar, SW by Monzie, and W by Creich. ...
Its utmost length, from ENE to WSW, is 57/8 miles; its breadth varies between 31/3 furlongs and 31/8 miles; and its area is 5343 acres. The outline, narrow in the NE and broad in the SW, rudely resembles that of a long-necked globular bottle. The drainage is carried eastward by Motray Water to the Eden; and the surface sinking in the extreme NE to less than 100 feet above sea-level, thence rises westward and south-westward to 439 feet at Long Hill, 348 at Round Hill, 404 at North Hill, 493 at Dacklaw Hill, 563 at Myrecairnie Hill, 514 at Murdochcairnie Hill, 538 at Starlaw, and 622 near Lewis Wood. The upper part of Motray vale appears to have been successively a lake and a marsh, and was not entirely drained and converted into prime arable land till the latter part of last century. Goales Den, traversed by a runnel southward to Motray Water, is a deep cut near Kilmany village, apparently formed, first by trap rock disruption, and next by the action of running water. It was tastefully planted and intersected with walks about the year 1825; and presents, on a small scale, a charming series of romantic and picturesque views. Trap rock of various kinds predominates throughout the parish, and has been largely worked for building material. The soil is various, but generally good. About 235 acres are under wood, and nearly all the rest of the land is in tillage. Stone coffins, funereal urns, and a few coins have been from time to time discovered. David Balfour, son of the proprietor of Mountquhanie, was one of the plotters and perpetrators of the death of Cardinal Beaton; David Hackston of Rathillet was one of the murderers of Archbishop Sharp; and the Rev. Dr Chalmers was minister from 1803 till 1814. Mountquhanie, noticed separately, is the chief residence; and the property is divided among 11. Kilmany is in the presbytery of Cupar and synod of Fife; the living is worth £291. The parish church, at Kilmany village, is a very plain structure of 1768, containing 320 sittings. A U.P. church, also a very plain building, is at Rathillet; and two public schools, Kilmany and Kilmany female, with respective accommodation for 63 and 38 children, had (1881) an average attendance of 41 and 22, and grants of £27, 16s. and £18, 10s. Valuation (1866) £8858, (1883) £9469, 15s. Pop. (1801) 787, (1831) 707, (1861) 656, (1871) 651, (1881) 634.—Ord. Sur., sh. 48, 1868.
Kilmany through time
Kilmany is now part of Fife district. Click here for graphs and data of how Fife has changed over two centuries. For statistics about Kilmany itself, go to Units and Statistics.
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Kilmany in Fife | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.
URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/16397
Date accessed: 01st November 2024
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