Kinross

"KINROSS, a parish, containing a post-town of the same name, in Kinross-shire. It is bounded by Orwell, Portmoak, Cleish, and Fossoway. Its length eastward is a little less than 4 miles; and its breadth is about 3 miles. Loch-Leven flanks most of its east side, separating it from Portmoak; and three streams, the North Quiech, the South Quiech, and the Gairney, drain it eastward to that lake ..."

"The town of Kinross is pleasantly situated at the west end of Loch-Leven, on the road from Edinburgh to Perth, 13 miles north by east of Inverkeithing, 16 south by east of Perth, 19 south-west of Cupar, 23 east-north-east of Stirling, and 27 north-north-west of Edinburgh. It was formerly a very mean place; but it has in recent times been much improved. The streets present a fair appearance, and are lighted with gas; and a large proportion of the private houses are new or modern, and in good style."

From the Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, edited by John Marius Wilson, 1868.

"KINROSS, a parish and market town in county Kinross, Scotland, 27 miles N. of Edinburgh and 17 S. of Perth. It is situated on the W. side of Loch Leven, which separates it from Portmoak. It is bounded by the parishes of Cleish, Orwell, Portmoak, and Fossoway. Its size is 4 miles by 3½ and its area is about 5,600 acres, the greater proportion of which is arable land. The parish is in the presbytery of Dunfermline and synod of Fife. The minister's stipend is £200. The parish church, built in 1832, is a Gothic structure. There is a Free church, also two United Presbyterian churches. There are several schools, in the neighbourhood for both sexes. Here formerly stood a castle of great strength, which was long the residence of the earls of Morton. It was removed about a century ago, and its site is now occupied by Kinross House, a structure designed and built by Sir William Bruce, the architect. The parish is drained- by the Garney and the North and South Queich, which flow into Loch Leven. This sheet of water is 10 miles in circumference, and has a trout fishery which lets for nearly £200 per annum. In the loch are four islands. [See Loch Leven.] The town of Kinross is of considerable antiquity and is the capital of the county. It occupies a site at one end of the open vale to which it gives name, a little to the N.W. of Loch Leven. It is a railway station on the Edinburgh, Frith, and Dundee line. Its streets, which formerly consisted of narrow lanes, have been greatly improved, and the town now contains many handsome houses, erected particularly in the line of the great N. road, which forms the main street. It contains the county sessions-house, townhall, two large inns, two branch banks in connection with the British Linen Company and the Edinburgh and Glasgow banks, and several insurance agencies, also subscription libraries and benevolent societies. The government of the town is vested in the hands of a committee of the inhabitants, who are elected annually. The inhabitants are chiefly employed in the manufacture of woollen goods and in cotton weaving. At one period the produce of the town was cutlery and brown linen, but those branches of industry have now become almost extinct. The courts of the sheriffs sit here every Tuesday during session, and justices of peace courts are held monthly. Market day is Wednesday, principally for corn. Fairs are held en the third Wednesday in March, the 1st June, the third Wednesday of July, and on the 18th October (old style)."

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)
Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]

Map of Kinross from 1823 showing surnames of owners of properties.

More general information about Kinross including some of its more illustrious children can be found at The Edinburgh University Gazetteer.

You can see some photographs of Kinross from the past here.