In 1882-4, Frances Groome's Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland described Menmuir like this:
Menmuir, a hamlet and a parish of NE Forfarshire. The hamlet lies 5 miles WNW of Brechin, under which it has a post office.
The parish is bounded NW by Lethnot, NE by Stracathro, S by Brechin and Careston, and W by Fearn. Its utmost length, from E to W, is 61/8 miles; its utmost breadth, from N to S, is 3¾ miles; and its area is 10,110¼ acres, of which 10 are water. ...
Paphrie Burn, coming in from Fearn, first crosses a narrow wing of the interior, and then runs 25/8 miles east-north-eastward along the Lethnot boundary to West Water, which itself goes 9 furlongs along the rest of the northern boundary; Cruick Water, coming in from the SW, winds 65/8 miles east-by-northward near to or along the southern boundary; and Menmuir Burn, rising 1¼ mile NW of Menmuir hamlet, runs 41/8 miles east-by-southward to Cruick Water. Along the last-named stream the surface declines to 200 feet above sea-level; and thence it rises to 978 feet at White Caterthun, 943 at Brown Caterthun, 880 at the Hill of Menmuir, 1009 at Mansworn Rig, and 1579 at Peat Hill. The district S of the hills, comprising about one-half of the entire area, and forming part of Strathmore, lay mostly, till a comparatively recent period, in a marshy condition; and, though retaining some patches of marshy ground, is now nearly all of it well-reclaimed arable plain. The predominant rocks are greywacke and Old Red sandstone. A neglected chalybeate spring on Balhall Farm was once in much repute. The soil of the lands adjacent to Cruick Water is sharp and gravelly, on the parts of the plain further N is loamy, and on the hill-slopes is deep sandy clay. The chief antiquities are described in our article on the White and Brown Caterthun. Balnamoon, noticed separately, is the only mansion; but 4 proprietors hold each an annual value of more, 2 of less, than £500. Menmuir is in the presbytery of Brechin and the synod of Angus and Mearns; the living is worth £208. The parish church was erected in 1842. There is also a Free church; and a public school, with accommodation for 118 children, had (1883) an average attendance of 89, and a grant of £93, 0s. 6d. Valuation (1857) £5833, (1884) £7993, 18s. Pop. (1801) 949, (1831) 871, (1861) 796, (1871) 761, (1881) 755.—Ord. Sur., sh. 57, 1868.
Menmuir through time
Menmuir is now part of Angus district. Click here for graphs and data of how Angus has changed over two centuries. For statistics about Menmuir itself, go to Units and Statistics.
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, History of Menmuir in Angus | Map and description, A Vision of Britain through Time.
URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/16729
Date accessed: 19th April 2024
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