"Situated on the east coast, at the mouth of the Frith (sic) of Tay. It is about five and a half miles long, and two broad: the general appearance is flat, with a considerable declevity from the North to the Sea; the coast is flat and rocky, but has two open harbours at the East and West Havens, where small vessels may deliver their cargoes during the summer months. The soil varies considerably , being sandy on the coast, loam or clay in the middle, and muiry in its northern extremity. The parish is watered by a considerable stream, which runs at the bottom of a valley called Battie's Den, over which is thrown a high bridge, on the turnpike road from Dundee to Arbroath. There are several villages, viz. East and West Haven, Panbride, Skrine and Muirdrum; at the latter of which is a post office. In the northern part of the parishstands the house of Panmure, with its extensive enclosures and plantations, the property of the Hon W Ramsay Maule, but at present the residence of his brother the Hon Capt Ramsay."
(The Gazetteer of Scotland, W Chalmers, Dundee 1803)

THE PARISH OF PANBRIDE

Panbride, as a village, was only formed after 1800. The original name of the settlement was "Kirkton of Panbride", named after the parish kirk. In 1794, "Panbride" was a cluster of nine buildings west of the crossroads and only the kirk and manse to the east. There were other clusters of buildings - West Haven and East Haven for example - but no village of Panbride, per se. In 1841, the village of Panbride had twenty-six households and 109 inhabitants. The hamlets of Gallowlaw, West and East Haven (all on the shore) were made of families of fishermen and sailors. Gallowlaw is supposed to have taken its name from being the site of the barony of Panbride's medieval place of execution. In the 19th Century it consisted of around twenty cottages inhabited by a skipper and salmon fishers, but no white fishers. In 1889, the whole built up area became part of Carnoustie, but the valuation roles and gazetteers distinguished residents of these areas well into the 20th Century.

By 1841, the village of Panbride, and the Havens and Gallowlaw, had been nearly halved. Today, the town of Carnoustie has covered many of the farms and rows of cottages that once made up the village of Panbride.

The kirk of Panbride was dedicated to St. Bride (Bridget). Several successive churches have been built on the site. The medieval church had conflicting claims over jurisdiction. By the 16th century, the Maules of Panmure exercised patronage over the church. The church was rebuilt by George Maule, Earl of Panmure in 1681 to incorporate a private burial vault with a room above, once reached by an outside stair to which the jougs were once attached. The jougs are now attached to the wall and were once used to handcuff minor malefactors, a relic still in situ. The bell is dated 1681 and silver communion cups were also donated by the Maules in the 17th century. The present church was built in 1851, and is still in use.

In 1791, the Rev. Mr. Robert Trail, minister of Panbride, noted the number of poor in the parish varied from 8 to 10, and that all were maintained in their own houses; and "there is not a beggar in the parish." He went on to note that "besides the ordinary poor, there is a considerable number of householders in indigent circumstances, each of whom get a boll of coals from the session yearly. The funds bearing interest do not much exceed L.100; but a considerable sum arises from the mortcloth and hearse fees. The weekly collections in church are from 5s. to 7s. or 8s." By 1833, David Trail (Robert Trail's son), then the minister of Panbride, reported 12 to 18 poor on the roll, all maintained in their own houses. His poor fund, amounted to only L.73, but again he raised a considerable sum from mortcloth and hearse fees. Also, "There are no assessments for the ordinary poor. But there are three lunatic paupers connected with this parish, in different asylums, the expense of whose board is L.50; of this sum the heritor pays one-half and the tenants the other."

The parish school was founded as early as 1613, probably in connection with the kirk. There is no school building in evidence as late as 1729, but part of the kirk stable had a fireplace and is thought to have been used as a schoolroom in the 18th century. The first school was built in 1819.

"The people in general are sober and moral in their habits; and regular in their attendance on public ordinances. They are also, as might be expected, industrious and frugal; and are altogether a very respectable portion of the community.
The ordinary food of the peasantry consists chiefly of potatoes, and of the various preparations of oatmeal; with occasionally a little butcher-meat, generally pork, at dinner. Tea is in universal use, from the highest to the lowest. On the whole, though many are liable to participate in the occasional depressions of trade, it may be stated that the people enjoy in a reasonable degree the comforts and advantages of society."

The parishioners of Panbride were chiefly farmers or fishers, with a few becoming merchant seaman.

 

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