Lecropt

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1 The Parish
2 Situation, Extent, Surface &c.
3 Lecropt Kirk
4 Sources

[edit] The Parish

Lecropt is a rural parish lying to the west of Bridge of Allan, Scotland.

[edit] Situation, Extent, Surface &c.

Historically about two thirds of this parish were situated within the county of Perth, and one-third in the county of Stirling. Today, Lecropt falls wholly within Stirling Council Area. The river Teith bounds it on the south-west, where it meets the Forth and the Allan on the east. The southern point is where the Allan falls into the united streams of the other two. From east to west it extends about 3 miles, and nearly about as much from north to south.

It contains about 2000 acres, one-half of which - the southern part - is known as the Carse of Lecropt. The fertile soil of the carse is a rich clay. The other, northern half is upland, or what is generally called dry-field. Much of this consists of the policy lands of Keir House.

The clay soil on the south is divided from the upland by a beautiful bank, which crosses the parish almost parallel to the north side, and nearly at one-third of the distance between it and the southern extremity.

[edit] Lecropt Kirk

Lecropt Kirk is a handsome essay in Gothic revival style, built in 1827 to the designs of William Stirling, a local architect.

Occupying a superb, elevated position overlooking the carse lands, Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument can be clearly seen from the church grounds and is located about a mile from Bridge of Allan and 3 miles from Dunblane.

The interior is a period piece of controlled dignity and beauty, containing in its loft, vaults and monuments the influence of an old landed family, the Stirlings of Keir, built in the age of patronage. This late Georgian church is an early example of its style in Scotland, in company with the other carse Kirks of Kippen and Kincardine in Menteith.

There has been a church at Lecropt prior to 1827, the old kirk was built in 1400 in what is now the Keir estate although nothing remains of the Kirk. It is known that there was a church at Lecropt prior to 1260.

Image:Http://www.dunblaneweb.co.uk/lecropt/church20.jpg