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Stirlingshire |
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"Situation Gargunnock, or Gargownno (as it is called in some old records), is situated about six miles west of the town of Stirling, on the south side of the Forth, by which it is seperated from the parishes of Kilmadock, and Kincardine. It is bounded on the east and south, by the parish of St. Ninians, and on the west by Kippen, Balfron, and Fintry.
Name it seems of no great importance, to ascertain the precise meaning of the word Gargownno. Different etymologists will give different explanations of the names of places, in which there is often more imagination than knowledge. Gargownno is probably of Celtic origin; descriptive of the particular spot, on the bacnks of the Forth, where a small fort stood, of which there is some account in the History of William Wallace. There we read of the Peel of Gargownno, in which an English party was stationed, to watch the passage of the Frew, in its neighbourhood. Wallace with a few followers, took the fort by stratagem in the night, while the English were off guard. The curious stranger may be conducted to the ground which it once occupied; and may perhaps regret, that scarcely a stone is now left to tell the story."
Parish Of Gargunnock (County of Stirling) by Rev. James Robertson (Statistical Account of Scotland 1791-1799)
(See also Tom Paterson's transcription of the "New Statistical Account of 1841")
The local community have their own web-site which provides some history and general information about Gargunnock including local events and photographs.
A little of the history of Gargunnock parish can be found at the 'electricscotland' web-site as an extract from the History of Stirlingshire.
Another site Gargunnock Village History relates some of the history of the community and has a genealogy page including a list of surnames transcribed from Gargunnock Churchyard.
John
Chalmers
Last updated 14-Apr-2004: