OS1/13/85/42A

Continued entries/extra info

42A Parish of Kilrenny.

[Quotation] The burgh of Kilrenny consists of two villages Nether- Kilrenny or Cellardykes which is on the sea coast, divided from Anstruther-Easter only by a small burn, and forming with it and Anstruther Wester apparently one long town; and Upper Kilrenny situated about half a mile inland, which contains the church manse two gentlemen's seats and a few cottages. Kilrenny is not properly speaking a royal burgh, as so far as is known it never had a royal charter and it holds feu of a subject superior, Bethune of Balfour. It appears, however, to have sent a member to the Scottish parliament and in 1672, the magistrates presented a supplication to parliament setting forth that it never was a royal burgh and praying that it might no longer be considered as such, but continue a burgh-of-regality. This supplication was submitted to the privy council and it was afterwards as appears from the minutes of parliament, "expunged from the rolls, the same being now no royal burgh by act of parliament." Notwithstanding this however it continued after a time to send a member to parliament without any objection till the Union when it was classed with four other burghs in sending a member to the British parliament and by the reform bill it was conjoined with Cupar St. Andrews Crail Anstruther-Easter, and Wester, and Pittenweem for the same purpose. It is governed by a chief magistrate 2 bailies, and 12 other councillors. The parliamentary and municipal constituency in 1840 was 51. Corporation revenue £44.1.6. Population in 1831 1,705 Nether-Kilrenny, or Cellardykes is a fishing-station of considerable importance. It has a small harbour, which is not safe during gales from the east or southeast when the fishermen are obliged to have recourse to the harbour of EasterAnstruther which labours under the disadvantage that it can neither be left nor entered except at certain states of the.. [continued]