DUNBLANE, a market-town of Scotland, Perthshire, pleasantly situated on the E. bank of the Allan, a tributary of the Forth, 4 miles N. of Stirling. In the middle ages it was the seat of a convent of Culdees, and continued to be so till about the twelfth century. It was constituted the seat of a bishop by David I., by whom the cathedral, founded in 1142, was richly endowed. Among its bishops was the celebrated Robert Leighton, who bequeathed his valuable library to the cathedral and diocese. This library still exists, and has been greatly augmented by subsequent donations. Dunblane is at present only a village, consisting of a single old-fashioned street, with various diverging lanes. A mineral well in the neighbourhood causes an influx of visitors during the summer months. The chief attraction of Dunblane is the cathedral, the choir of which is now the parish church. It is a large Gothic edifice, with a steeple of modern erection, 128 feet in height. The prebendal stalls of richly
carved dark oak have fortunately been preserved. Market-day Thursday. About 2 miles from the town is Sheriffmuir, which gives name to the battle fought there on 13th November 1715, between the Earl of Mar and the royal forces under the Duke of Argyle. In this engagement the left wing of each army was defeated, and the right of each was victorious, but the fruits of the victory remained with the Duke of Argyle. At a short distance from Dunblane is the small village of Ardoch, in the immediate neighbourhood of which is the celebrated Roman camp, esteemed the most entire in the kingdom. The measure of the entire area of this camp is 1060 feet by 900, and it is calculated to have contained at least 20,000 men. The praetorium rises above the level of the camp, but is not exactly in the centre. It measures exactly twenty yards on each side. Pop. of Dunblane (1851) 1816.