page: 10 line: 111
ALVA, town and parish forming detached part of Stirlingshire. The town stands on low flat ground, at terminus of branch railway, adjacent to acclivities of the Ochil Hills, 7 miles east-north-east of Stirling ; extends about mile across the entrance of a romantic glen of its own name ; carries on woollen manufacture, and has a post office, with money order and telegraph departments, under Stirling, 2 banking offices, a town hall, Established, Free, and United Presbyterian churches, and a public school of 1876, with accommodation for more than 700 scholars. Pop. 4961. The parish measures about 4 by 2J miles, and comprises 5458 acres. Real property in 1880-81, 13,971. Pop. 5113. The southern part is low and fertile, and the other parts are a portion of the Ochils, enclosing Alva Glen. That glen is a cul de sac about 3 miles long ; contains the mansion and grounds of Alva House ; exhibits striking features of ravine, cliff, and waterfall ; and is overhung at the head by Bencleuch, the loftiest of the Ochils. There are 4 schools, with accommodation for 934 scholars.
