Bute, North, the northernmost parish of Bute island, Buteshire, bounded SE by Rothesay parish. Its church stands in the dingle between Kames and Etterick Bays, 1 mile W of Port Bannatyne, and 3½ miles NW of Rothesay; and its post-town is Port Bannatyne under Rothesay. It comprehends Inchmarnock island, and the parts of Bute island north of Rothesay burgh; and, with an extreme length and breadth of 8 and 4 miles, has a land area of 14,764 acres. The natural features have been already noticed under Bute. The Marquis of Bute is the chief proprietor; but 3 others hold each an annual value of between £100 and £500,9 of between £50 and £100, and 15 of from £20 to £50. North Bute parish is in the presbytery of Dunoon and synod of Argyll; the living is worth £232. The church, built in 1836 as an extension church at the cost of the Marquis of Bute, is an elegant structure, containing 700 sittings. There is also a Free church, and, under the North Bute and Rothesay landward board, are the 3 public schools of Ballianlay, Kildavannan, and North Bute, which, with respective accommodation for 74,45, and 144 children, had (1879) an average attendance of 31,16, and 71, and grants of £37,9s. 6d., £26,3s., and £67,6s. 6d. Valuation (1881) £12,196. Pop. (1841) 765, (1861) 1140, (1871) 1166, (1881) 1206, of whom 112 were Gaelic-speaking.—Ord. Sur., sh. 29,1873.

(F.H. Groome, Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland (1882-4); © 2004 Gazetteer for Scotland)