82 The Church Bells of HoLvwoon. 



Communication. 



The Church Bells of Hohjwood ami Kirkmahoe, and the Church 

 and Mi07iicipal Bells of Lochmaben. Part 1. 



By Mr James Barbour. 



In Dumfriesshire and Galloway, as in nearly every district of 

 Scotland, bell-lore has been neglected, and whether few or many 

 ancient or otherwise interesting bells exist is hardly known. 

 There is danger that valuable material may be lost through delay 

 in promoting a[)preciation of the subject. In tliis connection the 

 case of Newabbey may be mentioned. A short time ago a smaU 

 bell occupied a cleft over the lichgate of the Abbey. The cleft 

 is now vacant; what has become of the bell '? Clergymen are 

 generally alive to the desirableness of preserving the old bells of 

 their churches, and it is to be hoped they will endeavour to 

 contribute information to this Society regarding them to be put 

 on record. 



In a former communication some account was given of tlie 

 bells belonging to tlie town of Dumfries. In the present paper 

 it is proposed to notice tho.se of tlie adjacent parislies of 

 Holy wood, Kirkmahoe, and Lochmaben. Some of these are pre- 

 Reforraation bells, others are modern. Of the latter class are 

 the present bell of Kirkmahoe Church and the municipal bell of 

 Lochmaben. The others, consisting of two in Holywood and 

 Lochmaben Churches respectively, belong to the former class j 

 and, besides, these two old bells, now lost, were in use formerly 

 in the cliurch of Kirkmahoe, as evidence to be submitted will 

 show. 



Before proceeding to deal with the bells singly I will refer to 

 those of mediaeval origin in group, and it will be of advantage to 

 include the two Dumfries bells of the class, one of which, it will 

 be remembered, is extant, but not in use, while the other 

 continues in use in the church, after being recast twice and 

 enlarged, the original inscription being always preserved. 



Thus we have in evidence no less than eight mediaeval bells in 

 the four parishes, and the first circumstance in connection with 

 them calling for remark relates to their distribution. Invariably 

 the churches had two bells. How far this was the rule in Scot- 

 land I do not know, but a number of ancient clmrches exhibit 



