30 Transactions. 



Ancient ecclesiastical remains in the parish can hardly be said to 

 exist. The present church, which appears to occupy the site of 

 the old one, was built in 1776, and nothing in any way connected 

 with the older building can be discovered with the exception of 

 the church bell, which bears the inscription, " Jon. Campbell, 

 minister, 1728." On the top of a pillar erected over a well in the 

 glebe is, however, a Maltese cross, which has formed part of 

 another erection, and which appears to be of some antiquity. It 

 is about 2 ft. across, and, unless it can have been brought from 

 Sweetheart Abbey, may have been been taken from the old 

 church of Kirkbean. Unfortunately, no one can give any infor- 

 mation about this cross, which is understood to have been placed 

 in its present position by the Eev. Mr Grierson, who was minister 

 of the parish for a number of jears. The tombstones in the 

 churchyard are of no particular interest, unless that erected by 

 Paul Jones over the remains of his father may be considered as 

 worthy of note. Near Kirkbean Village there is a cottage, with 

 some land attached, which bears the name of Chapelgrove. About 

 50 years ago there existed a tradition that a chapel stood on 

 these lands. May not this have been the Church of St. Bein ? A 

 short distance from this is an old well, known as Lady Well, 

 which has given its name to some adjoining houses. This was in 

 use until a few years ago, when some drainage operations in an 

 adjoining field stopped the supply. This was, in all probability, 

 one of the many sacred wells in Galloway, and one would suppose 

 from the name dedicated to the Virgin. No tradition now exists 

 with reference to this well, but very careful inquiry has failed to 

 give me any other reason for this well receiving the name it 

 bears. 



There are records of the existence of two Druidical circles in 

 the parish, but at present no trace of these can be found, and 

 tradition fails to give even a hint of their probable sites, for which 

 a careful search was made during the Oi'dnance Survey in 1893. 

 "Carlisle's Topographical Dictionary of Scotland," vol. ii.,says: 

 " On the farm of Ardrie " (liow spelled Airdrie) " is a Druidical 

 circle still entire." " The Parliamentary Gazetteer of Scotland," 

 vol. ii., p. 163, says: " On the farm of Ardrie is a Druidical circle." 

 The " History of Galloway," published in 1841, says of the same 

 circle (vol. i., pp. 36) : " On the farm of Ardrie, in the parish of 

 Kirkbean, a Druid Temple, consisting of a circle of upright stones, 



