TiiE Glenkens in the Olden Times. 141 



ontranue to the cliurch. The burial place of the (iordous of 

 Lochinvar aud Viscoimta of Kenmuie is in an old tomb which 

 appears to have been at one time joined to the church. The 

 village at one time is said to have been a furlong- from the church, 

 but is now built down to a level with it. 



The old inn of Midtown, where the rebellion broke out that 

 resulted in the battle of Eullion Green, in 166G, was at the upper 

 end of the village. The old house has now been taken down, and 

 a new house built in the old courtyard. 



In 1629 Sir John Gordon of Lochinvar applied to the Scottish 

 Parliament for authority to ei'ect part of his lands with the houses 

 thereon into a Royal Burg-h. It was thought St. John's Clauchan 

 was meant to be the place, but in 1633 the Scottish Parliament 

 granted a charter for the village of Eoddings being created a 

 lioyal Burgh, as it was more convenient to Kenmure. It was to 

 be called the Burgh of Galloway, now New Galloway, the corpo- 

 ration to consist of a Provost, four liailies, a Dean of Guild, and 

 twelve Councillors. Its patron died before his design of building 

 the town was fully carried out. A weekly market was, however, 

 established, and a farmei^s' club, both of which proved of much 

 benefit to the district for many years. An annual cattle show was 

 also established then, which has continued till now, and is said to 

 iiave been the parent of all the cattle shows in Scotland. 



The Forest of Buchan was a royal hunting forest. About the 

 year 1500 it occupied an immense area, including- large tracts of 

 land in the parishes of Kells, Carsphairn, and Minnigaff. From 

 Loch Uoou it extended to Loch Dee, Loch Trool, and the river 

 Cree. The farms included in the Forest in the parish of Kells 

 were Garvary, Bush, Forest, Darnaw, Dukieston, Knockreoch, 

 Woodhead, Strangassel, Knockualling, Stranfasket, Burnhead, 

 Largmore, Drumbuie, and Barskeoch. Much of the land included 

 in this area was bare rocky heath ; but there were also in it some 

 rich and well-sheltered pastures, aud many beautiful glens, the 

 whole abounding with game. As late as 1G84 Symson writes-- 

 " There are very large red deer, and about the mountain tops 

 the tarmachan or ptarmigan, a bird about the size of a grouse 

 cock. Eagles, both grey aud black, also bred there." The latest 

 eagle seen among the hills was trapped near Loch Dee about 1860. 

 The limits of the forest gradually contracted, and in the 17th 

 century only the part lying in Minnigaff retained the name of the 



