AN INCIDENT IN THE History OF KIRKCUDBRIGHT. 129 
I mistake not, also a magistrate, of the town. In fulfilment of 
the agreement, the house now occupied by Sheriff Napier was 
erected by Mr Freeland. It was used for many years as a branch 
of the Bank of Scotland, hence the name of Old Bank House. 
Mackenzie, in his “ History of Galloway,’’ says that two per- 
forated stones in the pavement “are still visible, in which the 
pivots of the gate turn.’’ ‘These are still to be seen—one in 
front of Sheriff Napier’s house, and the other in front of Mr 
Peter Comline’s. One of the stones is a whinstone, and the other 
a Netherlaw sandstone. The yett, with its pillars and two 
globular ornamental stones, were removed about 1780, the arch 
stones being built over the burn at the east side of the church- 
yard. To judge from this arch, the yett would be about six feet 
wide. The pillars and stones were erected at the present 
entrance to the churchyard, to guard, after all the years of storm 
and strife, the peaceful “ God’s acre ’’ on the hill. 
KIRKCUDBRIGHT IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. By Mr W. 
DICKIE. 
THE Common LANDS—ALIENATION OF BURGH PROPERTY— 
EXTENT OF THE TOWN. 
In perusing the Town Council records of Kirkcudbright 
many cases come under our notice during the latter half of the 
sixteenth century in which portions of common lands lying 
within and around the town were parted with for annual con- 
siderations more or less onerous. Thomas Anderson, the Town 
Clerk, figures in a number of these transactions; one of the 
deeds conveying to him “all and haill thair common landis by 
and within the said burgh, betwix the Hie Street qlk passis fra 
the Marcat Croce of the samen to the port callit the Mekill 
Yet, upon the south pairt,’’ excepting those portions which have 
already been conveyed to James Lidderdale of St. Mary’s Isle 
and others. For this he is only to pay annually sixpence of 
“usual money.’’ Andro Pauling, burgess, gets a conveyance of 
a “croft and pec. of land’’ in the south end of the burgh, and 
lying east of “the common streit qlk. passes fre the said burgh 
to Sanct Marie Isle,’’ for five merks and an annual feu duty of 
twelve pennies. In 1581 the Council disponed to “thair nycht- 
bour, Johnne Hendirsoun,’’ a waste piece of ground betwixt the 
