The Parish of Luce. 5 



Donations and Exchanges. — Transactions and Proceedings of 

 the Botanical Society of Edinburgh, Vol. xxi., Pt. iv. ; Annals of 

 the Andersonian Naturalists' Society, Vol. ii. 



COM.MUXICATIOXS. 



I.— The Parish of Luce (Hoddom). By Mr GeoBGE IkvinG, 

 Corbridge-on-Tyne. 



There is very little now to be seen of Luce except a few 

 Irag-ments. It was formerly a parish, and a church was founded 

 here by St. Kentigeru in the sixth century. The ancient parish 

 of Luce, now part of Hoddom, seems to have been bounded by 

 Annan Water on the west, by Mein Water on the north-west, 

 until it joined Pennersax, opposite Xewbiggen, then it struck 

 south to the Brownmuir through the wood by the existing march 

 fence until it meets tlie Boushaw estate, then following the boun- 

 dary of the Bonshaw estate down Butcherbeck Burn to Annan 

 \Vater, near (Meughheads. The area of the parish was about 1200 

 acres. Little is now known about its ecclesiastical history. In 

 Laing's Charters, under date 16th December, 15.59, it is mentioned 

 that Andrew Layng, rector of Hoddom, and Johannes Layng, 

 rector de Luss, were witnesses to the confirmation of a charter 

 by Gavin Hamilton, commendator of Kilinning. to Adam Mont- 

 gumry. 



The vale of Hoddom as seen from Luce old churchyard, 

 about 120 feet above sea level, is rich and beautiful. Nature 

 seems to have been in a lavish mood when it was made. No 

 wonder St. Keutigern pitched his little Mission Church here. 

 Looking northwards you see Annan Water debouching through 

 the gorge opposite Hallyards and flowing past the site of the old 

 parish church, and rolling; its dark waters past the base of Repent- 

 ance Hill and AVoodcockair, and absorbing Mein Water as it 

 rolls on its way round the rocky point at Luce and on past Bride- 

 kirk on its way to the Solway Firth. Two miles away is Hoddom 

 Castle with its turrets, and on the left the near horizon stretches 

 over the gentle elevation called Barrhill, well known to lovers of 

 the leish. The Caledonian Railway creeps serpent-like round its 

 base, separating from Barrhill the ridge over Cowdews, Hare- 

 gills, Douglas Hall, and Birrenswark. 



On the north-east is seen Ecclefechan nestling between 



