Some Incidents in Troqueer Parish. 143 



" Councill considering \ t by the late inundations the . . . 

 Nith is fallen greatly on this side, and particularly at the head of 

 the green-sand beds qr a great part is washen away, and likewise 

 opposite to the foot of Cavart's vennell [called also the Stinking 

 Vennel, now Bank Street] yr being a rack wch runs far into the 

 water, and forces the water in upon the chappell.yeards [these 

 received their name from the Lady Chapel of the Willies, known 

 in later times as Rig's Chapel] towrds the laigh milnburn bridge, 

 [this crossed the milnburn at the foot of St. Michael's Street] 

 and likewise the Island called the Willies has forced the water 

 on the head of the dock on this side qrby a great part is washen 

 away." The Council appointed creels to be filled with stones 

 and set where the water encroached and the rock to be cut, 

 " likewise to cutt the willies yt remains, and carry such a con- 

 siderable part of the standers to the head of the dock to force 

 the water to the oyr side." In the following October "a rack 

 on the oyr sidde of the water oposite to the whyte sands is 

 ordered to be cut twelve foot wyde . . . and as deep as the 

 superfice of the water qn lowest." 



This action led to much larger issues, for in Jan. 1705, 

 " The Councill being informed that yr is a convenient place on the 

 oyr side of the water where the ground was lately cutt . . . 

 for building of a water miln . . . and the Inhabitants are 

 not con\-eniently served in time of summer and drought by the 

 horsemiln." 



Thus it was that the Town's Mills, and caul came to be built, 

 but that has been already fully treated^ and there is nothing to 

 be gained by going over the same ground. Suffice to (ay that 

 the mill was built on town's land with the exception of the 

 west gavil, for which with land for " ane patent road " through 

 "Gavin Carlile's park tending to Bilbow " the Council made 

 purchases from Gavin Carlile. A year later (25 Nov., 1706) 

 they built a kiln " in the Quarrieholes " for the convenience and 

 profit of the mill. 



Two other events we may record from the Council Minutes. 

 On the 4th March, 1700, was rouped " the house and yeard in the 

 Brigend of Drumfries disponed by umqle Homer Anderson for 

 the use of the poor of the Burgh of Drumfries for 310 merks 

 Scots ... to Robert Howat, yr." 



3. Transactions, 1883-6, p.p. 58-70. 



