Trrnwactionx. 59 



sombre and unpicturesque buildings, but their principal accessory, 

 the mill-dam, adds much to the beauty of the river. It forms 

 a broad waterfall, and gives depth and a lake-like appearance 

 to a reach of the river, which bends round the north-west por- 

 tion of the town, and extends as far as Lincluden, reflecting 

 at once on its smooth surface the ruins of that ancient Church 

 and Devorgilla's venerable bridge. 



These Mills occupy the site of older buildings of the same kind, 

 which were erected there in the year 1705, when Matthew Frew, 

 according to the terms of the contract between the parties, 

 undertook " to construct and build ane good and sufficient com- 

 . plete and well-going water-miln, for grinding of malt, meal, and 

 flour, or anie grain whatsomever, with dams, wearis, sluices, 

 watergangs, taledams, and hail othir pertinents." The Caul is 

 specified to extend " from that part of the rock on the Galloway 

 or Troqueer side, opposite to Baillie Fingusse's barn, in the 

 Whitesandbeds, up to the Dumfries side of the Nith opposite to 

 the entry or passage to the Water of Nith at the foot of ye 

 Freesvennell, or opposite ye back of the house pertaining to 

 Jaiues Boyd, merchant ;" and it is designed to be constructed of 

 wood : " Which Caal or Dam is to be made of staicks of red oak, 

 fixed into the rock tlirough the Water of Nyth, at two foot 

 distance one from another, or thairby, and holes to be digged 

 into the rock fit for beating down and fixing each stake, or stoup 

 thairin ; and which staickes are to be supported by stoupis of oak 

 fastened into ane oaken soale, tlirow the Water of Nith, at the 

 back of the said staiks or stoups ; and the said staiks or stoups 

 are to be lyned with good full firrdales, close plain-seamed on the 

 upper syde and nailed to ye said stoupes." The water-gang is to 

 be 160 feet in length. The Mill is to be built upon "that rock 

 opposite to the entry into Provost Irving's yeard at tlie head of 

 the Cunningham's lands pertaining to the Toun of Dumfries." 

 The Tail-dam is to be " 1200 foot in length or thairby, down 

 from the said miln to that rock in the rack opposite the lieid of 

 ye Willies." Frew binds himself to begin the work the 8tli of 

 April, 1705; to end the same at Martinmas next to come, 

 under penalty of 1000 merks Scots; and to uphold the Mill, 

 Dam, (fcc, seven years. The total contract price is 3000 merks 

 Scots, payable by periodical instalments of 360 merks each. 

 The contractor comes in the Town's will for any further pay- 

 ment, over and above the stipulated price of 3000 merks. He 



