Dr.MlUHTOX.SiriRE. 



DUMBARTON! 



dlt 



of the range, attains a height of 2500 feet. The pariah of Roseneath 

 U a peninsula, having on the east thu comparatively narrow inlot of 

 the Oareloch, and on the west the wider expanse of Loch Long. Few 

 counties pones* more picturesque scenery than Dumbartonshire 

 Through this county lies one of the routes to the wilder and sterner 

 landscapes of the Western Highlands in Argyleahire and Perthshire. 



The numerous streams and lakes of Dumbartonshire contribute in 

 no small degree to the comfort and prosperity of the inhabitants, the 

 fertility of the soil, and the charms of the scenery. The chief rivers 

 are the Clyde and the Leven, both of them in their upper courses 

 mountain streams, and both subsiding into calm and useful river*. 

 The Clyde however is only a boundary stream, touching the county a 

 little above West Kilpatrick and separating it from Renfrewshire. 

 The Leven flows from the lower end of Loch Lomond, and passes by 

 the foot of Dumbarton Rock into the Clyde. It is largely used for 

 manufacturing purposes, for which the softness and purity of its waters 

 peculiarly adapt it, in the bleaching and dyeing processes carried on 

 at Bunhill and other places on its banks. 



The other streams are of small importance, but thosa of Falloch, 

 Inveruglass, and Douglas, which contribute their waters to Loch 

 Lomond near its head, are diversified by cascades as they descend 

 from their mountain sources. Kelvin Water rises on the south-west 

 of the Campsie fells, flows through Kirkint illoch parish, and falls into 

 the Clyde at Partick, a little below Glasgow ; in its lower course its 

 banks become bold and elevated, and the stream rapid, which character 

 it maintains till it joins the Clyde. The Forth and Clyde Canal skirts 

 the northern borders of the parishes of Cumberuauld and Kirkiutilloch, 

 then crossing a part of Lanarkshire, it enters Dumbartonshire again 

 by the Kelvin aqueduct, runs along the southern port of East Kil- 

 patrick, and joins the Clyde at Dnlmuir in West Kilpatrick. The 

 islands in Loch Lomond form parts of the parish of Luss. There 

 are eight other fresh-water lakes in the county, of which Loch Hog, 

 about a mile long and a quarter of a mile broad, U the largest 



The LigV way and cross-roads are in general well made and kept in 

 good order. The chief high road follows the north bank of the Clyde 

 from Glasgow to Dumbarton, through which town one branch still 

 following the Clyde testuary, leads to Cardross, Helensburgh, the 

 Gareloch, and crossing a narrow isthmus between the lakes, to the 

 banks of Loch Long, and the village of Arrochar, at its northern 

 extremity : a second branch traverses the west side of the vale of Leven 

 and the west tide of Loch Lomond to the extreme north of the county. 

 Another high road leads from the road between Glasgow and Dum- 

 barton, through Bunhill alon;; the south-eastern bank of Loch Lomond 

 to Stirlingshire. On Loch Lomond are steamers which touch at the 

 several villages on the banks of the lake, at all of which there are 

 fcn-iei. Several steamers start daily from Dumbarton, and several 

 also from the Gareloch, to the towns on the Clyde and to Glasgow. 

 By the Dumbartonshire railway there is communication between 

 Glasgow and Balloch, at the south-east end of Loch Lomond vi\ 

 Dumbarton. The detached portion of the county is traversed in port 

 by the Edinburgh and Glasgow railway, which has a station at 

 Cumbernauld and a branch to Kirkintilloch and Campsie in Stirling- 

 shire. The Honkland and Kirkintilloch railway is entirely a mineral 

 line. The Forth and Clyde Canal also traverses this portion of the 

 county, passing through the town of Kirkiutilloch. 



OeoUigy The northern part of the county, including the whole of 

 Arrochar and the larger part of Luss and Row, consists of mica-slate, 

 which overlies the gneiea, and is traversed by dykes of whin and 

 greenstone. Quartsose mica-slate forms the loftiest of the hills, and 

 also the basin of Loch Lomond, except its southern extremity, which 

 belong* to the old red-sandstone. Talcose slate also abounds, the 

 mica running into and blending with it. Clay-slate is wrought at 

 Catnstraddan and Luss. South of Camstraddan grauwacke and grau- 

 wacke slate occur : the whole partaking decidedly of the character of 

 the lower Silurian series. The southern portion of the singular 

 petiinnuU of Roseneath is occupied by the old red-sandstone, which 

 extends across the county in an easterly direction by Ardmore and 

 Bunhill into Stirlingshire. The basin of the Frith of Clyde is formed 

 by the old red-sandstone ; a curious example of this formation is the 

 rock or promontory of Ardmore, <0 feet high, and nearly insulated, 

 composed entirely of old red-sandstone conglomerate, with 

 imbedded fragment* of water-worn quart*. Carboniferous limestone 

 occurs in several place* in the main portions of Dumbartonshire and 

 forms the bulk of the detached parishes of Cumbernauld and Kirkin- 

 tilloch. At Duntoeher, in Old Kilpatrick, limestone is extensively 

 worked, and coal is wrought in connection with it The bods of cool 

 arc between 4 feet and 6 feet in depth. At Cumbernauld the lime- 

 stone oocupie* both sides of a remarkably picturesque ravine, and is 

 worked to great extent ; the coal of Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch 

 U used for making cok, as well as for burning the limestone of the 

 neighbouring quarries. Ironstone is found in small beds in connection 

 with the limestone. Greenstone, trap, amygdaloid, serpentine, por- 

 phyry, and basalt occur in several place*. At Knockderry on t!i. 

 shore of Loch Long Is a large dyke of greenntone about 20 feet thick, 

 whieh has converted the rock through which it has protrude. I 

 chlorite slate. Remarkable examples of columnar basalt are met with 

 at Auchentorlic and CAenarbuck in Old Kilpatrick, where they form 

 lofty precipices and give a very bold and romantic character to the 



wnery. Columnar basalt occurs also at DungUu and Bowling. 

 Columnar greenstone is found at Smithsou and elsewhere. 



I'lima'r, >'!/, Agriculture. The climate is in general healthy; it ii 

 mild but humid, the quantity of rain falling in the course of a year 

 being much above the average of many other parts of Scotland, 

 is seldom severe, or long continued, and snow does not fall heavily or 

 remain long on the ground. Westerly winds prevail during the 

 greater part of the year. 



Along the Leven and Clyde and generally in the south and 

 south-eastern parts of the county the soil consists of a fertile black 

 loam. In other parts the soil is chiefly light and sandy, or a light 

 gravelly loam. The hills have for the most part a light slaty soil ; 

 those near -Loch Long are entirely devoted to pasture, but el.-. 

 cultivation has in many parts been carried far up the bill sides. The 

 farms vary very much in size ; many do not exceed 30 acres, others 

 include an area of 700 or 800 acres. In the larger farms the land is 

 well cultivated; the most approved methods are practised and im- 

 provements are readily introduced. The highland cattle are com- 

 monly kept on the hills, but in the plains preference is given to tho 

 Avi -hire breed, or a cross between them and the highland cattle. 

 The sheep on the hill* are the hardy black-faced race ; on the plains 

 the Cheviots are generally found. The native horses arc small but 

 hardy. 



Diritiont, Totcra, Ac- Dumbartonshire (except tho detached 

 portion) is within the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Synod of 

 Glasgow and Ayr. It contains 12 parishes and 16 ministers of the 

 Established Church, four of whom officiate in chapels of ease. There 

 are 12 Free churches in the county, and several others belonging to 

 United Presbyterians and other Dissenters. The only royal burgh is 

 DUMBARTON. Next in importance to it is Ueltmburgk ; which is a 

 burgh of barony, with an elective council, and possesses a handsome 

 chapel of ease in connection with the Establishment, l.r-;,l.- the Free 

 church, and chapels for United Presbyterians, Independents, and 

 Episcopalians. The population iu 1851 was L'Ml. llflcusburgh is 

 much frequented in summer for sea-bathing. Kirkintilloch, iu the 

 parish of the same name, is a burgh of barony, with two magistrates 

 and a council, and a parish population in 1351 of 6342. The 

 inhabitants are chiefly engaged in haudloom weaving. There are 

 calico bleaching and printing works, collieries, limeworks, and stouo 

 quarries. 



The following villages may be mentioned, with their population in 

 1851, and a few other portuulars : 



Alexandria, a suburb of BonhilL [Boxuiu,] Arrochar, or 

 Arroijuhar, a fishing village at the northern extremity of Loch Long, 

 population of the parish 562, is frequented during summer for sea- 

 bathing : it contains many good houses. Howling, a small village on 

 the Clyde, about 11 miles N.W. from Glasgow, has a commodious 

 whiter harbour for vessels : there is a yard for ship-building. ( 

 nauld is a large village in the detached portion of the county, ]".;>u- 

 lation of the parish 3778 : in the neighbourhood are some remains of 

 the wall of Antoninus and tho old castle of Cumbenmuld, tho a 

 residence of the earls of Wigton. Handloom weaving is tho chief 

 occupation. DunlocHer, population 8809, about 6 miles N.W. from 

 Glasgow, has several large cotton factories, and in the vicinity are 

 collieries and lime-works. A bridge over a stream near the town is 

 pointed out as all that remains there of the labours of the Roman 

 Boldiers on Antoninus' H wall. Old or Welt Kilpatrick, a burgh of 

 barony, and formerly it is said a regality, now a mere village on the 

 banks of the Clyde about 10 miles N.\V. from Glasgow : ]...]ml:itio:i 

 of the pariah 5U21. In the centre of the town stands tho old baronial 

 prison. West of the village is a mound called the Chapel Hill, wl.. re 

 various Roman sepulchral stones containing the names of Roman 

 legions have been found : vases and coins have also been taken out, 

 and foundations of wall* have been explored. The spot is now con- 

 sidered to have been the termination of the wall of Antoninus. Ltta, 

 a village on tho banks of Loch Lomond, population of tho part 1 

 the inhabitants are chiefly employed in the neighbouring slate-quarries. 

 Italian, population 2398, is situated between Dumbarton and Bonhill. 

 Near the town on the river Leven are extensive bleach-fields, which 

 upl <ymeiit to many of tho inhabitants. 



Jlittory and Antiquitie*. There is very little in tho early history 

 of the county apart from that of Dumbarton Castle. [DUMBARTON.] 

 Its modern history is that of the establishment within it of . 

 factories and bleaching-grounds, calico-printing works, ami i-hip- 

 Imilding yards, and of extensive agricultural improvements. In thu 

 district occurred the dispersion of tho followers of the Earl of Argylo 

 in 1685, and tho battle of Glenfmin, which led to the extirpation of 

 tho clan MacGregor. 



The most interesting antiquities of tho county are those connected 

 with the Roman posscraion of tho southern part of Scotland. Besides 

 the remains of the Roman wall in Went Kilpatrick parish already 

 mentioned, there are traces of the wall and remains of fort* in several 

 other parts of the county. There arc remains of ancient ecclesiastical 

 edifices whose history is now little known. In Cardross parish are 

 the ruins of tho chapel of Kilmahew, n visit to whose shrine, it is 

 nai.l, conferred on the pilgrim considerable spiritual advantages. On 

 1 oug side, at Knockderry, is tho site of a Danish fort Stouo 

 coffins have been found at Lum, the church of which was dedicated 



