817 



DUMFRIESSHIRE. 



DUMFRIESSHIRE. 



Leap, DMT which place Wallace is said to hare concealed hinuelf 

 after the battle of Falkirk. The Etk rises in the mountain* on the 

 borders of Selkirkshire, runs in a southern direction above SO mile* 

 in the county, passes Langholm and Canonbie, and forms for one 

 mile the boundary with England ; after which it enters Cumberland, 

 and turns wertward through an open country by Longtown into the 

 Solway Frith. This river receives in it* course the Riddel, Tarras, 

 Wauchope, Ewes, Maggot, and Black Eak. The Kirtle U a small 

 river that enters the Solway Frith a little distance from the river 

 Sark, a border stream, forming the boundary between England and 

 Scotland for some distance before it enters the Solway. Both these 

 rivers rise from the hills in the neighbourhood of Langholm, and 

 pursue a southern course of about 20 miles. The Lochar is a rivulet 

 which rises in Tinwmld parish, a few miles north of Dumfries, runs 

 about 13 miles in a very serpentine course, and discharges itself into 

 the Solway, a few miles east of the mouth of the Nith, and near the 

 ruins of Caerlaverock Castle. The larger rivers contain salmon, 

 herlings, parr or samlet, and sea-trout These, and also flounders 

 and cod, and occasionally turbot, soles, and herrings are taken hi the 

 Solway Frith. Along the shore considerable quantities of cockles 

 and mosMls are gathered by the poorer people. The smaller rivers 

 contain pike, perch, trout, and eels. In the vicinity of Lochmaben 

 are nine lakes, five of which are of considerable size. The ancient 

 royal castle of Lochmaben stands upon a very narrow peninsula on 

 the south-east side of the castle-loch, which is three miles in circum- 

 ference. The mountain lake called Loch Skeen, situated iicar the 

 head of Moffat Water, is 1800 feet above the level of the sea, and 

 about two miles in circumference. This lake feeds the well-known 

 cascade called the Gray Mare's Tail, and is well stocked with delicate 

 trout of a large size. There are several other lochs or lakes of less 

 extent throughout the county. 



Dumfriesshire is intersected in almost every direction by turnpike 

 and other roads. The Carlisle and Glasgow road enters the county 

 at Sark bridge, and passes through Gretna, Annan, Dumfries, and 

 Sanquhar. Another main road to Glasgow passes through Gretna, 

 Ixxskerby, and Beattock bridge. A line of road leads from Carlisle 

 towards Portpatrick, by Annan and Castle Douglas. A turnpike 

 road extends from the town of Dumfries to Edinburgh by Moffat. 

 The roads in general are kept in excellent order, and safe and easy 

 communications have been opened through several parts of the 

 mountainous districts. The Glasgow and South-Weutem, the Carlisle 

 and Nithsdale, and the Caledonian railways afford to the inhabitants 

 of Dumfriesshire communication to every part of England and 

 Scotland, and immediate access to the steamers which sail for Ireland 

 from the west coast of Ayrshire. 



Otology, Miiuraloffi/, <t-c. The largest portion of Dumfriesshire 

 consists of the grauwacke rock, trap occurring here and there, but 

 along the valleys of the Nith, Annan, and Esk there exists a great 

 variety of other formations, while along the shore or southern part 

 of the county a bed of sandstone extends with but little interruption. 

 In the upper part of Nithsdale there are two coal-fields, one at New 

 Cumnock, a continuation of the Ayrshire strata; and one around 

 Sanquhar of an independent formation. Below this there is an 

 extensive bed of old red-sandstone, in which are the valuable lime- 

 beds worked at Closeburn and Barjarg: the lowest basin is that 

 around Dumfries, which consists of the new red-sandstone alone, and 

 which is now generally regarded as the continuation of the sandstone 

 of Cumberland. On the borders of the lower portion of Nithsdale 

 and Annandale, a stratum of limestone is found which runs east 

 through Eskdale until it is merged in the great limestone formation 

 of Northumberland ; this stone U worked at Kilheod in Anuandale. 

 In the middle of the valley of the Annan there is also an extensive 

 bed of sandstone similar to that around Dumfries, well known to 

 geologists from the impressions of the footsteps of an animal of the 

 tortoue kind found at Corncockle Quarry, near Lochmaben. A little 

 lower down the vale of Annan some interesting igneous formations 

 exist. (' New Statistical Account of Scotland,' St Mungo, by Rev. 

 Mr. Jamieson.) The lower portion of Eskdale contains besides the 

 limestone already mentioned, a bed of coal which is advantageously 

 worked at Canonbie. 



At Wanlockhead, on the northern border of the county, and near 

 Letdhilli, in Lanarkshire, are extensive lead-mine*. From this lead 

 diver is extracted in the proportion of six to twelve ounces in the 

 ton. There are three veins of mineral here varying in thickness from 

 a few inches to 9 feet. Gold is occasionally found in the mountains 

 in this neighbourhood in veins of quartz, or washed down into the 

 nand of the rivulet*. In the reign of Elizabeth, 800 men were 

 employed for several summers, and are said to have collected gold 

 to the value of 100,0001. The largest piece found in the neigh- 

 bourhood is now In the British Museum, and weighs four or five 

 ounce*. An antimony mine, discovered at Gleud inning in 1760, was 

 wrought for five yean from 1703. The ore was a sulphuret which 

 yielded about 60 per cent, and 100 tons of metal were obtained. 

 The vein seldom exceeded 20 inches in thickness, and contained 

 blende, calcareous spar, and quar>. rv and manganese have 



been met with in small quantities ; the former in the parish ol 

 Middlebie. Ironstone exist* in tome places in spheroidal masses, and 

 in beds and bogs, but no iron is worked from ores in the county 



Gypsum occurs in thin veins. FloeU-trap is found on the sum 

 some of the mountains, and generally in the shape of mountain caps. 

 Boulders of granite and sienite are found in various places, the bitter 

 most frequently in the low part of the county. The variety of the 

 grauwacke in the vicinity of Moflat is peculiar, and wat long regarded 

 u of igneous origin. It forms an excellent building stone. Sir R. 

 Murchison discovered in it some interesting organic remains. About 

 a mile from Moffiit is a celebrated mineral water similar to the 

 sulphureous water of Harrowgate, and about S miles distant, in a 

 deep ravine on the side of Uartfell, Is a chalybeate spring. There 

 are also mineral waters in the neighbourhood of Langholm, Annan, 

 and Lochmaben, and in other localities. 



Climate, Soil, and Agriculture. That part of the county which 

 adjoins the Solway Frith is low and warm. The mountainous 

 district is cold and bleak, but seldom remains long covered with snow. 

 The whole appears to be moist and in general mild ami salubrious. 

 The spring is generally late. The soil in the lower district* in light and 

 ;ravelly, or sandy. Along the margins of the great rivers are 

 considerable tracts of rich alluvial soil. Peat-moss prevails on many 

 of the hills, and in some of the vales : the most extensive moss being 

 -hat of Lochar, near Dumfries, which U 11 or 12 miles long, and 

 between 2 and 3 miles brood. Clay is found extensively as a cub- 

 soil, and in a few places as a soil mixed with other substances. In 

 Annandale and Nithsdale dry soil prevails. Farms of arable land are 

 generally let on leases of 15, 19, or 21 years. On sheep-farms the 

 ordinary leases are from 9 to 13 years. Oats and potatoes are culti- 

 vated more extensively than any other crop, both for home con- 

 sumption and for exportation. Potatoes are much used in fattening 

 cattle and pigs. A great quantity of hams and bacon of the best 

 quality is cured in this county, and sent to Liverpool, London, and 

 Newcastle. 



The farm implements in use are similar to those in Cumberland, 

 with the exception of the sickle, the use of which is in some placet 

 much laid aside, and the scythe substituted for it The horses in 

 general ore of a middle size, and are the result of many crossings of 

 different breeds. The quality of the cattle and cheep stocks hat 

 been much improved. The Galloway breed of cattle mostly prevails, 

 except for the dairy, for which cows of the Ayrshire breed are 

 preferred. The sheep are of the Cheviot and black-faced breed) : 

 these have been crossed by the Leicesters, and the offspring answer* 

 exceedingly well, and makes profitable returns to the farmer. Pigs are 

 kept by the farmers and cottars in great number*. Sheep-farms vary 

 in size from 300 to 3000 acres, and two sheep for three acres may be 

 considered an average number of stock. Arable farms extend from 

 50 to 600 acres; many are about 100 or 150 acres. Some farms 

 contain both sheep-walk and arable lands, and these are considered 

 the most convenient and productive. Arable farms, and those of 

 small size, prevail on the low grounds and near the market-towns and 

 villages. Those of larger extent, where posture greatly preponderates 

 are more distant, and situated on higher ground. 



Most of the modern farm buildings are commodious and well 

 arranged; they are constructed of stone and lime, and generally 

 covered with slate. Great improvements have been also made in the 

 churches, schools, roads, and fences. There arc three district farming 

 societies, to the premiums awarded by which the Highland Society of 

 Scotland usually contributes. 



Diriiiont, <tc. Dumfriesshire is within the ecclesiastical juris- 

 diction of the synod of Dumfries, which extends also over parts of 

 some other counties, and comprehends 55 parishes, forming five 

 presbyteries : Dumfries,, Lochmaben, Annan, Peupout, and Laugholm. 

 The number of clergymen within ite limits is 55, and of these 43 are 

 in this county, in the 43 parishes into which it is divided; and 

 seven clergymen, in connection with the Establishment, officiate in 

 chapels of ease. There are besides about 40 chapels for Free Church 

 and United Presbyterians, Independents, and other Dissenters. 1'rior 

 to the year 1756, there were three jurisdictions in the county, 

 namely, the sheriffship of Nithadale, the stewnrlry of Annandale, 

 and the regality of Kxkdalo, each comprehending the portion of 

 territory which forms the basin of the three rivers after which they 

 are respectively named; Esk on the east, Nith ou the wc.'t, and 

 Annan in the centre of the county. There is now one sheriff for tho 

 county, though tho districts still preserve their ancient name*. 



\\ I'liiu this county are four royal burghs, AN* AS, DUMFRIKS, 

 LociutABEK, and SANQUHAR, which are described under their 

 respective name*. The other more. important towns of the shire are 

 Langholm, Lockerbie, and Moffat 



Langhalm, population 1406, is a burgh of barony and market-town, 

 29 miles E.N.E. from Dumfries, well built and situated in the midst 

 of picturesque woodland and mountain scenery on the left bank of the 

 Esk. It consist* chiefly of one street, in which is a town-hall and 

 jail in the market-place. On the opposite side of the river is the 

 modern village of New Langholm. \S caving and stocking-making are 

 the principal occupations. Beside* the parish church there are a 

 Free church, two chapels for United I'rexliyteriiius, two Endowed 

 schools, and a savings bank. A market in held weekly on Wednesday. 

 There are two woollen manufactories. Mr. Telford, the civil engineer, 

 who was a native of E*kdale, and was apprenticed at the age of 14 to 

 a stonemason in Langholm, left 10004 to the Laugholm library. On 



