172 



Topography of Dumfries. 



however, may have been that they were nearer the ford over 

 the Nith, 



TirEl E)IJP!-C3W/* TCX^-^:^^ F^IKSTT . 



St. Michael's Ghurch. 



It might be argued here that it is more hkely that 

 the village would spring up about the church. That, of 

 course, may have been the case ; it happened elsewhere, but 

 we conjecture that at Dumfries the village long preceded the 

 church. A church prior to St. Michael's, which seems to 

 have been founded between 1183 and 11 88, may have been 

 situated amidst the buildings. Of that we have no evidence, 

 but there is, however, sufficient to show that in the i6th 

 century St. Michael's was surrounded by fields. In 1523 we 

 find 3^^ roods of common land lying behind the " he Kirk," in 

 1526 two acres of common land by the south side of the 

 " Kirk dyk," in 1527 six roods marching with the " Kyrk- 

 yardis dyke " on the north part, and in 1563 we find mention 

 of two and a half acres of land in Watslacks nearest the 



