192 Topography of Dumfries. 



an outside stair at the north end under which was another 

 shop. It had a bell tower, a room of which was used for a 

 prison. ''2a Originally thatched, it was slated in 1532, and had 

 an outside clock as early as 1533^^ which the burgh officers 

 were instructed to protect from meal-dust by putting a cloth 

 over the face. The key was put to a grim use. The peats 

 taken from peat-stealers were kindled at the Market Cross, 

 the key was heated therein red-hot and laid on the cheeks of 

 the thieves.'''^ The Tolbooth became ruinous and was ordered 

 to be taken down on i6th June, 1718. It was subsequently re- 

 built, being used for many years as a Council Chamber and 

 Town Clerk's office. The Council Chamber is now occupied 

 as a printing office. Three shops (two having been combined) 

 and the stair with a small cell under it (used as a lock-up prior 

 to the advent of the Sautbox at the Midsteeple) still remain and 

 give a general indication of the appearance of the Tolbooth, the 

 original foundations of which remain. The building was at 

 first isolated, but by 1548 a tofall had been built at the east 

 side. There are now three or four buildings clustering about 

 it, including a Coffee house erected by the Council in 173 1.'''** 

 The blocks north of Union Street originated in a similar 

 manner, that between Union Street and Trades' Court be- 

 ginning with the Prison built in 1579,''^° and the most northern 

 block with the Meal Market built in 1664-5''*'' ^^*^ subsequently 

 rebuilt with the Trades House above it. These blocks still 

 bear evidence of their nondescript character. 



£20 Land of Dumfries: £5 Land of Moat. 



Before bringing this portion of our essay to a close we 

 may note a few isolated and obscure points that possibly have 

 some bearing upon each other. On 22nd January, 1453/4, 

 the Burgh issued a feu charter of the lands of Over and 

 Nether Netherwood and the Langholm to its then Provost, 

 Robert M'Brar.''^ These lands are described as " part of the 

 ;^2o lands of the territory of Dumfries." They were not, 

 however, within the Royalty of the Burgh. Another portion 

 of these lands which were possessed by the Burgh were the 

 Castledykes and Kingholm. These latter, we know, had 

 belonged to the Crown and must have been given to the 



