194 Topography of Dumfries. 



The i6th century notary, however, g-ives a different meaning-. 

 To him it was " via sutoria," the Souters' (cobblers') way. 

 The Lochmabengate (or English Street) Port was beyond 

 Shakespeare Street, the Townhead (or Academy Street) Port, 

 which was removed in October, 1764, to widen the street, 

 was at the west end of Kerwyn Terrace, and the Friar Port 

 or Port o' the Vennel was at the west corners of Irish and 

 St. David Streets. After the Newton arose this port was 

 placed in the middle of the Bridge. ''^'^ What took place on that 

 line of exit may also have taken place on the others. As 

 the town grew, the ports would be placed farther out. 



The Encircling Ditches. 



Like most Scottish towns, Dumfries was not walled to 

 any greater degree than by the adventitious enclosures of 

 private houses and yards, but ditches''^^ extended between 

 the ports. It will be noticed that Burns Street, Shakespeare 

 Street, Loreburn Street, and Irish Street run from port to 

 port. They outline the i6th century burgh. To these 

 passag-es the yards of the inhabitants ran down and outside 

 the first three passages were ditches, emphasising- the 

 natural defensive character of the marshes. ^'^ It was, how- 

 ever, to serve the more utilitarian purpose of keeping out 

 unfreemen, beggars, and sorners, gypsies and thieves, than 

 the heroic one of repelling invaders that these ditches were 

 made. The town, once the great outer marshes had been 

 successfully negotiated, appears to have been easily at the 

 mercy of the raiding enemy. No valorous defence by the 

 inhabitants, such as that offered by Annan against Wharton 

 and Kirkcudbright against Carleton, is on record, though the 

 burgesses were granted remission of three years' taxes " for 

 services rendered in resisting rebels, traitors, and English 

 enemies," Albany and Douglas, at Lochmaben on 22nd July, 

 1484; while it was, in all probability, for rendering services at 

 the same place twenty-six years previously on 23rd October, 

 1458, ®i against English foes supporting the Douglas interest, 

 that the burgh received its Confirmation Charter of 28th 

 October, 1458, from James II. 



