Topography of Dumfries. 195 



Recapitulation. 



Lcl us biiclly recapitulate. We conjecture that, protected 

 by river and marsh, Dumfries would afford at an early date a 

 refuge and a strength to our primitive ancestors; that as the 

 centuries passed the importance of the Ford in the vicinity 

 confirmed them in the occupancy of the spot and their rude 

 dwellings clustered about the mouth of the burn which drew 

 its waters from between Marchhill and the Craigs ; that the 

 racial struggle between Celt and Norman gave the village, 

 from its strategic position on the borders of Galloway, an 

 impetus which brought its buildings northwards till they sur- 

 rounded a Market Place. Then the lines of buildings followed 

 the main exits eastwards by English Street and northwards by 

 High Street and Townhead. The building of the Old Bridge 

 in the isth century added a New Town on the north-west nngle 

 and gradually, as the burgh became filled up, back streets and 

 closes came into existence. 



Later Extensions. 



Thus we arrive at the almost static burgh of the i6th, 

 17th, and 1 8th centuries. Growth there was but it was nearly 

 all intensive. Periods also of depression and decay were 

 passed through. During the 17th century the town reached a 

 deplorable condition, there being according to the Town 

 Council in September, 1672, " neir a thrid pairt of the haill 

 houses within this brugh weast and pairtly rewinous," and in 

 1692 " yt there will be about twentie tenements on the High 

 Street ruinous, besides some houses in closses ; and yt the 

 wholl north syde of Lochmabenegate, being a long street, was 

 totally destroyed by fire about a twelve moneth since, or 

 therby, a great deall whereof is as yeit unbuilt," while in 

 Friars' Vennel there was a great fire in 1705. But by the 

 middle of the i8th century prosperity came again. Assembly 

 Street was opened between 1751-6, Bank street widened, 

 1753-4, Queen .Street was opened between 1756 and 1771, and 

 King Street in 1764. The Townhead port was taken down to 

 widen the street in 1763, Oueensberry Square was cleared in 

 1764 by the demolition of the New Wark, the Fleshmarket 

 removed thence to Loreburn Street, and all the streets 



