206 Topography of Dumfries. 



orsmen of the burgh anentis the pest thai salbe put forcesable to 

 the mwyr and thair haldin for xx dayis eftir thai be clengt and 

 thane to be haldin and inclusit thane for the space of xx dayis ther- 

 eftir wtout faworis for thair disobedience (Burgh Court Books (rent 

 roll), c. 1549). 



55 In Edgar's time (1746) the character of the closes and barn- 

 raws was quite evident : — " On each side of these streets are Lanes 

 or Glosses, at the distance of 30 or 40 feet from one to another, 

 leading down to the Inhabitants houses, yeards, and Barns. All 

 these like the teeth of a comb have an issue, viz., these on the West 

 side towards the water have an issue to the West Barnraws [Irish 

 Street], [extending] from the Vennel Port to the Rig's Chapel, 

 now a Tannerie, called Irish Gate, where are several new buildings 

 with pleasant gardens. These on the northside [have an] issue to 

 the North-east barnraws [Loreburn Street] ; these on the east side 

 an issue to the East Barnraws [Shakespeare Street] leading from 

 the Lochmabengate Port backward to the old Millhole Mill." 



55a The south-east end of this street was known as the Flesh- 

 stokks, from the Fleshmarket held there. This gave it the name of 

 Old Fleshmarket Street on the removal of the Fleshmarket to the 

 southern end of Loreburn Street, which was known as New Flesh- 

 market Street. 



55b The lane is mentioned in the Protocol Book of Herbert Cun- 

 ningham (1592-1606), " et viam tendentem per lie skannills inter lie 

 midraw et bakraw." "Skannills" is probably " skemmils," 

 shambles, the Fleshmarket being at the Queensberry Square end 

 of the row. 



56 On reconsidering this statement one is assailed with doubt 

 as to whether it is quite correct. There is a lack of evidence in the 

 early part of the 16th century as to three rows of houses (vide foot- 

 note 61). The interposition of a row of houses between the 

 west line of High Street and the east line of Queensberry 

 Street and running from the New Wark northwards would 

 naturally beget the name Mid Raw for the whole block. In the 

 18th centurj' the entire properties between Queensberry Street and 

 the High Street, not only in the portion above Queensberz'y Square, 

 but also below it, was known as the Mid Raw. The block even at 

 the northern end is narrower than are the other ancient feus in the 

 burgh, and the yards would be circumscribed to an exceptional 

 degree, while it is quite clear that the houses abutted on each other 

 in Chapel Street. On the other hand, there does not appear to be 

 sufficient evidence to upset the theory propounded in the text, which 

 may have been a later development. 



57 It appears from the Burgh Court Books of date 15th Decem- 

 ber, 1563, that Robert M'Brair, burgess (and subsequently Provost) 

 of Dumfries, was seised in " diverss annuel rents, tenements, within 

 the Burgh, with the advocation and donation of the New Wark, 

 etc.," on 5th November, 1442. Robert M'Brair was the great-great- 



