Ordnance gazetteer of Scotland > Volume 5

MOFFAT
daughter of Dr Whiteford, bishop of Brecliin, who held
a considerable amount of property in the parishes of
Moffat and Kirkpatrick-Juxta. But, in a work entitled
Foils Moffetensis, scu, Bescriptio Topographico-Spagynca
Fontium Mincralium Moffctcnsium in Annandia, pub-
lished in 1659, the author, Matthew Mackaile, asserts
that the wells were first discovered in 1653 by a ' vale-
tudinary rustic. ' The mineral qualities of the well were
also noted by Sir Robert Sibbald in 1683 ; by George
Milligan and Andrew Pluramer, M.D., professor of
medicine. University of Edinburgh, in 1747 ; by Dr
Garnett in 1800 ; by J. Erskine Gibson in 1827 ; by Dr
Thomas Thomson, of Glasgow, in 1828 ; by Dr John
Macadam, of Glasgow, in 1854 ; by Mr William John-
stone, of Edinburgh, in 1874 ; and by others.
The following analysis is that of Dr Murray Thomson,
which is among the latest and most trustworthy :^
' 1*37 cubic inches of sulphuretted hydrogen 2:a9.
4'46 „ carbonic acid gas.
96 "16 grains of solid residue on evaporation.
4-60
, carbonate of lime.
7-70
, chloride of calcium.
6-41
, chloride of magnesium
69-00
, chloride of sodium.
2-55
silica.
6-80
organic matter.
96 06
Traces also exist of carbonate of iron, alumina,
^chloride of magnesia, sulphuret of sodium.
35 cubic inch of sulphuretted hydrogen gas,
traces of carbonic acid gas.
60 grains of solid residue on evaporation.
64-1
S
1
^34
3
1
4
32 „ chloride of calcium.
46 ,, chloride of magnesium.
11 ,, chloride of sodium.
56 ,, sulphate of soda.
SI „ sUica.
70 „ organic matter.
53 '96
, Traces also exist of oxide of iron and oxide of copper.
The temperature of the Moffat mineral water is very
steady, as was proved by experiments made in 1852-53.
From these it appeared that the temperature at all
seasons of the year, and under all changes of the atmo-
sphere, is 49i° Fahr. With regard to the smell, taste,
and appearance of the water opinions vary. One writer
describes the smell and taste as resembling 'bilge- water,
or the scourings of a foul gun . . . like sulphureous
water of Harrowgate, but not quite so stroug.' Another
compares them to the smell and taste of a 'slightly
putrescent egg.' The taste is almost invariably dis-
agreeable at first, though, it is said, some grow to like
it after a time. The appeai-ance is described in one
account as ' sparkling beautifully, especially when first
taken from the spring ; ' in another as 'like champagne ; '
and a third says, 'the water is never decidedly sparkling.
It does assume a certain degree of cloudiness from the
uniform diffusion through it of very minute gaseous
globules.' The Moffat water has been pronounced by
doctors a powerful remedy in diseases of the skin, on
account of the sulphur and salts held in solution in it.
It is also valuable as a means of cure in affections of
the lungs, in gravel, rheumatism, dyspepsia, bilious-
ness, etc.
The MoSat AVell has enjoyed a growing popularity as
is shown by the number of people who visit the town
annually ' to drink the waters.' The favourite time for
doing so is between seven and nine o'clock in the morning,
when the road between the toivn and the spa is covered
with people on foot, in carriages, and omnibuses. It is
almost the invariable custom to partake of the waters
at the well itself, since the gases, with which they are
impregnated are of so volatile a nature that even the
most careful corking is unable to retain them. The
well is situated on the slope of one side of a small
valley, down which flows the Well Burn, a small stream,
so named from the well beside it. It consists of two
springs, an upper and a lower, the latter of which, more
strongly impregnated with sulphur and salts, is used for
MOFFAT
drinking purposes, while the water of the former, con-
veyed to the town in pipes, is employed in the mineral
baths, recommended in certain cases. The well is
covered by a small stone building, near which are the
cottage of the keeper, a building in which balls and
public breakfasts used to be held, and a wooden erection
with a verandah, built for the convenience of visitors.
The appearance of the well is thus described by TurnbuU
in his Sistory of Moffat : — ' On reaching the well, many
circumstances strongly indicate the sulphureous nature
of the water. The water itself has the characteristic
odour of such waters, while the metal stop-cock attached
to the pipe, which delivers the supply, is coated with a
black shining sulphuret. . . . The small openings
in the rock, from which the water of the upper well
issues, are alone visible ; those of the lower being built
over with a fixed pipe, communicator, and stop-cock, to
draw off the water at pleasure. The upper apertures
are encrusted with a yellowish-white substance, which,
when ignited, yields a blue flame, and has the same
smell as burning sulphur.' The water oozes out of a
rock of greywacke, containing pyrites. It was thought
at one time that the taste of sulphur was so far due to a
bog in the neighbourhood, but the fact that the bog has
disappeared and the sulphur taste still remains, is
sufficient to discredit that theory. The presence of
sulphur, in the form of iron pyrites, in the rocks that
surrounded the well, as also in that form which the
mineral spring flows, is enough to account for the way
and the extent to which the water is impregnated.
Moffat became a burgh of barony and regality in 1635.
There is still in existence a burgh charter, dated 1662,
by which the barony and regality of Moffat, and of the
burgh which stood within it, are transferred to James,
Earl of Annandale. This charter was ratified by an
Act of Parliament in 1669. When the rights of lords
of regalities were done away with, some supposed
that Moffat ceased to enjoy those rights which, as a
burgh, it had possessed. This was a mistake, however,
as was shown .by the proprietors of the Mo fat Times
and others (1857), and, as a result, the boundaries of
the burgh, as well as its common lands, were marked
on the Ordnance Map. Moffat adopted the General
Police and Improvement Act in 1864, and, under it, is
governed by a senior magistrate, 2 junior magistrates,
and 6 commissioners. The burgh court sits on the first
Saturday of every month, and sheriff small debt courts
are held on the first Friday of April, August, and
December. Pop. (1841) 1413, (1861) 1463, (1871) 1730,
(1881) 2161, of whom 1231 were females. Houses (1881)
471 inhabited, 32 vacant, 11 building.
When Moffat was founded is not known, but it must
have been at a somewhat early date, as mention is made
of the town in the 11th and 12th centuries. From one
notice, it would appear that the present town was pre-
ceded by another, called Auldtoun, but this is doubtful.
The town is named, however, in a charter granted by
Piobert I. (1306-29) to Adae Barbitonsorie, and in
another granted by David II. (1329-71) to Robert Lage.
In Dec. 1332, the army of Edward Baliol, who had been
crowned Eing of Scotland about two months before,
encamped at 'Moffat. Baliol remained there for a time,
attempting to win over the lords of that district of
Annandale. From Moffat he passed with his army to
Annan Moor, and was attacked by night, surprised, and
defeated by Sir Archibald Douglas, who had gathered
1000 horsemen at Moffat, and had come suddenly down
upon his encampment. Many Scottish knights and
nobles were slain ; Baliol's army was dispersed in all
directions ; and he himself was compelled to flee to
England. The well-known ' Three Stan'in' Stanes ' on
the Beattock road, 1 mile S by W of Moffat, have been
supposed to indicate either the place where the battle
took place, or the spot where three officers fell. Both
suppositions are improbable, and it is more likely that
they are of Druidic origin. In 1448, while William,
seventh Earl of Douglas, warden of the West Marches,
was absent, the burgh of Dumfries was burned. As a
consequence, he convened ' a meeting of the whole lords,
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