Gazetteer of Scotland

C R A
61
Clyde, the Elvan, and Glengonar, intersect
this parish. Population 1773.— The VIL-
LAGE of the same name lies 17 miles S.
from Lesmahago, and 5 N. from Elvanfoot
inn. It is of considerable antiquity, and
has freedoms granted to thefeuars by the
neighbouring proprietors. Each freedom
consists of 6 acres of croft land, and the pri-
vilege of feeding a certain number of horses,
cows, or sheep, on the hill or common. It
is governed by a Birley Court, in which each
freeman has a liberty to vote. The houses
are at such a distance from each other that
they have the appearance of having been
dropped on the road.
CRAWFORD-JOHN, a parish in Lan-
arkshire, of an oblong figure, extending 15
miles in length, and generally to about 6 [
in breadth. The appearance of the parish i
is hilly, adapted for sheep pasture, with a i
few patches of arable land in the vallies |
between the hills. Round Gilkerscleuch I
and Glespine, two gentlemen's seats, are I
some thriving plantations. On Glendorch
estate, the property of the Earl of Hope-
toun, there is a valuable lead mine. This
mineral has also been found upon Gilkers.
cleuch eslate, on which property there are
also an excellent limestone quarry, abun-
dance of whiti' frct'i-ione, and an appear-
ance of coal. In other parts of the parish
are the marks of former mines, which, re-
port says, were wrought in search of gold,
and that a considerable quantity of that
1-ecious metal was found here. On the
top of Netherton hill, opposite to the house
of Gilkerscleuch, are the vestiges of an ex-
tensive encampment, and in other parts of
the parish are the ruins of two ancient cas-
tles. A small river, ijamed Duneaton wa-
ter, runs through the whole parish ; besides
which, there are several smaller rivulets.
Population 858.
CRAWFURDSDIKE. See CARTS-
DIKE.
CRAWICK, a small beautiful river in
Dumfries, shire, which rises just within the
boundaries of Lanarkshire, and dividing
the parish of Sanquhar from Kirkconnel,
after a S. VV. course of about 8 miles, falls
into the Nith, near Sanquhar manse.
This river scarcely emerges from its parent
bog until it receives two more streams far
more copious than itself, — the Wanlock
from the S. E. which is nearly met by the
Spango,from the N. W. from whence it
•winds for some miles, between pleasant
green hills, till the scenery gradually chan-
ges to fine wooded banks and cultivated
lawns. The small village of Crawick Mill
on this stream is a little way N. of San-
quhar.
CREACH-BEIN, a mountain in Argyle-
shire, in the parish of Ardnamurchan, 2439
feet above the level of the sea.
CREE, a river which takes its rise in the
northern parts of the county of Wigton, and
stewartry of Kirkcudbright. Itisfoi sever-
al miles very small, but is considerably in-
creased by tributary streams. It now chan-
ges its appearance, and instead of rocks and
moors, it holds its course nearly S. through
a beautiful valley, till it empties itself into
the hay of Wigton. It forms the boundary
between the counties of Wigton and Kirk-
cudbright. It abounds with salmon, and
is navigable for several miles.
CREETOWN, or FERRYTOWN of
CREE, a village in the parish of Kirkrna-
breck, and stewartry of Kirkcudbright,
7 1-2 miles S. E. of Newton Stewart. It is
beautifully situated near the mouth of the
river Cree, where it falls into Wigton bay.
The houses are set clown without plan, and
without arrangement. It is supported by
a small coasting trade, and a few vessels be-
long to the place. It has a good anchorage
a small distance from the town, where ves-
sels of 500 tons may lie in safety. Cree-
town was lately erected into a burgh of ba-
rony by the pruprietor and superior, whose
elegant seat is in the neighbourhood. It
contains upwards of 400 inhabitants.
CRERAN (LOCH), an arm of the sea in
Argyleshire, going off from Loch Linnhe,
in the district of Appin.
CRICHTON, a village and parish in the
county, of Edinburgh. The village is situa-
ted 11 miles S. E. from the metropolis, on
the middle road to London by Comhill,
It is a thriving place, and contains, with
the adjoining village of Path- head, 750 in-
habitants. The parish contains about 5900
acres, of which two-thirds are well adapted
for tillage, and have a rich deep soil, capa-
ble of producing heavy crops. The remain-
der is little capable of improvement, being
overgrown with moss The pasture is
scanty and bad. The proprietors have late-
ly begun planting, and the trees seem to
thrive well on this heretofore barren spot.
There is a limestone quarry wrought to a
considerable extent. Coal has been disco-
vered, but hitherto no pits have been open-
ed. At Longfauch is a circular camp, or
entrenchment, the vallum of which is very
distinct. The castle of Crichton is a very
ancient and magnificent building. It was
I once the habitation of Chancellor Crichton,
I joint guardian with the Earl of Callender