Scotland > 1837 - Pigot and Co.'s national commercial directory for the whole of Scotland and of the Isle of Man

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HELMSDALE, &c. ^Ut&ulanbgj&im
arKay Adam, Brora
ftl'Kay Andrew, Helmsdale
M'Kay David, Helmsdale
M'Kenzie & M'Kay, Helmsdale
M'Leod Andrew, Golspie
Matliiesnn Hugh, Brora
Melville John, Brora
Murray James, Golspie
Robson William, Helmsdale
Ross Donald, Helmsdale
Ross William, Helmsdale
Rutlierford Robert, Helmsdale
Sutherland James, Brora
Thompson Alexander, Helmsdale
INNS.
Hotel (and commercial), Donald
Ross, Helmsdale
SutherlandArms(& posting house),
James Duncan, sen. Golspie
IRONMONGER.
Lindsay Andrew, Golspie
PLASTERERS.
Alexander George, Golspie
Mathieson Alexander, Helmsdale
Sutherland Robert, Helmsdale
SADDLERS.
Ross Robert, Bioia
Rutherford Andrew, Golspie
Skinner Hugh, Golspie
TAILORS.
Campbell Peter, Helmsdale
Cutbbert Alexander, Golspie
Grant Donald, Helmsdale
Gunn George, Golspie
Gunn James, Golspie
M'Bean Alexander, Golspie
M' Donald Donald, Helmsdale
Mackay Donald, Golspie
Macrae William, Golspie
Sutherland Angus, Brora
Sutherland Donald, Helmsdale
VINTNERS.
Calder Wm. (Highlander), Golspie
Grant Alexander, Brora
Giant Colin, Golspie [dale
Kisson Rt.(Belgrave Aru)s),Helms-
M'Gregdr Alexander, Golspie
M'KayJolm (Anchor), Helmsdale
M'Keiizie Donald (Ship), Helmsdale
Melville John, Brora
Munro Catherine, Golspie
Sutherland Jas. (Sutherland Arms)
Brora
Thomson Alexander, Helmsdale
Watson Alexander (Ship) Golspie
W/^RITERS.
Christie John, Golspie
Taylor George Sutherland, Golspie
Miscellaneous.
Barton Richard, civil engineer, Brora
Bruce William, ground officer, Brora
Cbristie John, agent to the North British
fire and life office, Golspie
Graham John, cooper, Golspie
Grant John, painter, Golspie
Grant Rohert Henry, surpeon, Brora
Harbour and Shoke Dues Office,
Helmsdale — Alexander Macleod, shore
master
M'Leod Neil, stone mason, Golspie
Pendritb Alexander, corn miller, Golspie
Ross Barbara, dress maker, Golspie
Ross John, lin-plite worker, Golspie
Stamp Office, Golspie — George Ander-
son & Co. distributers [dale
Sutherland Hector, boat builder, Helms-
Tindall Jas. veterinary surgeon, Golspie
COACHES.
To INVERNESS, and all parts of the
South, the Royal Mail, from Helms-
dale, every night at eight, and fioni
Golspie, every night at a quarter-past
eleven ; goes through Dornoch, Tain,
Invergordon, Beauly, &c.
To TONGUE, a fllail Gig (for passengers
and parcels), from the Sutherland Arms,
Golspie, every Monday and Thursday
mornin? at six.
To WICK & THURSO, the Royal Mail.
from Golspie, every night at a quarter
befure nine, and from Helmsdale, every
night at eleven.
WIGTONSHIRE.
Jl. HIS county, which forms the western part of the ancient district of Galloway, occupies the
south-western extremity of Scotland : it is bounded on the east by the stewartry of Kirkcudbright (or
Eastern Galloway), also by Wigtown bay ; on the south and west it is girded by the Irish Sea, and on
the north by the county of Ayr. The extent of the shire from north to south is about thirty miles,
and (including Luce Bay) its breadth from east to west is about thirty miles : the superficial contents
of the county (adopting a medium calculation betwixt conflicting authorities) may be taken at 484
square miles,' or 309,760 statute acres — of which about one-third, perhaps, is cultivated. The Bay of
Luce indents the land to the extent of fifteen miles, and forms two promontories; at the southern
extremity of the western projection is the Mull of Galloway, while the apex of the eastern is called
Burrow Head; these two peninsular headlands are also known by the Celtic name of the Rhinns
(Rhytis or Rinos) of Galloway. On the north another promontory is formed by the intersection of
Loch Ryan. At the epoch of the Roman power obtruding itself into North Britain, the ancient
British tribe of the Novantes inhabited the whole of eastern and western Galloway, having Leucophibia
(the modern Whithorn) for their principal town, and Rerigonium (Loch Ryan) for their principal port.
The Anglo-Saxons overran the district in the sixth century; and Oswie, the Northumbrian king,
settled at Whithorn. During the ninth and tenth centuries the country on the west was inhabited by
the Picts from Ireland and the Isle of Man; and hence the name of Galloway, or 'the country of the
Gael,' was conferred on the territory. About the twelfth century Galloway passed into the hands of
the Scottish king, Alexander II. In the sanguinary contests which originated in the competition of
Bruce and Baliol, the chieftains of Galloway long remained attached to the party of the latter, whose
family they sheltered after Edward Bruce had subdued the whole country. The family of Douglas
subsequently became possessed of the lordship of Galloway ; but, on the attainder of the nobleman of
that name in 1455, the title became extinct : it was revived, however, and now bestows an earldom
on the distinguished family of Stewart and Garlics.
Soil, climath, produce, &c. — This shire is one of the most level districts in Scotland ; and the
hills, of which there are none of great altitude, are generally pretty free from the encumbrance of
rocks. The best lands lie near the shores — the inland divisions being more elevated, and largely mixed
with heath and moss. The major part of the soil is of a hazel colour, and is of that kind sometimes
called a dry loam, though it often inclines to a gravelly nature. The county presents an exposure to
the south, and its waters mostly descend to the Irish Sea. The climate is moist, with winds from
the south-west, which prevail during the greater part of the year, usually accompanied with rains ;
yet, when proper attention is exercised by the agriculturist, the moisture of the climate is but seldom
injurious to the products of the earth : snow rarely lies long, and frosts are not generally severe or of
tedious duration. In early times this district of Galloway, like most other sections of the country,
was covered with woods ; and in modern days planting has been pui'sued most extensively : it is said
that, during twenty years, the Earl of Stair annually planted twenty thousand trees. The salutary
improvements that have been effected in the agriculture of this county have been, with some justice,
ascribed to the efforts of the agricultural society of Dumfries ; the spirit and practice of husbandry
gradually spread from that shire to Kirkcudbright, and thence penetrated into Wigtonshire : since
that period, rents have risen rapidly ; and corn and other products of tillage, black cattle, wool, sheep
and swine, are now largely exported. The district has long been celebrated for its breed of horses,
distinguished by the appellation of ' Galloways ;' they are of the Spanish or rather Moorish race, and,
when the breed is pure, of a dun colour with a black line along the back : these animals are small,
but active, sinewy and spirited. The mineral resoui'ces of this county are by no means extensive :
there is no coal, at least for any useful purpose ; and, although there is plenty of iron ore, the absence
of the former article renders the latter of comparatively little value: in the northern part of the
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