Scotland > 1868, 1878 - Slater's (late Pigot & Co.'s) Royal national commercial directory and topography of Scotland > 1878 > Part 1

DUMBAETONSHIRE,
XiNCIENTLY designated Lennox, and subsequently Dun-barton shire Cwhich latter, though not [the most popular, is the proper
appellation), is a small county in the west of Scotland, and considered as within the boundary of the highlands. On the west it is
separated from Arfiyleshire by Loch Long, Perthshire touches its northern extremity, the county of Stirling bounds it on the east and
also on the north. Lanarkshire on the south-east, and the Clyde separates it from the county of Renfrew on the south. The figure of this
county is rather singular: it describes almost a perfect crescent or semicircle, protruding on the south and south-west, its concavity
being filled, through its whole extent on the north and north-east, by the county of Stirling. The distance between its eastern and
northern extremities is nearly forty miles, while the breadth of the shire is from five to thii-teen, and in one part it is only two miles
broad; the parishes of Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch, however, are not included in this measurement, being detached from the main
portion on the south-east, and lying between the counties of Lanark and Stirling. This severed portion of the county is twelve miles
long by from two to four and a half miles broad, and was annexed to the district in the reign of Robert I. The entire shire embraces
an area of 270 square miles, or 172,G77 acres.
Naute and Early History.— In ancient times the name of the shire was Levanach, signifying "the country of the Leven,"
which was corrupted in the course of years to Levenax, and more latterly to Lennox. Originally this district was the residence of a
British tribe designated the Attacottie, or Eithacactiy a word importing " dwellers along the extremity of the wood." The descendants
of this people were not enslaved or expelled from their hunting grounds by the Romans, they became known as the Britons of Strath,
Clyde; and, though almost perpetually at variance with their neighbours, they remained a distinct race till the reign of Malcolm IV. From
these people the name of Dumbartonshire is said to be derived, and taken from the appellation of the castle, signifying " the hill of tho
Britons." This region, until the early part of the last century, continued to be the ready prey of certain lawless Highland clans, who lurked in
the recesses of its interior, and were finally extirpated or reduced to quiesence and subordination, only by the most vigorous measures
that could be adopted by the civil government of the country. It was at one period the property of a powerful family of Saxon origin,
one of whom, called Alwyn, the son of Aikil, was elevated to be Earl of Lennox in the reigu of William the Lion, and his desceudantg
for several centuries were at once heritable sheriffs of the county and chief possessors of its lands. The Earldom of Lennox was
raised to a Dukedom in 1581; but Charles, the sixth Duke, dying without issue in 1672, the honours of the family, including tho
Earldom of Darnley, devolved upon Charles II., as nearest male heir, who bestowed them on his natural son, Charles Lennox, after
whose demise the estates were sold.
Prodtjce, Manufactures, &c. — In recent times great improvements have been effected in this county, and every year its
prolificacy and value are increasing in amount. The soil and and climate having been found favourable to the growth of timber, the district
now wears a warmer and more cheerful aspect than formerly, while the income accruing from produce has been in a corresponding
degree augmented. The cattle of the shire are chiefly of the West Highland breed, some of which are reared in the county; the dairy
has become an object of attention and profit on most farms. The roads throughout have been greatly extended and improved within
the last feixty years, a measure highly conducive to the agricultural and manufacturing interests. A centui'y has elapsed since the
manufacturing dawn broke upon this part of Scotland — bleachfields, about that period, made their appearance on the banks of Loch
Lomond and the Leven. About 1768 the first printworks were established on the Leven, soon afterwards others sprung into operation,
and at this time there are various manufactures carried on throughout the shire. Ship building, both iron and wood, is a branch of
gOme importance. Until 1831 the glassworks of this county were in high repute, Dumbarton being their chief seat, but they have now
-ej'.sed to exist. Dumbartonshire does not contain numerous mineral treasures within its tosom, but it has an abundance of freestone
j,nd slate, and some ironstone.
Mountains, Lakes, &c.— These are the most remarkable objects in the county : of the former, the chief are those of Arrochar, Luss
Row, and Roseneath, which are inaccessible to the plough, and abound with moors, mosses and woods ; the hills of Kilpatrick on the
south, are much less elevated, Benvoirlich, adjoining Perthshire, has the highest altitude, rising 3,300 feet above the level of the sea.
The precipitious and rugged summits of these mountains, constituting the Highland district, are frequently capped with snow, and in
the finest weather hid amidst the clouds ; some of these eminences are apparently volcanic, particularly the rock <>u which Dumbarton
Castle stands. There are about ten lakes or lochs, among these are Loch Long and Loch Gave, projecting into the Highland territory from
the Firth of Clyde ; but the most extensive, and, perhaps, the most beautiful lake in Scotland, is that of Loch Lomond ; it lies at the foot
of the Grampian mountains, which terminate here, but seem to rise in many islands that appear a continuation of them, or like
fragments torn off by some violent convulsion of nature. These islands, thii'ty-two in number, are lofty and picturesque: on Inch
CaUoch (or the Island of Nuns) are the remains of a conventual church, and on Inch Murrins (or the Island of St. Murriuus, two miles
iong, and converted into a deer park) are the ruins of a house once belonging to the Lennox family. This magnificent expanse of water
ia thirty miles long, in some places eight broad, and covers a surface of 20,000 acres; the depth varies from twenty to one hundred
fathoms. It abounds with delicious trout, and the southern part has salmon ; the purity of the stream and the richness of its banks
soothe the mind of the traveller, while the bleachfields, printworks and cotton mill s, the villages, hamlets and gentlemen's seats
scattered over an apparently remote district, must impress him ^ith an exalted idea of the industry and wealth of the inhabitants.
The lake discharges its waters into the Clyde by the river Leven, which is the only stream of any note in the district. The North
British railway possesses stations at Dumbarton, Cardross, Helensbm-gh, Ronton, Alexandria and Balloch, and the Edinburgh and
Glasgow line has stations at Castle Cary and Kirkintilloch. ^
Division, Representation, &c.— Dumbai-tonshh-e is divided into twelve parishes, ten of which form the presbytery of Dumbarton-
it contains but one royal burgh— Dumbarton, fom- burghs of barony, and three villages. The only contributory burgh, or that which in
conjunction with others is represented in the senate, belonging to the county is Dumbarton ; it unites with Renfrew, Rutherglen
Kilmarnock and Port Glasgow in returning one member to the Imperial parliament. The present (1877) member for the county is
Archibald Orr Ewing, Esq. The parliamentary constituency for 1876-7 was 2,569. According to the census returns for 1871 the number-
of inhabited houses in the shire was 7,638, the population at the same period being 58,857.
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