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

KIRKCUDBRIGHTSHIRE.
SLATER'S
KIEKCUDBEIGHT,
WITH THE PARISHES OF BORGUE, TONGLAND AND TWYNHOLM, AND THE VILLAGE OF EINGFOED.
Kt
LtRKOUDBRIGHT is a royal burgh, the seat of a presbytery,
capital of the stewartry, a parish, and in the parochial union of
the aarae name, 100 miles b.s.w. from Edinburgh, 55 e. from Port-
patrick, and 28 s.s.w. from Dumfries. It occupies a peninsula
situation on the east of the Dee, about sis miles from the contiuonce
of that river with the Solway Frith, and ia a town of considerable
antiquity, but of its origin there is no authentic or even traditionaly
record; but that St. Cuthbert's church vfaa erected so long ago as
the eighth century is unquestionable. The establishment of tliis
church was followed by the construction of a small fort by the lords
of Galloway, which in after times was superseded by a castle in
the proprietary of the Crown, by whose authority the place was
put under the government of a constable. During the domination
of the Douglases in Galloway, Kirkcudbright became a burgh of
regality under their influence; on their forfeiture James IT.
erected the town into a royal burgh by charter dated at Perth, 26th
October, 1455. This grant was renewed and confirmed by Charles
I., on the 20th July, 1633, and the burgh has since been under the
government of a provost, two bailies, and thirteen couuciUora, with
a treasurer and chamberlain; it joins with Dumfries, Anuan, San-
quhar and Lochmaben in returning a member to parhament. The
revenue of the corporation is considerably increased by the salmon
fishings iu the Dee, and the rents of thiee farms in the neighbour-
hood ; and the town derives a certain degree of consequence and
advantage from being the seat of the Stewart and Commissary
Courts. Kirkcudbright, which has been materially improved, at
the present day presents an aspect remarkably pleasing; within, it
is regular, clean and neat, aud externally it appears embosomed in
the bountiful foliage of a fine sylvan country. It is composed of
sis or seven distinct streets, built at right angles with each other;
the houses, which are for the most part t^\'0 stories high, have a
respectable and comfortable appearance, aud at once bespeak the
taste and easy circumstances of the inhabitants. The new Sheriff
Court House, to which is attached the gaol, was erected on the site
of the old Stewartry Building, under tlio Sheriff Court House Act,
at the Joint expense of government and the county. It has a very
imposing appearance. The exterior is in the castellated style,
with battlements and projected tower in the centre, which har-
monizes well with the towers of the old building behind; the
interior has been fitted up in a manner at ouce elegant and substan-
tial. On the ground floor are the offices of the procurators fiscal,
the county and justice of the peace clerks' office, and police office ;
the second storey contains the court hall, a spacious room seated
for 150 persons, and several other offices. The cost of the building
was £8,583. From the tower above mentioned an extensive view
may be obtained of the beautiful environs of the town, including
the'ruius of the ancient castle of Kirkcudbright, built in 1582 by
I.I'Clellan, one of the Lords of Kirkcudbright. The former gaol
and court house is a very curious old edifice, with the market cross
stuck up against it, supposed to have been erected about the middle
of the sixteenth century. The new prison, erected for the
Stewartry, is a plaiu oblong building containing twenty-six cells.
The monetary transactions, which are considerable, are conducted
by three banks, viz., the Bank of Scotland, the National Bank of
Scotland and the Commercial Bank of Scotland. The burgh has
a little shipping trade and a productive fishery, and the intercourse
with Liverpool by steam navigation gives animation to the town
and a stimulus to its trade. The manufacture of hosiery exists here
to a limited extent, and the shops and inns are very respectable; of
the latter the Royal and the Commercial are the principal hotels.
The harbour is the best in the stewartry ; at the ordinary spring
tides the depth of water is thirty feet, and at the lowest neap-tides
eighteen feet. The river is navigable for two miles above the towTi,
to the bridge of Tougland, which is constructed of one arch of one
hundred and ten feet span, and picturesquely blends with the sur-
rounding landscape. A handsome iron bridge has been erected
across the Dee at Kirkcudbright, at a cost of £10,000. The style ia
of the bowstring lattice constructiou ; its length being 600 feet by
23 feet broad, consisting of five fixed spans of 71 feet each, and a
compound span of 98 feet, which latter turns on a cast-iron cylinder
filled with concrete, to allow of the passage of vessels of consider-
able burden, beyond the bridge. The piers, over which stands a
square column, furnished with a tripod lamp-stand and globular
lamps— are clustered columns with fluted capitals, four of the
columns being surrounded by an entablature, the whole forming a
pier of the most graceful description, and admirably suited by its
irregnlar contour for the position in which it is placed, being at
I once in harmony and contrast with the surrounding picturesqad
[ scenery. The approaches to the bridge are formed by curved para-
pets nf cast-iron, to which are affixed a copy of the old seal of
Kirkcudbright, together with the names of the provost, Samuel
Cavau, the chairman of the bridge committee, aud the engineers
and contractors. The work of construction was commenced in
May, 1865, and the bridge was opened to the public, together with
the new court house above described, with a great demonstration on
July 8th, 1868. Previons to the erection of the bridge, passengers
and carriages had to be ferried over in a flat-bottomed boat; in
stormy weather, however, or when there was an excessive current,
this mode of conveyance was not without danger. There is a
regular communication kept up between this place and Liverpool,
by means of a steam vessel once a week. The railway to Castle
Douglas is a branch of the Glasgow and South- Western Railway,
aud gives ample accommodation to the district. The station is
close to the bridge and Free Church. The Established Church,
with nave and transepts, and a fine tower surmounted by a spire,
was erected in 1836 ; it is a very tasteful structure, built wholly of
stoue, and stands in the centre of a beautiful plantation, through
which are public walks. A handsome and substantial manse for the
officiating minister has been recently built. The Free church (of
whiL-h the foundation stone was laid in August, 1872, and which
adjoins the Johnstone Free school), is a handsome building of
whinstone, with red sandstone facings, erected on the site of the
old and former Free church. It has a square tower, surmounted
by an elegant spire reaching to the height of 123 feet. The east
and west ends are ornamented by elegant windows, with fine
tracery. The entire length of the church is 82 feet, by 48 feet wide,
exclusive of transept;:), with seats for 712 persons. The cost of
erection was upwards of £5,000. In High street is a neat chapel
in which the United Presbyterian congregation worship. The
ancient church has been pulled down, with the exception of a
fragment enclosing a venerable monument of a former Lord Kirk-
cudbright ; a recumbent figure of whom is in fine preservation.
This portion of the ancient church is now appropriated to the use
of a school. The academy, or grammar school, is a handsome
edifice, comprising a spacious room for a public subscription
library. The Johnstone Free school is a chaste stone building,
with centre wings, and a handsome tower ; it is for the tuition of
both sexes, and was opened September 12th, 1848. There are in the
town newsrooms, a masonic lodge, a mechanics' institute, and a
bowling green. The environs of Kirkcudbright are truly delight-
ful ; the rising grounds on each side of the river from Tongland to
the sea are embellished with thriving plantations; and the general
prospect, both marine and inland, is really lovely. St. Mary's Isle,
a beautiful spot, the seat of the Earl of Selkirk, is about a mile
from the town. The burgh is amply supplied with all domestic
necessaries, and provisions are comparatively cheap. The market
day is Friday. The parish of Kirkcudbright extends over an area
of 12,280 statute acres, and in 1871 contained a population of 3,S46;
of this number 2,470 were rctui-ned for the town.
BoRGDE is a parish and village, forming the weat side of Kirkcud-
bright bay, entirely agricultural. The village, a small one, about
five miles distant from Kirkcudbright, consists of a few neat houses,
and contains a Free church and a church of the Establishment,
also a parochial and Free school. The island of Ross, which rises
at the mouth of Kirkcudbright bay, belongs to this parish, and on
it has been erected a lighthouse. Acreage, 13,531. Population in
1871, 1,087.
Tongland or Tonoi eland is a parish in the Union and Steward
Court of Kirkcudbright. A parish church, a Free church, and a
parochial school are here. Acreage, 9,788. Population in 1871, 908.
Gatehouse or Tarfs is a station in this parish, on the Kirkcud-
branch of the Glasgow and South-Western Railway.
RiNGFOHD or Red Lion is a small village in Tongland, situated
on the road between Twynholm aud Castle Douglas.
TwYNHOLM a parish and village ; the latter, a small one, is situa-
ted three miles from Kirkcudbright; on the main road from Gate-
house to Castle Douglas. The soil is fertile, and the sm-face of the
district rises into many small hilts, partly arable. Of the extensive
woods with which this'part of Galloway was formerly covered, the
only remains now existing are around the old castle of Compstone,
a building pleasantly situated on an eminence nigh to the junction
of the rivers Dee and Tarf. The village contains a small neat
church of the Establishment, and a parochial and other schools.
Acreage, 10,484. Population in 1871, 717.
POST omCB, Castle street, Kirkcudbright, Charles Finlayson, Post Master.— Jjetteis arrive from all parts at half-past
seven morning, and half-past six evening, ami are despatched to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dumfries and Castle Douglasat twelve noon, and
to Dumfries, Castle Douglas, Dalbeattie and all parts at twenty minutes before five evening, and to Dumfries, Caetle Douglas and all
parts at ten minutes past six evening.
Money Order and Telegraph Offi,ce and Savings Bank.
Sub Post Office* BoKGUE, Mary Wylie, 8nh Post flfis/reas.— Letters from all parts arrive (by messenger from Kirkcudbright) at
ten morning, and are despatched thereto by same means at twenty-five minutes before five evening.
Kirkcudbright is the nearest Moneit Order Ojfice.
Post Office, Ringford (Sub Post Office for Castle Douglas), WiUiam Harkner, Suh Post Master. — Letters from all parts arrive
(from Castle Douglas) at twentj minutes past seven morning, and are despatched thereto at a quarter-past five evening.
KiiiKCUDBRicHT is the nearest Mori^y Order Office.
Post Office, Tongland, Wilhelmina Wilson, Post Mistress.— Ijetteva arrive from all parts at nine moraing, and are despatched
hertto at eleven morning.
Kirkcudbright is the nearest Money Order Office.
.Post Office, Twynholm, WiUiam Stewart, Suh Post Master.— Letters from all parts arrive (from Caetle Douglas) at twenty
minutes before eight morning, and are despatched thereto at twenty-live minutes past four afternoon.
Kjukcudbeight is the nearest Money Order Office.
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