Scotland > 1868, 1878 - Slater's (late Pigot & Co.'s) Royal national commercial directory and topography of Scotland > 1861

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 Wigton 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 about the same : the superficial contents of
the county (adopting a medium calculation betwixt conflicting authorities) may be taken at four
huurbed and eighty square miles, or three hundred and nine thousand, seven hundred and sixty statute
acre;— 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 ?'iull 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 (Rhyns or Riiw$) of Galloway. On the
north auother promontory is formed by the intersection of Loch Ryan. In ordinary language the
district is divided into Upper and Lower mialloway, which designates the northern or high and the
southern or low parts of the shire.
Early Histoky. — 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;
Leitcophibia (the modern Whithorn) for their principal town, and Rerigonium (Loch Ryan), for their
principal port. The Anglo-Saxons over-ran the district in the sixth century ; and Oswic, the Northumbrian
king settled at Whithorn. During the uinth 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 ofithe
Scottish kiug, Alexander II. In the sanguinary contests which orisrinated 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 subse-
quently 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. The Maxwells of Nithsdale received a portion of the estate
The proximity to Ireland and the Isle of Man caused the country of the Gael to remain for a lo^g
period a separate community from the rest of Scotland, and the Gaelic dress, manners aud language
lingered here long after they fell into desuetude in the rest of the Lowlands. Whilst these distinctions
remained the inhabitants were conspicuous for rudeness bordering on ferocity. Their chief derived
his authority sometimes from the kings of Scotland and at others from the kings of Northumbria, but
neither could subdue the turbulence and insubordination of the chieftain and his vassals, who were very
troublesome neighbours, inflicting the mischiefs of reckless incursions into the territories of those that
had the misfortune to dwell in the proximity of these half civilized marauders.
Soil, Climate, 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 an 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 ; aud in modern days planting has been pursued most extensively : it is said
that, during twenty years, the Earl of Stair annually planted twpnty 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 aud 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. This district has long been pre-eminent as being an excellent
pastoral one and for the superiority of its wool. The mineral resources 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
' Rhinns' the existence of sandstone has been ascertained ; quarries of slate, of different qualities, are
found in various places ; and lead mines were formerly wrought within the district. The shipping
trade of Wigtonshire has felt, like all maritime counties, the impetus of steam navigation. The ports
of Stranraer, Wigtown and Whithorn derive considerable benefit from this mighty power ; and till
recently Portpatrick was the station for the mail steam packets communicating with Ireland : the
removal of which to Glasgow and Greenock has been a severe blow to the prosperity of this interesting
little port. The coasting trade of this county is considerable and is steadily increasing, giving employ-
ment to a large number of mariners. In 1688 the number of boats belonging to this shire was four,
and in 1860 this insignificent number is augmented to hundreds. There is also considerable activity in
the fisheries connected with the numerous ports and lochs, so that combining the various sources of
agriculture, commerce and the fisheries, Wigtonshire may be pronounced an active and prosperous
County. -*
Rivers and Mountains. — This county has no considerable rivers ; the principal are the Cree, tha
Bladenoch and the Tarf. with a few of smaller size. The Cree, which is a boundary river between
this county and the stewartry of Kirkcudbright, rises in Carrick, in Ayrshire ; after forming a lake at
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