Scotland > 1882-1915 - Slater's Royal National Commercial Directory of Scotland > 1886 - Slater's (late Pigot and Co's) Royal national commercial directory and topography of Scotland

WIGTOWNSHIRE.
THIS 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 about the same. The superficial contents of the county
(adopting a medium calculation betwixt conflicting authorities) may be taken at 4S0 square miles, of which about one-half,
jterliaps, is cultivated. The Bay of Luce indents the bind to the extent of 15 miles, and forms two promontories. At the southern
t-xtremity of the western projection is the Hull of Galloway, while the apex on the eastern is called Burrow Head. These two
peninsular headlands are also known by the Celtic name of the Ehinns (Rhyns or Rinos) of Galloway. On the north of the county
another promontory is formed by the intersection of Loch Ryan. In ordinary language the district is divided into Upper and
Lower Galloway, which designates the northern or high, and the southern or lower parts of the shire. Wigtownshire stands the
seventeenth in point of size, and the twenty-second in population of Scottish counties.
Early History.— At the epoch of the Roman power obtruding itself into North Britain, the ancient British tribes of the
Novantes inhabited the whole of Eastern or 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 or 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 ou
the territory. About the twelfth century Galloway passed into the hands of the Scottish king Alexander II. In the sanguinary con-
tests which originated in the competition of Bruce andBaliol, 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 becamo
extinct ; it was revived however, and now bestows an earldom on the distinguished family of Stewart and Garlies. The Maxwells
of Nithsdale received a portion of the estates. The proximity to Ireland and the Isle of Man caused the country of the Gael to
remain for a long period a separate community from the rest of Scotland, and the Gaelic dress, manners, and language lingered
here long after they foil 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 kinss of Scotland and at
others from the kings of Northumbria, bufc neither could subdue the turbulence and insubordination of the chieftafu and his
vassals, who were very troublesome neighbours, making reckless incursions into the territories of those that had the misfortune
to dwell in the proximity of these half civilised maurauders.
Soil, Climate, Produce, &CJ. — 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 division
being more elevated, and largely mixed with heath and moss. The major part of the soil 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 Irisa 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 pursued most extensively. The salutary improvements that have been effected in 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 from Ayrshire, penetrated into Wigtownshire. 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 Wigtownshire 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 at one time Portpatrick
was the Btation for the mail steam packets communicating with Ireland ; the removal of which to GlaBgow and GreeDock 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 employment to a largo number of mariners. In 1688 the number of boats belonging to this shire was four, while
at the present time they may be numbered by hundreds. There is also considerable activity in the fisheries connected with the
numerous ports and lochs. There is almost an entire absence of manufactures in this shire, if we except two mills at Kirkcowan
and one at Hinnigaff, at which blankets, tweeds, tic. are made.
Rivers and Mountains.— This county has no considerable rivers ; the principal are the Cree, the Bladnoch, 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 the head of Wigtonshire, it flows again as a stream, and, passing Newton Stewart
on the east, falls into a creek at the head of Wigtown Baj. The Bladnoch also has its source in Carrick, and, alter running a
course of twenty-four miles, falls into Wigtown Bay. The Tarf issues from a small lake in Ayrshire, and, after a course of twenty-
one miles, unites with the Bladnoch. The mountains, with their elevations above the level of the sea, are — Lang, 1,758 feet ;
Mochrum Fell, 1,020 feet ; Knock of Luce, 1,014 ; and Barhullion, 814. The Caledonian Railway offerB extensive facilities for
communication with other important towns and counties.
Divisions and Representation, Ac. — Wigtownshire comprehends seventeen parishes, and has three royal and parliamen-
tary burghs, Damely, Wigton, Stranraer, and Whithorn; with these is associated New Galloway in returning one member to
Parliament, and the county at large sends another. The member at present sitting for the county is Sir Henry Eu&tace Maxwell,
Bart. The parliamentary constituency in 1884-85 numbered 1,694. The Earl of Stair, k.t. is lord lieutenant of the county. The
burghs of barony in the shire are Newton Stewart, Garlieston, Kirkcowan, Glenluce, and Portpatrick; it has several thriving
villages, and a number of small seaports or natural harbours, ana is ornamented by many handsome mansions and elegant seats
of its nobility and gentry. In 1871 the population was returned as 17,879 males and 20,951 females, total, 38.880. In 1881 the
figures given were :— Males, 18,143, females, 20,468 ; total, 38,611 ; which shows a decrease of 219.
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