Gazetteer of Scotland > Volume 1
(233) Page 205
Download files
Complete book:
Individual page:
Thumbnail gallery: Grid view | List view
DUMBARTON.
205
the recesses of its interior, and were only fi-
nally extirpated or rendered harmless by the
resolute measures of the civil government. As
has already been mentioned, the county is un-
dergoing many improvements. So far as re-
gards the improvement of land, we may notice
the raising of plantations which have been set
on foot by various spirited proprietors. The
soil and climate having been found favourable
to the growth of timber, the county now wears
a warmer and more pleasing aspect than for-
merly, while the value of produce has been in
a corresponding degree augmented. The cat-
tle of the shire are chiefly of the West High-
land breed, some of which are reared in the
county. The daily has now become an object
of attention and profit on most farms, and for
this purpose cows of the Cunningham breed,
are purchased from Ayrshire. The roads
throughout the county have been greatly ex-
tended and improved within the last thirty
years, much to the benefit of agriculture and
manufactures. The introduction of manufac-
tures to this county took place in the decade
of 1760, though more than a century ago, and
even within the period in which Highland de-
predation was carried on, there were bleach-
fields established on Loch Lomond and the Le-
ven, for whitening cotton and linen goods.
About the year 1768, the first print-field was
established on the Leven, and soon afterwards
two more were established on the same river.
Up till the present day, the number of manu-
factories has been increasing, and there are now
several of different kinds. The banks of the
Leven seem to be the appropriate place of set-
tlement of the print-works, in consequence of
the exceeding purity of its water,
" That sweetly warbles o'er its bed,
With white round polished pebbles spread."
The county is likewise noted for the manufac-
ture of glass, an article begun to be made here
in 1777, and now enjoying a well merited pre-
eminence. The other manufactures are more
for home consumpt, and less worthy of re-
mark. The whole employ a great population,
and enrich the district with their vivifying in-
fluence. The county is divided into twelve
parishes, ten of which are in the presbytery of
Dumbarton. There is only one royal burgh
in the shire, namely Dumbarton, four burghs
of barony, and three villages. By the latest
county roll, there are seventy-one freeholders,
who elect a member of parliament. The
total real rental of the county is believed to
be about L.200,000 ; and that of the manu-
factories would be understated at L.20,000. The
popidation of the county was doubled from
1755 to 1821. In the latter year there were
13,046 males, 14,271 females; total 27,317.
The chief seats are Cumbernauld House,
Lord Elphinstone ; Buchanan House, Duke of
Montrose ; Roseneath, Duke of Argyle ; Bon-'
hill, Smollett ; Rossdoe, Colquhoun, Bart. ;
BaUoch Castle, Buchanan, Esq. ; Tilliechewen,
Horrocks, Esq. ; Levenbank ; Broomly ; Wood-
bank ; Cameron ,■ &c. The highest elevation
is Benvoirlich, which adjoins Perthshire, and
rises 3330 feet above the level of the sea.
DUMBARTON, a parish in the above
county, lying on the east side of the Leven,
from which it extends towards the north-east
in an oblong tract of land of about two miles
broad by four in length, bounded by West-
Kilpatrick on the south, and Bonhill and Kil-
maronock on the north.
Dumbarton, a royal burgh, and the ca-
pital of the above county and parish, is si-
tuated on a low piece of ground, encompassed
on its western quarter by the Leven, about
half a mile from its junction with the Clyde,
and almost secluded from the view of the lat-
ter by the intermediate Castle of Dumbarton,
which stands on a huge rocky eminence on the
edge of the firth. It lies fifteen miles north-
west of Glasgow, and fifty-nine west of Edin-
burgh. The town of Dumbarton occupies the
site of a very ancient settlement, which rose
under the protection of the adjacent fortress,
.and was afterwards elevated into importance
by the institution of certain religious establish-
ments. In very early times there was a
church here, which was the seat of the reguli
of the Strathclyde Britons, and in 1 450, a col-
legiate church was founded by Isabel, Duchess
of Albany and Countess of Lennox, which
was dedicated to St. Patrick. There was
likewise an hospital of a more ancient date, for
the sustenance of bedesmen, to which a chapel
was attached. The collegiate foundation be-
came the property of the Monks of Kilwin-
ning, with whom it continued till the Reforma-
tion. It does not appear that this institution
was very rich; but its consequence was en-
hanced by the number of its altars, supported
by the endowments of private individuals, and
served by chaplains. In 1 222, the rising town
was constituted a royal burgh, with speciul
205
the recesses of its interior, and were only fi-
nally extirpated or rendered harmless by the
resolute measures of the civil government. As
has already been mentioned, the county is un-
dergoing many improvements. So far as re-
gards the improvement of land, we may notice
the raising of plantations which have been set
on foot by various spirited proprietors. The
soil and climate having been found favourable
to the growth of timber, the county now wears
a warmer and more pleasing aspect than for-
merly, while the value of produce has been in
a corresponding degree augmented. The cat-
tle of the shire are chiefly of the West High-
land breed, some of which are reared in the
county. The daily has now become an object
of attention and profit on most farms, and for
this purpose cows of the Cunningham breed,
are purchased from Ayrshire. The roads
throughout the county have been greatly ex-
tended and improved within the last thirty
years, much to the benefit of agriculture and
manufactures. The introduction of manufac-
tures to this county took place in the decade
of 1760, though more than a century ago, and
even within the period in which Highland de-
predation was carried on, there were bleach-
fields established on Loch Lomond and the Le-
ven, for whitening cotton and linen goods.
About the year 1768, the first print-field was
established on the Leven, and soon afterwards
two more were established on the same river.
Up till the present day, the number of manu-
factories has been increasing, and there are now
several of different kinds. The banks of the
Leven seem to be the appropriate place of set-
tlement of the print-works, in consequence of
the exceeding purity of its water,
" That sweetly warbles o'er its bed,
With white round polished pebbles spread."
The county is likewise noted for the manufac-
ture of glass, an article begun to be made here
in 1777, and now enjoying a well merited pre-
eminence. The other manufactures are more
for home consumpt, and less worthy of re-
mark. The whole employ a great population,
and enrich the district with their vivifying in-
fluence. The county is divided into twelve
parishes, ten of which are in the presbytery of
Dumbarton. There is only one royal burgh
in the shire, namely Dumbarton, four burghs
of barony, and three villages. By the latest
county roll, there are seventy-one freeholders,
who elect a member of parliament. The
total real rental of the county is believed to
be about L.200,000 ; and that of the manu-
factories would be understated at L.20,000. The
popidation of the county was doubled from
1755 to 1821. In the latter year there were
13,046 males, 14,271 females; total 27,317.
The chief seats are Cumbernauld House,
Lord Elphinstone ; Buchanan House, Duke of
Montrose ; Roseneath, Duke of Argyle ; Bon-'
hill, Smollett ; Rossdoe, Colquhoun, Bart. ;
BaUoch Castle, Buchanan, Esq. ; Tilliechewen,
Horrocks, Esq. ; Levenbank ; Broomly ; Wood-
bank ; Cameron ,■ &c. The highest elevation
is Benvoirlich, which adjoins Perthshire, and
rises 3330 feet above the level of the sea.
DUMBARTON, a parish in the above
county, lying on the east side of the Leven,
from which it extends towards the north-east
in an oblong tract of land of about two miles
broad by four in length, bounded by West-
Kilpatrick on the south, and Bonhill and Kil-
maronock on the north.
Dumbarton, a royal burgh, and the ca-
pital of the above county and parish, is si-
tuated on a low piece of ground, encompassed
on its western quarter by the Leven, about
half a mile from its junction with the Clyde,
and almost secluded from the view of the lat-
ter by the intermediate Castle of Dumbarton,
which stands on a huge rocky eminence on the
edge of the firth. It lies fifteen miles north-
west of Glasgow, and fifty-nine west of Edin-
burgh. The town of Dumbarton occupies the
site of a very ancient settlement, which rose
under the protection of the adjacent fortress,
.and was afterwards elevated into importance
by the institution of certain religious establish-
ments. In very early times there was a
church here, which was the seat of the reguli
of the Strathclyde Britons, and in 1 450, a col-
legiate church was founded by Isabel, Duchess
of Albany and Countess of Lennox, which
was dedicated to St. Patrick. There was
likewise an hospital of a more ancient date, for
the sustenance of bedesmen, to which a chapel
was attached. The collegiate foundation be-
came the property of the Monks of Kilwin-
ning, with whom it continued till the Reforma-
tion. It does not appear that this institution
was very rich; but its consequence was en-
hanced by the number of its altars, supported
by the endowments of private individuals, and
served by chaplains. In 1 222, the rising town
was constituted a royal burgh, with speciul
Set display mode to: Large image | Transcription
Images and transcriptions on this page, including medium image downloads, may be used under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence unless otherwise stated.
Gazetteers of Scotland, 1803-1901 > Gazetteer of Scotland > Volume 1 > (233) Page 205 |
---|
Permanent URL | https://digital.nls.uk/97427158 |
---|
Description | Volume I: Abbey to Glenartney. |
---|---|
Attribution and copyright: |
|
More information |
Description | By Robert Chambers and William Chambers. Glasgow: Blackie & Son, 1838. 2 volumes. |
---|---|
Shelfmark | NF.1461.g.7 |
Additional NLS resources: | |
More information |