Topographical, statistical, and historical gazetteer of Scotland > Volume 1

ANN
44
ANS
Gaelic, signifying the slow-running water. Allan
Cunningham styles it 'the silver Annan.' In the
ballad of ' Annan Water,' [Minstrelsy of the Scottish
Border, Vol. III. p. 284, Cadell's edn.] it is styled
'a drumlie river ;' but this was during a spate, the
tragical consequences of which are commemorated in
the ballad ; and the editor informs us that when
■ Aunan water's wading deep,'
that river and the frith into which it falls are the
frequent scenes of tragical accidents.
ANNANDALE, the vale or basin of the above
river, and a stewartry or district of Dumfries-shire.
Professor Jamieson is of opinion that Annandale
must have been, in ancient times, the bed of an inland
lake. It is a fertile tract of country, about 30 miles
long, and from 15 to 18 broad. It is bounded on the
west by Nithsdale ; and on the east by Eskdale, and
includes 20 parishes. From its vicinity to the borders,
and the continual predatory excursions to which it
was exposed, the greater part was long uncultivated
and common ; but it has assumed a very different
appearance since the beginning of last century.
There are several lakes in this district. Coal and
lime are wrought in it. Annandale was anciently a
part of the Roman province of Valentia ; it after-
wards, by a grant from David I., soon after his ac-
cession to the throne, in 1124, to Robert de Brus,
son of one of William the Conqueror's Norman barons,
with whom David had formed a friendship while at
the court of Henry I. of England, became a lordship
under the Bruces, who took their title from it.*
About the year 1371, upon the demise of David II., it
fell into the hands of Randolph, Earl of Moray, re-
gent during the minority of David; and, with the
hand of his sister Agnes, it went to the Dunbars,
Earls of March. After their forfeiture, it fell to the
Douglasses, who lost it by the same fate. It now
belongs chiefly to the Earl of Hopetoun. It former-
ly gave the title of Marquis to the gallant border-
family of Johnstone. The lineal heirship of this title
became extinct, on the death of George, 3d marquis,
in 1792. There are now several claimants for the
title. Lochmaben castle was the principal fort in this
district; and was deemed almost impregnable. From
having been a Roman province it abounds with Ro-
man stations and antiquities. Part of Severus's wall,
* Much confusion prevailed among our historical writers as
to the genealogical relations of the family of Bruce, uutil Chal-
mers, in his ' Caledonia, 1 and Kerr, in his ( History of Scotland
during the reign of Robert I.' pointed out the existing discre-
pancies, and traced the descent of this illustrious line. Robert
de Brus entered England with William, duke of Normandy, in
1066 ; his son, of the same name, who is frequently confounded
with him, received a grant of the lordship of Annandale as
above mentioned ; but immediately before the battle of the
Standard, in 1133, he renounced his allegiance to David I., on
finding himself unable to persuade the Scottish king to enter
into terms of peace with Enpland. He died on his paternal
English estate of Gysburn in Yorkshire, in 1141, and was suc-
ceeded in his English estates by his elder son, the ancestor of
the English Bruces of Skeltou. Robert Brus, his younger son,
is said to have received the transfer of Annandale from his
father immediately before the battle of the Standard, and to
have borne arms against the English in that engagement.
This 3d Robert lived in the reigns of David I., Malcolm IV.,
and William the Lion. His son, the 4th Robert, married
Isabel, a natural daughter of William the Lion. He died in
1191, and was succeeded in the lordship of Annandale by his
Bon William, who died in 1215. Robert the 5th of the name,
married Isabel, second daughter of David, Earl of Huntington,
who was the younger broUier of William the Lion, thus in-
troducing the legitimate royal blood of Scotland into the family
of Bruce. The 5th Robert Bruce died in 1215, and was succeed-
ed by the 6th of the name, who married a daughter of Gilbert
de Clare, Earl of Gloucester. He opposed the Cumyn influence
in the affairs of Scotland ; and at the age of 81 engaged in the
competition for the Crown of Scotland ; but ultimately resigned
his rights in favour of his sou Robert, Earl of Carrick. He
died in 1295. His Bon accompanied Edward of England to Pa-
lestine in 1269, and soon after his return, married Margaret,
Countess of Carrick in her own right, by whom he had five
sous and seven daughters. The eldest Bon of this marriage was
The Bkice.
the camps of Birrens and Brunswark, and the remalni
of a great military road, are still visible in this dis-
trict. The ruins of the large quadrangular fortress of
Auchincass, on Evan water, once the seat of the re-
gent, Randolph, cover an acre of ground, and still
convey an idea of the strength and extent of the
building. The castles of Hoddam and of Comlon-
gan are also in tolerable preservation. See Dum-
fries-shire, and Lochmaben.
ANNAT (The), or Cambus, a rivulet in the
parish of Kilmadock, Perthshire, which rises in a
hill in the north-west corner of the parish, and runs
into the Teith about a mile above Doune. It is re-
markable for numerous cascades.
ANNOCK (The), a small river in Ayrshire,
which rises in the parish of Stewarton, and falls into
the Irvine, a little above that town, after a course
of about 12 miles.
ANSTRUTHER-EASTER, a parish and royal
burgh, in the county and synod of Fife, and presby-
tery of St Andrews, on the coast of the frith of
Forth, between Kilrenny on the east, and Anstru-
ther- Wester — from which it is divided by a small
rivulet, called the Drill or Dreel burn, descending
from the high lands of Carnbee — on the west. The
three burghs form as it were one narrow town
stretching along the shore of the frith. Previous to
the year 1634, the town and barony of Anstruther
was in the parish of Kilrenny ; but though the church
was at Kilrenny, the minister resided at Anstruther,
and was styled the minister of that town. In the
above-mentioned year, the town of Easter Anstru-
ther was erected into a separate charge, and a church
built, which was thoroughly repaired in 1834. Sti-
pend ^£131 15s., from the tithes of fish, a grant of
part of the bishop's rents, and some money mortified
for that purpose, with a manse, and a glebe of the
value of £25. The manse is a singular old building.
Sir W. C. Anstruther, Bart., is the patron. There are
a Burgher, an Independent, and a Baptist congregation
in the parish The parish-school is attended by
about 120 children. Master's salary £5 6s. 8d., with
from £40 to £50 fees. In 1744, the population was
1,000; in 1801,969; in 1831, 1,007. .Houses 179.
Assessed property, £2,410. Anstruther-Easter was
erected into a royal burgh by James VI., in 1583 ;
but holds feu of the family of Anstruther. It is
governed by a council of 19, including 3 bailies, and
a treasurer. The revenue, in 1833, was £78; ex-
penditure £93 ; debt £485. The only taxes levied
are the government cess, and the customs and shore-
dues. There is a good harbour here, which, by an
outlay of £2,000, might be made capable of admitting
vessels drawing 16 feet water. In 1710, Anstruther,
which formerly was a creek of Kirkcaldy, was made
a port, and a custom-house established here. In
1753, a new quay was built; and, to defray the ex-
pense, an act of parliament was procured laying a tax
of two pennies Scots upon every pint of ale brewed
or sold in the burgh. In 1768, the tonnage belong-
ing to Anstruther-Easter was 80 tons ; in 1793, it
was 1,400 ; in 1837, it was only 964 tons. There is
some coasting-trade. The principal articles of ex-
port are grain and potatoes, and salted cod. A week-
ly corn-market is held on Saturday. The National
bank has a branch here. Anstruther-Easter and
Wester join with Crail, Cupar, Kilrenny, Pitten-
weem, and St Andrews, in returning a member to
parliament. The parliamentary and the municipal
constituency, in 1837-8, was 48. Anstruther-Easter
is the birth-place of the Rev. Dr Chalmers, and of
Professor Tennant of St Andrews, who has sung the
humours of ' Anster Fair' with excellent jocularity,
and a genius worthy of a higher subject.
ANSTRUTHER- WESTER, a small parish and