Topographical, statistical, and historical gazetteer of Scotland > Volume 2

MON
377
MON
121 miles in length, traversing in its course the par-
ishes of Old and New Monkland, Cadder, and Kirk-
intilloch. The latter, as has been stated, is its
northern terminus, and here a commodious basin has
been formed for the loading of vessels of every size,
from the smallest scow to the largest vessel which
navigates the Forth and Clyde canal, and by this
canal it is brought into communication alike with
the East and Western seas. The western terminus
of the line is at Gargill, where it forms a junction
with the Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway [which
see], and by means of this line, as well as by the
Monkland canal, it communicates with the great
manufacturing and commercial city of Glasgow. The
Monkland and Kirkintilloch railway also connects
itself with the rich mineral districts traversed by the
recently opened Wishaw and Coltness railway; and,
from what has been stated, it will be seen that this
line is connected with the Garnkirk and Glasgow
railway to the west; the Ballochney railway to the
east ; the Wishaw and Coltness railway, and Monk-
land canal, to the south-west; and the Forth and
Clyde canal to the north-west. The difference of
level between the eastern terminus at Kipps' byre,
and the northern terminus at Kirkintilloch, is 134
feet, giving 1 in 111 as the average gradient;
but the gradients vary in different parts of the line
from 1 in 60 to 1 in 5*,200. The width of the guage
of rails is 4 feet 6 inches, and the cutting throughout
the line is moderate, the largest cut being at Bed-
lay, where its depth is about 30 feet, for the length
of about one furlong. The Monkland and Kirkin-
tilloch is not properly of itself a passenger-line, al-
though passengers are carried along a portion of it,
in connection with the Garnkirk and Glasgow and
the Slamannan railways. It has, on the whole, how-
ever, been a most successful line of railway, as will
be seen from the following note of its increasing
revenue:
KTATE OF THE REVENUE OF MONKI AND AND KIRKINTILLOCH
RAILWAY.
ia>8, . . . £2,837 13 li
18;9 3,480 5
1830, . . . 3,538 i 1
1831, .... 3,(W2 1 (i
1832,« . . . 3,^8 1 4J
1833, .... 4,578 15 8
1834, . . . 5.0SI 17 3
1835, .... (i.aiiO 3 9
1S36, . . . 6,792 11 11
1837 7,203 I 9
1838, . . . 11,172 18
1839, .... 13,935 10
1840, . . . 16,991 3 7
It is scarcely possible to point out a railway which
has had more the effect of benefitting the line of
country through which it runs, than the Monkland
and Kirkintilloch. Previous to its formation, the
lands in the neighbourhood were comparatively shut
up; their mineral fields were comparatively unpro-
ductive ; and only a thatched cottage was here and
there seen to dot the surface. But the railway
once in operation, a change, as if effected by magic,
came over the face and feelings of the district.
Public works were erected, — population gathered in
masses by thousands, — splendid edifices were called
into existence, — and property, once considered almost
valueless, excepting for the scanty returns of its til-
lage or herbage, became a mine of wealth which may
enrich many succeeding generations. As a proof of
this, it may only be stated that the once humble and
unpretending village of Coatbridge has, within these
two or three years, started into lusty life as a thriv-
ing and populous town, with buildings which will
bear comparison with those in the capital of the
* The falling off in the revenue, this year, is accounted for
by an extensive strike of the colliers; and hy the breaking out
au.a euhsejueut ravages ul the cholera at Kirkintilloch.
west, in addition to its established and dissenting
churches, and its handsome branch of the Western
bank of Scotland. But it would seem indeed that
there is scarcely any limit to the prosperity which
may await these mineral districts, in connection with
the easy and rapid mode of transit which this rail-
way affords.
MONKTON-HALL, a small village on the left
bank of the river Esk, a mile north of Musselburgh,
in the parish of Inveresk, Edinburghshire. While
the Scottish army lay around it previous to the bat-
tle of Pinkie, a hurried and imperfect parliament was
convoked in the village, and enacted that the nearest
heir of any person who should fall in the battle
should, if the slain were an ecclesiastic, receive a giit
of his benefice, and, if a layman, have his ward, non-
entresse, relief and marriage free.
MONKTON and PRESTWICK, an united par-
ish on the coast of Kyle, Ayrshire; bounded on the
north and north-east by Dundonald, Symington, and
Craigie ; on the east by Tarbolton and St. Quivox ;
on the south-east and south by St. Quivox and
Newton-upon-Ayr ; and on the west by the frith of
Clyde. Its greatest length from north to south is
3J miles ; its breadth is from H to 3J miles ; and its
area is between 9 and 10 square miles. Two brooks
— one of which, called Powburn, is powerful enough
to drive two corn-mills — run across the parish to the
sea. The coast-line is about 24 miles long, low, flat,
and sandy, looking tamely up from a very slow dip
of submerged beach, and variegated with bluffs and
sandy knolls covered with bent. The surface of the
interior rises slightly from the frith, but looks to the
eye almost a dead level. The soil along the coast,
and over a considerable part of the southern district,
is light sand incapable of tillage; in the central dis-
trict, is a deep, rich loam ; and in the north and
north-east, is a strong earthy clay. The grounds
subject to the plough, and those which are waste or
in pasture, are nearly in the proportion to each other
of 24 to 7. The arable grounds are enclosed, for the
most part, with^Aftch and hedge, and finely sheltered
with belts of wood ; and exhibit results of the most
assiduous and skilful cultivation. The unreclaimed
lands serve for the pasturing of young cattle, and
owing to the warmth of the climate, saline deposi-
tions, from the proximity of the sea, are judged con-
ducive to the recovery of weak sheep. About 50
acres are under wood, nearly all plantation. Coal
was till very recently worked tor 30 years from a seam
now nearly exhausted, lying within 6 or 7 fathoms
of the surface-; and it has been worked for about 25
years from a seam nearly 40 fathoms from the surface,
and 4£ feet thick. A quarry of excellent sandstone,
both red and white, is open near the shore. Of various
mansions and villas, the chief are Fairfield, Adamton,
and Orangefield, The village of Monkton is situated a
mile from the sea, and 4 miles north of Ayr, and has
a population of about 380. It is touched by the
Glasgow and Ayr railway, and by the turnpike be-
tween Glasgow and Portpatrick, by that between
Ayr and Irvine, and by that between Mauchline and
Irvine. Other villages are Prestwick and Prest-
wick-Toll: which see. Population, in 1801, 9c6;
in 1831, 1,818. Houses 281. Assessed property
in 1815, £6,377 — This parish is in the presbytery
of Ayr, and synod of Glasgow and Ayr. Patron,
Reid of Adamton. Stipend £203 16s. 10d.; glebe
£35. Unappropriated teinds £598. The parish-
church, situated half-way between the villages of
Monkton and Prestwick, and built in 1837, after a
design by David Bryce, Esq., of Edinburgh, is at,
once a conspicuous landmark, a commanding feature-
in the landscape, and one of the most handsome eccle-
siastical edifices in Ayrshire. Sittings 825. The