Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 1.djvu/97

Rh ARDNAMUECHAN. ARDPATEICK. hill ; and there are police stations at that -village and at Glenville. The principal residences arc Bndestown, Mount Pleasant, Glanassack, and Westmount. Fairs are held at Glenvillo on tho 4th May and the 3rd November. AEDNAMURCHAtf, or AIRDNAMURCHAN, a par. joined to Sunart, partly in the Argyle district of the co. of Argylo, partly in the co. of Inverness, Scot- land, about 30 miles to the S.W. of Fort William. It impriscs the five districts of Ardnamurchan, Sunart, iart, Arasaig, and South Morar, of which the first are in the county of Argyle, tho other three in the ity of Inverness. The whole parish lies between i Morar in tho N"., and Loch Sunart in the S., has the parish of Kilmalio on the E. and N.E. !t contains tho quoad sacra pars, of Aharacle and Strontian. Tho general character of tho country is mountainous and wild, abounding in lakes, bays, glens, and torrents. There are some level tracts and patches of cultivated ground, and some good sheep-pastures. The principal lake is Loch Shiell, lying between Sunart and Moidart. It is about 25 miles in length, and has an average breadth of a little more than a quarter of a mile. Several of the mountains in Sunart have an altitude exceeding 2,500 feet. There are several tracts of moss near the western extremity of Loch Shiell. On tho northern coast of Ardnamurchan are several caverns, one of which is above 300 feet in length. The coast line is generally bold and rocky. Ardnamurchan Point is the principal headland along the westiM-n coast of Scotland, from Cape Wrath to the Mull of Cantire ; and it is noted as tho westernmost point of the mainland of Great Britain. Many valuable minerals occur among tho various rocks in the district. Lead ore is abundant ; pitchstone is found in the trap ; strontium occurs in tho hills at Strontian, which place gave its name to that mineral. Iron and copper ores are also said to exist. Tho people are chiefly engaged in the breeding and managing of black cattle and sheep, and in the several fisheries. Herring, cod, ling, and other fish are taken. The living, val. 228, is in the presb. of Mull, and in the patron, of the Duke of Argyle. There are churches at Kilchoan (which is the principal one), Kilmorie, Aharacle, Strontian, and Polnish, besides two Free churches. On an islet in Lochaylort, are remains of two vitrified forts. Kinloch-Moidart house, which was burned in 1740 by the king's troops, who also destroyed all the stock of cattle, and every hut they could discover, has been rebuilt in an elegant style by Colonel Donald ilacdonald. The castle of Mingary is about 5 miles from Ardnamurchan Point. It was the seat of Mac Ian, and has been the scene of several historical incidents. Castle Tirom is on a small island in Loch Moidart, but was burned in 1715, so that the ruins alone now remain. There are many remains of ancient churches scattered through the district. Two fairs are held at Strontian, one on tho 19th May, tho other on the 15th October. There is a fair also held at Arisaig. The district comprised at present under the name of Ardnamurchan, is estimated to have an area of about 273,280 acres of land and water, of which it is believed 200,000 acrvs arc land. ARDNAREE, a vil. in tho par. of Ivilmorcmoy and bar. of Tircragh, in tho co. of Sligo, prov. of Connaught, Ireland, close to Ballina. It is situated in a pleasant district on the river Hoy, which separates it from Ballina, and is crossed by a modern bridge of four arches. A monastery of the Augustine order was established here in the year 1427, and a fine doorway and windows of the building still remain. Here is a handsome Roman Catholic church with a tower and spire, forming tho cathedral church of tho R. C. diocese of Killala. A police station is fixed here. Fairs are held on the 20th June, the 10th October, and the 13th December. ARDNURCHER, or HORSELEAP, a par. partly in the bar. of Kilcoursey in King's County, partly and chiefly in the bar. of Moycashel, in the co. of Westmeath, prov. of Leinster, Ireland, 4 miles to the N.W. of Kil- beggan. It is situated on tho river Brosna, and on the road from Dublin to Galway. There is a large tract of bog and abundance of limestone. The living is a vie. in the dioc. of Meath, val. with the vie. of Kilcumreagh and several others, 613, in tho patron, of the crown. The church, which stands on a hill, is an ancient building, and has a spire erected in 1822. The chief proprietor of the parish is Lord Maryborough. Several castles formerly exist i-d in this place. Here is an ancient moat, the fort of Ardnurcher, over which a knight, one of the De Lacys, is said to have leapt when escaping from pursuit : whence the common name of tho moat, Horseleap. There are remains of a monastery founded in the 5th century, and of a nunnery founded by Matilda do Lacy in the 13th. Donour Castle, still in good preservation, is the seat of the Nagles. ARDOCII, a quoad sacra par. in the pars, of Blackford, Dumblane, and Muthill in Strathallan, co. of Perth, Scot- land. It contains the vils. of Ardoch, Balhaddie, Braco, Buttergask, Greenloaning, and Rottearn. The village of Ardoch is situated on the banks of Knaick Water, a feeder of the Allan, 4 miles to the S.W. of Muthill, and 12 miles N.E. of Stirling. The living is in the presb. of Auchterarder, and in the gift of tho heads of families. Tho place derives its interest from the important remains of antiquity it contains. Here is one of tho most perfect examples of a Roman station or permanent camp to bo found in Great Britain : and near it arc remains of three temporary camps. The station is on the east bank of the Knaick, 50 or 60 feet above the level of the water. The bank here is very steep, and formed a strong defence on the western, side of the works. The form of the camp is a rectangle, and its dimensions within, the lines 500 by 430 feet. On the northern and eastern sides, which have been little injured, it is fortified by five, ditches and six walls; three of its gates remain. The praetariiim, or general's quarter, occu- pies nearly the central part of the quadrangle, and is itself very nearly a square. Its sides, however, are not parallel with tho outer walls. This part of the camp has been named Chapel Hill for centuries, and from some foundations discovered in it, it is thought probable that a place of worship may have been erected on the spot, i The station is believed to have been con- structed by the Roman general Agricola. The works on the south side have been laid in ruins by the diligent hand of tho modern cultivator, and those on the west by the rude touch of the military road-maker. A stone wall now surrounds and preserves from further destruc- tion the whole station. The three temporary camps lie north of this permanent one the first measures 2,800 by 1,950 feet; the second, tho ramparts of which cross those of the first, 1,910 by 1,340 feet; and the third, 1,060 by 900 feet. At Strathgeath, and West Dealgin, Ross, are vestiges of two other camps. At the distance of a mile from the village of Ardoch, there was formerly a huge cairn, but it has been carried off piecemeal and applied to profane modem uses. Its length was 182 feet, breadth 45, and height along the slope 30 feet. Ardoch Park is tho scat of Major Stirling. AEDOYNE, a par. partly in the bars, of Rattivelly and Forth, in the co. of Carlow, partly in the bar. of Shillelagh, in the co. of Wicklow, prov. of Leinster, Ireland, 5 miles to tho S.E. of Tullow. It is situated in a fertile district on tho river Burrcn. The living i s a perpet. cur. in tho dioc. of Ossory, Ferns, and Leighlin, val. 50, in the patron, of the incumbents of Fennagh and Barragh. AED PATRICK, a par., now part of the parish of Kil- quane, in the bar. of C'oshlea, co. of Limerick, and prov. of Munstrr, Ireland, 4 miles to the S.E. of KilmaUock. It is situated on tho western side of the Ballyhowra hills. An abbey existed here in very early times, which is said to have been founded by St. Patrick. Ruins of it still stand on the top of Arapatrick Hill, and near them a portion of a round tower. Small quantities of gold ore have been found here, and the fossil remains of an elk. Tho living is united with the cur. of Kilquane, which is joined to tho rcct. of St. Patrick, Limerick. Sunville, an old scat, was tho residence of tho Godsalls. Fairs