Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/503

Rh KIRKCUDBRIGHT. 495 KIRKDALE. for some days before applying for refuge to Queen Eliza- beth. A visit from James VI., a riot on the attempted thrusting on the town an Episcopalian curate in 1663, the pursuit and death of several of the Scottish martyrs, a visit from the fleet of William III. on its way to Lon- donderry, and from Paul Jones in 1778, when this American admiral robbed the house of Lord Selkirk, arc the other chief events in the history of the county. The principal ecclesiastical antiquities are the abbeys of Tongland, Dundrennan, and New Abbey, the convent or college of Lincluden, and St. Mary's Isle Priory. The chief mansions are Cumloden, the Earl of Galloway ; St. Mary's Isle, the Earl of Selkirk ; Earlston, Sir William Gordon, Bart. ; Cassencaire, Sir John M. Mackenzie, Bart. ; Netherlaw, Sir G. S. Abercromby ; Woodhall, Mollance House, Ardwall House, Bargally House, &e. KIRKCUDBRIGHT, a par. containing a royal burgh of its own name, in the co. Kirkcudbright, Scotland. It is situated on the coast, and is bounded on the S. by the Solway Frith, on the N. by the par. of Kelton, on the W. by Kirkcudbright Bay and the river Dee, and on the E. by the par. of Rerwick. It is 8f miles long, and measures 3 miles at the broadest point. The greater portion of the surface is hilly, and the number 1 of acres under tillage is about 3,000. It possesses fine pasture for black cattle and sheep. The river in this parish partakes both of the nature of a river and of an estuary, and is navigable as far as Tongland, 2 miles above the town. In the upper part of its course it forms several cataracts. There are two or three streamlets or burns. Loch Fergus, which once contained two islets, is now a meadow. The islets, now hills, bear decided marks of ancient fortification, and appear to have been the sites of castles belonging to Fergus, Lord of Galloway. In the 17th century the pars, of Galtway and Dunrod were annexed to this par. Near the burgh is a chalybeate spring. The par. is the seat of a presb. in the synod of Galloway, in the patron, of the crown. The minister's stipend is 306. The parish church is a modern building, with accom- modation for 1,500 persons. The original church, erected in the 8th century, was dedicated to St. Cuth- tert, who has given his name to the parish, Kirkcud- bright signifying " the church of St. Ccthbert." Its site is still marked by a cemetery. There is a Free church, an United Presbyterian church, and a Roman Catholic chapel. The burgh school is attended by 200 pupils. There are several schools for both sexes, some being endowed. In the neighbourhood of the town are many vestiges of British and Roman camps ; and Baxter identifies Kirkcudbright as the ancient Bemitium, situated on the banks of the Dee, which was called by the Romans Deva. There is also a battery constructed by William III., when wind-bound hero on his voyage to raise the siege of Londonderry. The foss of Rae- bury Castle, which overhung a precipice on the Bolway, is yet visible ; but the castle of Kirkcud- bright, a massive building, erected in the 16th century by the Maclcllans, is the most entire of all the ancient fortresses in this part of the country. The mansions are St. Mary's Isle, Janefield, Balmae, and St. Cuth- s Cottage. The Earl of Selkirk is the principal landowner. KIRKCUDBRIGHT, a royal burgh, seaport, market town, and county town of Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland, 10 inilns S.W. of Castle-Douglas, 28 S.W. of Dumfries, and 101 S.S.W. of Edinburgh. It occupies a peninsular situation on the E. of the river Deo, about 6 miles from nee of that river with the Solway Frith. It is a railway station on the Glasgow and South-Western railway. It has been materially improved of late, and at
 * t day presents an aspect remarkably pleasing.

The town is regularly built, and is kept clean and neat. nsists chiefly of six or seven distinct streets, crossing each other at right angles. The houses are well built, and bespeak the taste and easy circumstances of the liilants. The town was supplied with spring water by leaden pipes so early as 1764, and it is well lighted with gas. The new stewartry buildings and gaol form a remarkably handsome building near the centre of the town. The ancient gaol and court-house -were left standing, near the old market cross. In the centre of a beautiful plantation stands the Established church, which is a modern stone structure with a tower and spire of considerable height. Not far from this church are the ruins of the ancient castle of Kirkcudbright, built in 1582 by M'Clellan, ancestor of the lords Kirkcud- bright. There are places of worship in connection with the United Presbyterians and Free Church. The academy, or grammar school, is a handsome edifice. The Johnstone's free school, for the tuition of both sexes, is a stone structure with a tower. The Countess of Selkirk's school is held in a portion of the ancient church. The chief inns are the King's Arms, Selkirk Arms, and the Commercial. The Bank of Scotland and the National Bank of Scotland have branch offices in the town. Here are 13 insurance agencies, also reading- rooms, literary institutions, and several religious and charitable institutions. Provisions are comparatively cheap. The manufacture of cotton goods and hosiery is carried on to a limited extent. The harbour is the best in the stewartry ; at ordinary spring tides the depth of water is 30 feet, and at the lowest neap tides 18 feet. The river is navigable 2 miles above the town to the bridge of Tongland. As yet there is no bridge at this town over the Dee, and communication is maintained across the river by means of a chain ferry boat. The commerce of Kirkcudbright is small, the chief imports consisting of coal and lime, and the exports of potatoes, oats, and barley. There is regular steam communica- tion with Glasgow, Liverpool, and Whitehaven. The port has 20 vessels belonging to it of an aggregate ton- nage of 1,144. During the domination of the Douglases in Galloway, Kirkcudbright became a burgh of regality under their influence. On their forfeiture James II. erected the town into a royal burgh in 1455, which grant was renewed and confirmed by Charles I. in 1633. The burgh is still governed under this chapter by a provost, two bailies, and 13 councillors, with a treasurer and chamberlain. The corporation revenue amounts to 1,044, almost the whole of which is derived from burgh property. It unites with Dumfries, Annan, Lochmaben, and Sanquhar, in sending one member to parliament. The population of the parliamentary burgh in 1861 was 2,638. Quarter sessions are held on the first Tuesdays of March, May, and August, and on the last Tuesday of October. Stewards and commis- sary courts are held on Thursdays and Fridays, also small-debt courts. Friday is market day. Fairs are held on the 12th August and 29th September, or on the Fridays following. KIRKDALE, an ancient par. in the co. Kirkcud- bright, Scotland, now joined to Kirkmabreek. KIRKDALE, a par. in the wap. of Ryedale, North Riding co. York, 1 mile S.W. of Kirkby Moorside, and 4 N.E. of Helmsley, its post town. It is situated on a branch of tie river Wye, and contains the tnshps. of Wombleton, Nawton, Welburn, Skiplam, Muscoates, and Bransdale Westside. The inhabitants are chiefly em- ployed in the stone quarries and in agriculture. The living is a perpet. cur. in the dioc. of York, val. 137, in the patron, of the University of Oxford. The church, dedicated to St. Gregory, is an ancient structure standing in a valley. It has two very fine Saxon arches, with a Saxon inscription over the S. door- way bearing date 1065. It contains monuments of the Gibsons, Robinsons, and Caleys. In 1820, near the church, was discovered a cave extending for 300 feet into a solid white rock, at the bottom of which, embedded in a layer of mud, were found fossil bones of the elephant, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, hyena, tiger, bear, wolf, fox, weasel, horse, ox, rabbit, rat, pigeons, &c. It was sup- posed to have been a hyenas' den, as the teeth of upwards of 300 of these animals were found. A very ancient ornamental tomb was discovered near the church, with Runic characters, supposed to be of th 7th century. The parochial charities produce about 8 per annum. There are Wcsleyan chapels at Brans-