Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/513

Rh KIRKWALL. 505 KIRRIEMUIR. erected in 1841. The United Presbyterians, the Free Church, and the Independents have each a place of worship. There are several schools in the parish, the ipal being the burgh grammar school, which has been established nearly 500 years. To the E. of Kirk- wull Bay are traces of forts, thrown up by Cromwell for the protection of the town from attacks by sea. In the neighbourhood are remains of Fiets' houses. On the high road to Holm is Blakeley's Well, a powerful chaly- beate spring. KIRKWALL, a town of great antiquity, seaport, royal burgh, and metropolis of the Orkney Isles. It is situated about the centre of an island, called, by way of pre-eminence, " Mainland," or Pomona, at the head of Kirkwall Bay. It is 12 miles E.N.E. of Stromness, and 41 N. by W. of Wick. The town is divided into two parts, distinguished as the old and new towns : the for- mer bears evidence of its antiquity, and the principal street is very narrow. Many of the houses have their gables towards the street, which gives the town a sin- gular appearance. The walls of the houses are of great thickness, and the doors and windows small. The houses of the New Town are in a more modern style, and vie, both as to convenience and elegance, with the houses of any other town of the same size in Scotland. Many of the landowners of Orkney reside here, and the general tone of society is good. The townhall is a convenient structure, forming a piazza in front ; it contains a common prison, an assembly-hall, court-tooms, and a Freemasons' lodge. The National, Commercial, and Union banks have each a branch office. The most con- spicuous building in the town is the cathedral, dedicated to St. Magnus, a Scandinavian Earl of Orkney, who was assassinated in Egilshay by his cousin Haco, about the year 1100. It was founded by Rowland, Earl of Orkney, in 1138, and though the work of different ages and indi- viduals, is a noble structure, not only simple, but sur- prisingly regular in form. The material of the edifice is red sandstone. It has a chime of four large bells, which were presented to the cathedral by Bishop Max- well, and were cast at Edinburgh in 1528. The ancient church of St. Ola, which is believed to have existed here before the foundation of the cathedral, stood near the shore of the bay of Kirkwall, and has given name to the town, Kirkwall, originally Kirkivvog, signifying "the church on the bay." A new church, intended at first as an extension church, was erected here in 1841. Here are also handsome places of worship belonging to the I'n o Church, United Presbyterians, and Independents, the cathedral are the ruins of the King's Castle, which was a place of considerable strength in 1581, about which time it was occupied by the infamous Earl of Orkney, natural son of James V. About 100 yards 8. of the cathedral stand the much more ancient and interesting remains of the bishop's palace, of the period of the foundation of which both history and tradition are silent. Almost adjoining the bishop's palace are the ruins of the earl's palace, erected in 1607 by Earl Patrick, but not inhabited since 1688. This last is >> cimen of the castellated mansions of the 16th and 17th centuries. Kirkwall was first created a royal h by James III. in 1486, which was confirmed by last being deemed its governing charter. The burgh revenue is about 125. Its government is confided to "vost, four bailies, a treasurer, dean of guild, and n councillors. It is a representative burgh, with a lation in 1861 of 3,619, and unites with Tain, Wick, ioch, Dingwall, and Cromarty, in returning one member to parliament. The sheriff, commissary, and ii'lmiralty courts are hold hero on Thursdays, and a jus- f peace small-debt court is held on the first Wed- iy of every month. The harbour of Kirkwall,
 * V. in 1536, and afterwards by Charles II., the
 * <-1cd about 1811, is safe and commodious; it has

tw i excellent piers, and the outer bay affords good an- i igo. It has about fifty vessels belonging to it, with irgregate tonnage of 3,000. The exports consist of cattle, sheep, pork, tallow, butter, hides, salt fish, and u ; and the imports of coal, wood, colonial produce, and other articles necessary for the consumption of the island. For many years the manufacture of kelp was extensively carried on, but through the .introduction of foreign barilla it became extinct. In 1747 the manu- facture of linen yarn was successfully introduced, but has since declined. There is at present an extensive whisky distillery, which carries on a large export trade. The town enjoys daily mail communication with the mainland, and a weekly communication by steamer with the chief ports on the E. coast of Scotland as far S. as Granton. Malcolm Laing, the Scottish historian, and Sir Robert Strange, the eminent engraver, were natives of this parish. There is an annual fair of a fortnight's continuance, which commences on the Tuesday after the llth August ; and a monthly cattle market has recently been established. KIRKWHELPINGTON, a par. in the N.E. div. of Tindale ward, co Northumberland, 21 miles N.W. of Newcastle, 15 W. of Morpeth, and 8 S.E. of Elsdon. It is situated on the river Wansbeck, and contains the tnshps. of Great Bavington, Capheaton, Catcherside, Coldwell, Crogdean, Fawns, and West Whelpington. Near the vicarage is Whelpington Tower. The soil is loamy, and the land chiefly in pasture. The living is a vie.* in the dice, of Durham, val. 330, in the p;itron. of the lord chancellor. The church, dedicated to St. Bartholomew, is an ancient stone edifice with a square tower containing two bells. There is a National school. Petty sessions are held on the last Monday in each month. The Duke of Northumberland is lord of the manor and principal landowner. KIRK-YETHOLM, or ZETHOLM, a vil. in the par. of Yetholm, co. Roxburgh, Scotland, 7 miles S.E. of Kolso. It is situated at the bridge over the river Beau- mont, and is a burgh of barony. It was visited by Edward I. in 1304. At Yetholm Common, near the village, a colony of gipsies have made a settlement. In the vicinity are traces of Roman and British encamp- ments. KIRMINGTON, a par. in the hund. of Yarborough, parts of Lindsey, co. Lincoln, 7J miles N.E. of Glan- ford Brigg, and 3 E. of Barnethy. Ulceby is its post town. The parish, which is situated in a vale, is small, and wholly agricultural. The village stands on the road from Boston to Hull. The tithes were commuted for land on the enclosure of the parish in 1777. The living is a vie. annexed to the rect.* of Brocklesby, In the dioc. of Lincoln. The church, dedicated to St. Helen, is an ancient structure with a spire, erected at the expense of Lord Yarborough in 1838. There is a chapel for Wesleyans. The Earl of Yarborough is lord of the manor. KIRMOND-LE-MIRE, a par. in the hund. of Wrag- goe, parts of Lindsey, E. div. of co. Lincoln, 6* miles N.E. of Market-Raisen, its post town, and 8 S.E. of Caistor. The village, which is small, is situated on an acclivity. The impropriate tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 140, and the vicarial for 120. The living is a vie. in the dioc. of Lincoln, val. 129. The church, dedicated to St. Martin, has a turret con- taining one bell. Christopher Turner, Esq., is lord of the manor and owner of the whole of the soil. KIRMUNDIE NETHER, a vil. in the par. of Long- side, co. Aberdeen, Scotland, 6 miles W. of Peterhead. It is situated near the river Ugie. KIRRIEMUIR, vulgarly pronounced Killamuir, a par. in the co. Forfar, Scotland. It comprises the post town of its own name, and the vils. of Northmuir, Southmuir, Westmuir, Sledmuir, and Padanaram. It consists of two detached parts separated by the par. of Kingoldrum, and is 8 miles in length by 6 in breadth. The surface to the E. and W. of the town is almost level, but the greater portion of the district is varied with hills and dales. The whole of the northern portion is mountain and waste, with the exception of about 2,000 acres of partly arable and partly fine pasture and meadow. Tho southern portion has about 11,000 acres under tillage, and 4,500 in plantation and pasture. It is watered by the rivers Esk, Carity, Gairie, and Prosen,