Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/808

Rh MAXWELTON. 800 MAYFIELD. burgh. The living is in the presb. of Dumfries, and in the patron, of the shareholders and heads of families. There are two iron foundries, two rope works, dye works, a waulk mill, tannery, and the Dumfries granaries ; also, on the Maxwell town side of the river, a fishery of salmon, grilse, and herrings. In the town are an endowed school, and a Free Church school, and a little out of the town, to the S., the parochial school. It is governed by a pro- vost, two bailies, and four councillors, assisted under the General Police Act by twelve commissioners, three of -whom are police magistrates. Justice of the peace courts, for recovery of small debts, are held on the first Thursday in each month, and Stewartry Circuit courts on the 9th January, April, and July, and on the 1st October. MAXWELTON, a vil. in the par. of East Kilbride, co. Lanark, Scotland, 5 miles N.W. of Scotland. MAXWELTON, a suburb of Paisley, in the par. of the Abbey of Paisley, and within the parliamentary bounds of that borough, in the co. of Renfrew, Scotland, half a mile S.W. of Paisley. It has entirely sprung up since the middle of the last century, and consists of several streets of neatly-built houses. It has a considerable manufacture of silk gauze. MAY, a small river rising under the Ochills, co. Perth, Scotland. From thence itruns 10 miles N.E. by N., and, passing " the Birks of Invermay," forms the Falls of Muckarsieand "Humble-Bumble," and finally fulls into the Earn, opposite Dupplin Castle. MAYBOLE, a par. in the district of Carrick, co. Ayr, Scotland. It is a station on the Maybole and Girvan railway. The par. is situated between the rivers Doon and Girvan, abounding in salmon and trout, and includes the ancient par. of Kirkbride. It is bounded by the Frith of Clyde, and by the pars, of Ayr, Dal- rymple, Kirkmichael, and Kirkoswald. The par., which extends in its greatest length 9 miles, with a breadth of 5, contains a market and post town of its own name, and the vils. of Culroy, Dunure, and Fisherton. On the banks of the rivers Doon and Girvan there are many well-managed farms, and some rich arable land in the eastern and south-eastern districts, which form an undulating plain, but the surface is in general mountainous, and appropriated to sheep-walks. The town of Maybole, which is a place of considerable an- tiquity, is situated on an eminence, and is defended from the northerly and easterly winds by a range of hills which surround it in the form of an amphitheatre, attaining, at Brown Carrick Hill, an eastern attitude of 925 feet above sea level. This range, though eminently beneficial in mitigating the severity of the climate, rises like a screen to intercept the view of the Frith of Clyde, with its numerous sails, and the rock of Ailsa in the distance. A collegiate church was founded here by Alexander II., as a cell to North Berwick, and, in 1516, the town was erected into a burgh of barony under the Kennedys, ancestors of the Marquis of Ailsa. It stands near the southern extremity of the parish, on the road from Glasgow to Portpatrick, about 9 miles S.W. of Ayr, and 12 N.N.E. of Girvan. The only parts of the town of any pretension aro the main street, and what is called the Kirk-wynd. These contain many ancient residences, but are destitute of any modern attraction. The lower streets, called Kirklands, Newyards, and Ballony, are not within the limits of the burgh, and consist almost wholly of weavers' houses and workshops. The town contains the post-office, commercial bank, townhall, a cumbrous old pile with a spiral tower, situated near the cross, the toll-booth, once the town residence of the lairds of Blairquhan, and the Castle. This last was the ancient residence of the earls of Cassillis, the prin- cipal branch of the Kennedys. It is well supplied with water, and is noted for the health and longevity of its inhabitants. The principal manufactures are woollen- weaving and that of blankets, which are sold at the four annual fairs held in the town. The par. is in the presb. of Ayr and synod of Glasgow and Ayr, in the patron, of the crown. The minister has a stipend of 336, besides glebe. The parish church was built in 1808, and improved in 1830. There are besides two chapels-of-ease, one situated at the W. end of the town and the other on the coast of Fisherton. Also a Free church in the town, an United Presbyterian church, and an Episcopalian chapel. There are a grammar school, of ancient foundation, and six non-parochial schools. The principal antiquities are the remains of the Collegiate church of Marbole, rebuilt by Sir Gilbert Kennedy, of Dunure, in 1441, on the site of an older one founded by Alexander II. ; the ruins of the church of Kirkbride, on the shore about half a mile to the north of Dunure Castle ; also traces of a chapel, on the lands of Aucheu- drane, the scene of Sir Walter Scott's " Auchendrane, or Ayrshire Tragedy," and the house, now occupied as the Red Lion Inn, in which John Knox, the reformer, dis- puted with Quentin Kennedy, Abbot of Crossraguel. Market day is Thursday. Fairs are held on the third Thursdays in January, April, July, and October. MAYFIELD, or MATHFIELD, a par. in the S. div. of the hund. of Totmonslow, co. Stafford, 2 miles S.W. of Ashborne, its post town, and 9 N.E. of Uttoxeter. The village, which is considerable, is situated on the river Dove, near Hanging Bridge. This latter consists of five stone arches, across the valley of the Dove. The par. includes the hmlts. of Church Mayfield, Middle and Upper Mayfield, Butterton, Calton, and Woodhouses. The spinning of cotton yarn is carried on to a small extent, and some of the inhabitants are employed in the works at Hanging Bridge, on the other side of the Dove. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Lichfield, val. 151. The parish church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, has a lofty tower, containing three bells. In addition to the parish church are two district churches, viz. at Butter- ton and Calton, the livings of which are a perpet. cur., and a don. cur.,* val. 90 and 86 each. The parochial charities produce 54 per annum. There are National schools for both sexes. Also a place of worship for Wesley- ans. Mayfield Hall is the principal residence, occupied by Mrs. Tunnicliffe, who is lady of the manor. There is a wake held on the following Sunday after June 24th. "Within the parish are two barrows, called Harlow and Rowloo ; and, in digging a morass, vestiges of an ancient paved road, supposed to be Roman, were discovered, and traces of an old fortification. MAYFIELD, a par. in the hund. of Loxfield-Pelham, rape of Pevensey, co. Sussex, 5 miles S.W. of Wadhurst railway station, and 8J S. of Tunbridge Wells. Hurst Green is its post town. The parish, which is of large extent, is situated on the road from Tunbridge Wells to Eastbourne. It is wholly agricultural, and contains the hmlt. of Hadlow. The village, formerly a market town under a charter of Henry III., was almost wholly destroyed by fire in 1389. It was rebuilt, and is now a polling place for East Sussex. The principal attractions of the place are the ruins of a palace of the Archbishops of Canterbury, and the site of the old church erected by St. Dunstan in the 10th century, consisting of the gate, hall, &c. The surface is elevated, and diversified with hills, and the lower grounds are watered by the river Rother. In the neighbourhood are mineral springs of excellent quality. A large portion of the land is in orchards and hop grounds. The soil is various, but principally clay, alternated with sand on a subsoil of gravel. There were formerly furnaces here for smelting the iron sandstone, which is abundant. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Chichester, val. 834. The church, dedicated to St. Dunstan, has a square tower, surmounted by a low spire, and containing six bells. The interior of the church contains a curious stone font, bearing date 1663. Also memorial windows to vicars of the parish in the south aisle, and monuments to the Baker family. Also tablets to the Aynscombe and Sands families. The church is built on the site of a more ancient one. The register dates from 1572. The parochial charities pro- duce about 23 per annum. There is an endowed school for both sexes. The Independents and Wesleyans have each a chapel. The Marquis of Camden is lord of the manor. Fail's are held on the 30th May and 13th November for cattle and sheep.