OS1/10/34/2

Continued entries/extra info

2 Parish of Kirkpatrick-Juxta County of Dumfries.

[continued from previous page] schools situate respectively near the Parish Church and near the S.Wn. [South Western] extremity of the Parish._ Population at the last census 1,097._
The Roman Road from near the N.W. point of Wamphray must have crossed the Annan about 1 1/2 mile above the S.En. [South Eastern] point of Kirkpatrick-Juxta, but no indications can now be traced whereby to shew the exact spot where it did enter the Parish. This may readily enough be accounted for by the overflows of the Annan having swept away any traces at the period when General Roy wrote about it, as in the following quotation; "the second principal Roman way then passes the Annan near the Burnfoot of Kirkpatrick. Proceeding thence along the West bank of the Annan, it leads by the intrenchments at Tassies holm (? Tassies Height) which we have likewise supposed may have been a Camp of Agricola, and having crossed the Avon ( ? Evan Water) near its confluence with the Annan, it continues along the ridge between those two rivers, till it falls in with the sources of the Clyde."_ The intrenchments above referred to are still discernable on a hill called Tassies Height, which, according to Roy and other Authorities have been characterised on Plan as those of a Roman Camp._ The Roman Road it may be observed is in direct communication with this Camp._ About 2 1/2 miles N.E. from Tassie's Height lines of entrenchment forming nearly a square - the S.W. side evidently washed partly away by Garpol Water or that stream having formed a natural barrier there, - have also been characterised as a Roman Camp (supposed) on Plan._ Though of larger dimensions than the Camp on Tassies Height, it in all probability formed an advanced or outlying post thereto, for it may be here remarked that the hill range to the West of the former would intercept the view to the West and South West where as it still shewn by indications on the ground there are numerous British Strengths. _ This Camp was therefore well adapted for keeping in check the British during the construction of the Roman Road to the N.E. _ Vestiges of circularly intrenched enclosures occur throughout the entire En. [Eastern] Division of the Parish which have been termed by people of locality British Forts._ The old Statisical Account of Kirkpatrick-Juxta evidently referring to these fortifications says " there are a great number of burians also many circular inclosures which are commonly supposed to have been used for securing the cattle from enemies and thieves in a Country much infested with both". In the New Statistical of Dumfriesshire similar strengths are described which as the narrator therein states " are supposed by some antiquaries to be the remains of Pictish Encampments; while others are of opinion that they were merely places of strength into which the people collected their cattle at night for security from the English borderers. There is also a third conjecture, that they were for the purpose of protecting the cattle during the night from the ravages of wild beasts when the Country was covered with wood._ This last supposition is perhaps the most correct."_ Whether these encampments therefore belong to the aboriginal or feudal period has not as yet been satisfactorily determined and consequently the character assigned by the local authorities has been adopted respectively to these circular inclosures on Plans._ "Several Moats" - says the New Stat: [Statistical} Acct. [Account] - " exist in this Parish" but of which only one can now be pointed out situate in the N. En. [North Eastern] district; also " many cairns " three of which are shewn on Plans and which from indications on the ground are evidently of very ancient origin. Three upright stones called "Three Standing Stones" are traditionally reported to be commemorative of a battle in the 13th. century. Mr. Stewart of Hillside, factor for the Annandale Estates - who is well informed on the local names and antiquities of this district says "All the traditions agree that Three Standing Stones commemorate some warlike event in the time of Bruce or Wallace_ but exactly what that is I have never seen any authority for." See Page 63._ The remains of Auchen Castle, Lochhouse Tower, Kinnelhead Tower and another Tower according to the following descriptions are shewn "The ruins of the old Castle of Auchencass are very ancient and considerable extent still, though much dilapidated._ It belonged to Randolph Earl of Murray, Regent of Scotland in the minority of David Bruce, and was at another time the property of the Douglases of Morton._ The Tower of Lochhouse belonged to the Johnstons of Corehead. There was lately one vaulted ruin at Kinnelhead and there is still another at Boreland."_ The ancient Church of the suppressed Parish of Drum Dun or Drumgree stood near the Sn. [Southern] point of this Parish, the foundations of which are yet extant._ Chalmers remarks "Walter de Carnock, who possessed the Manor of Dungree in the twelfth century, granted to the Monks of Kelso the Church of Dungreioch with its pertinents. After the Reformation the Parish of Dumgree was suppressed, a large part of it being annexed to Johnstone, and a smaller part of it to Kirkpatrick-Juxta."_ The remains of a chapel at the N.E. side of the Parish forming "a portion of wall at the end of a cottage and a small Gable having a Gothic window opposite it" have been shewn on Plan._ There seems to be no account of this chapel now extant._
[D]umfries Septr. [September] 1857.

Transcriber's notes

Last word of description 'schools' on previous page is repeated as first word on this page.