OS1/10/11/2

List of names as written Various modes of spelling Authorities for spelling Situation Description remarks
DUMFRIES 049;050;
055
[Continued] [the entire]
Parish may be Considered Capable of profitable Cultivation; the existing State of the land however may be Classified as 8,400 acres in tillage about 300 Acres in plantation &c. And 900. Acres forming part of the Morass called Lochar Moss.- The Average rent of land is 35/ [shillings] [£1.15.0] but in the vicinity of the town it varies from £4 to £6. per Acre. - The rental of land may be estimated at £10,000 And that of the Burgh at £22,000. making a total rental of £32,000.for the Parish.- The district has rapidly advanced through agricultural improvement and within the last 40 years the land has thereby been enhanced to 1/3.- The approved system in the Management of land is, what is termed a 5 or 6 years shift, that is a regulated rotation of crops vizt. in the 1st. year Oats, 2nd. Turnips or potatoes, 3rd. wheat or barley 4th. hay, 5th. and 6th. Pasture. - Very few Sheep are bred, but great improvements have lately been made in rearing Galloway Cattle.- Farm buildings as a whole are very indifferent for Comfort And Accommodation And not quite in Keeping with the advanced Culture of the land which must only be Accounted for from the Strictures of entail.- The landed Proprietors number 35, Those of the Burgh about 50. - The Surface is almost level, if we except the Site of the Burgh And a low ridge of hills, which, Stretching in a line nearly parallel with the Nith to Carlaverock, - are sloping and of gentle Acclivity towards the N.W., [North West] but at a point towards the N.E. [North East] - Suddenly breaking down in abrupt declivities, - they under the Name of Maidenbower Craigs present a Commanding and very picturesque outline. Plantations of Oak, elm and other trees are of frequent Occurrence and in every direction there are inclosures Surrounded with trees, also gardens And nursery grounds, big lawns and pleasant Mansion, all which when viewed along with the natural attractions of the district, at once impress a Stranger with ideas of refinement and comfort. - The brown wastes of Lochar Moss towards the E. [East] and N.E. [North East] mar to Some extent the beauty of the landscape, And it is for the want of unanimity of Proprietors to the proper drainage of Lochar Water that this waste exists, for it has been proved to be entirely Capable of Cultivation, were a proper Channel cut for the waters of the stagnant and vegetating Lochar. - The Parish is watered by the Nith and Lochar. There is a Small loch called Auchencrieff Loch; but there formerly existed others Vizt Sand, Black and Gill Lochs, all of which however have been drained And are now partially cultivated with profit. - The Names still apply to their Sites. - As previously noticed the district is level, but the acclivities to the North of the burgh through brief contribute largely to the generally beautiful landscapes of the district, - the most noticeable is that of Clumpton, said to been at some remote period a mountain-grove and haunt of the Druids, and at a later period to have served the purposes of a beacon post. To the South of the Town or rather S.E. [South East] there is the the Eminence sometimes called Trohoughton more generally Known as Camp Hill on which there are traces of a Camp which is believed to have been of Roman Construction. - Pennant notices it as such. - About a miles to the N.E. [North East] of Camp Hill are the Maidenbower Craigs above noticed in which there is a remarkable Cavity of which several local traditions exists and now serving the means whereby Dumfriesians indulge in a vulgar freaK. - It is also said [Continued]

Continued entries/extra info

[Page] 2. Parish of Dumfries

  Transcribers who have contributed to this page.

Chr1smac -Moderator, Stoofer

  Location information for this page.