OS1/10/21/2

Continued entries/extra info

...West and North West, run each for about 7 miles and at a point about 1/2 mile South from Moniave form by their united Waters that of the Cairn - a considerable stream which during heavy rains is subject to overflow and not withstanding the many improvements on its embankments frequently causes great damage. There are three valleys in the upper district extending respectively to about 6 miles in length all of which converge on the village of Moniave, from which point another of greater breadth (the Vale of Cairn Water) traverses the remaining length of this Parish, about 7 miles. A Turnpike road enters the Parish about 1 mile N.E. from Moniave, extending to which village two lines respectively to Ayr and Galloway diverge therefrom. There is no Railway but a single line in connection with the Glasgow and South Western Railway is presently agitated by several of the Proprietors . Attempts have been made to work Slate quarries, which were unsuccessful from the slate proving of too soft a nature. No minerals are worked though coal and lead have been satisfactorily shown to exist in several localities. There are three villages Moniave Dunreggan and Kirkland. The two former situate a little Eastward from the centre of the Parish are connected by a bridge and lie compactly together on the Dalwhat Water but which are now considered conjointly to form Moniave, a village which consists principally of one street in the form of a crescent running from East to West, having two projecting lines near its centre extending S.W. and S. and another near its Eastern extremity running S.E.. With the exception of a few two storeyed houses near its centre, the houses are in general only one storey high - all in tolerable repair. In it are an United Presbyterian Church, a Parish School, two branch Banks, a Public Hall, Post Office an ancient market Cross, several large Grocery and Drapery shops and a Woolen Mill in which a great part of the population find employment. The population is about 1,000. A Charter was granted about 1638, constituting this village a Burgh of Barony with power to hold a weekly market. There are three fairs held in it for the purpose of hiring servants and a market for lambs was established in 1835, the latter however has not been successful as it is only occasionally that this market is held. Kirkland situate 1 3/4 mile East from Moniave is principally composed of a few old thatched houses, the population of which is about 100. In it is the Parish Church, a handsome structure erected in 1837 and which has accommodation for about 1500 sitters, a little to the East is also the parochial manse said to be inferior to none in Dumfriesshire both for design and accommodation . There are two Parish schools. Population of Parish 2,100. The principal Mansions are Maxwelton and Craigdarroch. Little information respecting the antiquities in this Parish can be gained. A Road sometimes called the Cadgers' Road at the N.W. extremity of Parish is believed by people in the locality to be the Roman Road and is evidently that referred to in the History of Galloway Page 72. About 4 1/2 miles S.E. therefrom there are distinct traces of an entrenchment which notwithstanding the circular tendency thereof is represented in the district as that of a Roman Camp, but is not adverted to by Statistical or other authority. Near the village of Moniave an immense Cairn may be easily distinguished. It is said to be the particular object from which this Parish takes name and consequently must be of a very ancient date, probably that of the Scots-Irish, as the original name of this Parish Glencarne would imply. In Moniave there is an ancient Market Cross dated 1638 supposed to have been the period when that village was constituted a Burgh of Barony. About 3/4 mile E. from Moniave there is a mound stated to have been the site of a Tower which may be confirmed by the name it presently bears of The Peel. About 1 1/2 mile S.E. by E. from Moniave on the lands of Ingleston there is an immense Mound apparently of earth alone, which is considered to be the most perfect Moat existing in Scotland. It is sometimes called Bow Butts - It is considered by the best Authorities however to have been the ancient seat of the Lord of the Barony and his retinue, the place for the Judges, that of the target and of the Competitors and as such has been termed Moat and Bow Butts. From its gigantic proportions, it seems erroneous to suppose that this mound could have been raised on a plain, for at the period of its construction - 1000 years ago - the entire population for a circuit of many miles could not have executed the work especially when the very defective state of employing horses and wheels is considered. There are several Knolls in the vicinity which might with facility be cut to the same shape. About 1 1/2 immediately to the East. there is a large circular mound supposed by some to have been a Camp, the features of which however are in no way confirmatory - see Page 147. About 1 1/4 mile S.E therefrom there are the vestiges of a Tower - and about 1 1/3 mile farther S.E. a Cairn is pointed out as the retreat (place of execution or internment?) of the Covenanters. About 1 mile South of this Cairn a Mound is pointed as a supposed Moat and about 1 1/2 mile W. therefrom remains of walls stated to be those of a Castle may still be traced. Near the centre of the Parish about 3/4 mile S.W. from Moniave the site of an ancient Chapel has been shown and which Chapel is stated by the Authorities to have been dedicated to St. Cuthbert (see Page 113). In the present Churchyard the Gable ends of the Parish Church which was in use up to 1837 are still standing. Two ancient stones are pointed to marking the spots where several of the Covenanters were shot during the persecution - these are situated about 3/4 mile S.E. from Moniave.