OS1/10/28/2

Continued entries/extra info

2 Parish of Johnstone County of Dumfries

repair traverse this Parish from N. To S. one respectively from Dumfries and Annan to Moffat and the other a side-branch of the great Edinburgh and Carlisle Trust Road. There is no Manufactory and no minerals have been discovered, though from the circumstance of pieces of pure lead having been found in the district Mr. Johnstone of Raehills was induced some years ago to attempt some expensive undertakings in search of that ore. The villages are Johnstonebridge, St. Anne and Upper Elizatown, the inhabitants of which are chiefly employed in rearing swine. There is one Parish School and a Parish Church. The only mansion-house in the Parish is Raehills, the Seat of J. J. Hope Johnstone presently member for this County, which was built by his Grandfather, James, Earl of Hopetoun in the year 1786,_ It is the old English baronial style of masonry,_ A large addition fronting the South which contains the principal apartments was erected by the present owner._ With the exception of Drumlanrig Castle, it is the most magnificent edifice in this County or even in the South of Scotland. Population of Parish at the last census 1073.
The principal Antiquity is Lochwood Castle or Tower at the North end of the Parish, said to have been built during the 14th. Century and which from the thickness of its walls and from its insulated situation - being surrounded by inpassable bogs and marshes,- must have been a place of great strength. See Page 45, It was burnt during the 16th Century (1593) by Robert natural brother to Lord Maxwell - was again repaired and occupied up to 1724._ A small portion of the east side which is nearly level with the adjoining ground is all that now remains._ Small earthen works which are generally accredited in locality as British Forts occur throughout this Parish and which in the absence of any authority thereon have been characterised as such on Plans._ There is a mound at the Southern extremity of the Parish believed to have been a Moat._ A small mound of earth near the centre of the Parish is supposed to be an ancient Tumulus, of which it is also traditionally reported to be the spot where the Laird of Dumgree's body was hid by one of the Johnston family._ Drumgee was shot by Johnstone in a private quarrel._ The Site of an ancient Chapel is shewn a little S. of a farm-house bearing the name of Chapel, of which however there is no information extant. The present Parish comprehends the old Parish of Johnston, a large part of the Parish of Dumgree and a small part of the Ancient Parish of Garvald.
June 20 / 57 [1857]

  Transcribers who have contributed to this page.

mikeh

  Location information for this page.

  There are no linked mapsheets.