OS1/10/38/1A

Continued entries/extra info

Parish of Moffat No. 21 County of Dumfries
pasture for sheep. The northern division of the Parish is singularly wild, where many of the mountain ranges which extend along the stream are rocky and inaccessible. The greatest altitudes White Coomb and Heart Fell at the Northern extremity and Loch Fell at the southern extremity attain a height a respectively of nearly 3,000 feet. The whole district is watered, the principal streams being the River Annan, which having its source near the N. boundary and running South through the two districts for about 3 miles, then forms and traces the western boundary; Evan Water from the N. boundary running S,S,E also through N. district enters Kirkpatrick-Juxta and Moffat water from the N.E. point of Parish running S.S.W, through the N. E. division till it forms a junction with River Annan. There are several other streams which after heavy rain assume a singularly picturesque and grand appearance, as when from the highest point of the Parish they are seen coursing furiously down the mountain sides - lost at intervals in the deep and narrow channels - they...with vigour burst from these gorges down the more abrupt and inaccessible declivities. Loch Skeen situated about 1,000 feet above the sea in the N. E. district measures about 3/4mile in length and 1/4 mile in breadth. The outlet of it waters is by a lofty cascade called Grey Mare's Tail falling over precipitous rocks which have been computed in all at 400 feet elevation above the lake, this waterfall being broken into parts. Several medicinal springs exist in the district, of which Moffat Well and Hartfell Spa the former sulphurous and the other chalybeate have now attained great celebrity. No minerals have been discovered - sandstone abounds but is not wrought, the blue whin stone of the district being used for building purposes. The only manufacture carried on is that of cloth to a small extent in the village of Moffat. The Glasgow and Carlisle turnpike road runs from the North to South through the central division and also the Caledonian Railway. The only village is Moffat a Burgh of Barony (defined?)wherein are held a weekly market and four annual fairs which consists principally of one broad sheet of good houses flanked on either side by other smaller streets and lanes or alleys with a genteel suburb toward the N. E. of excellent houses and seats. It is chiefly indebted for its prosperity to the frequenters of the mineral wells. Situate about 370 feet above S.L. its streets, doubtlessly from the declivity, present an unusually clean appearance as compared with other villages of its size. In it are the Ph. (Parish) Church, Ph. School or Academy, United Presbyterian and Free Churches, an endowed and an Infants' School, various Banks (branches), a woollen manufactory, first-class inns and excellent and commodious Bath-rooms which are supplied with water conveyed in pipes from the Spas. Population about 1750. The principal proprietor is J. J. Hope Johnstone Esq. of Annandale M.P. Population at the last Census 2,304,
The continuation of the Clydesdale Roman Road from Wamphray Ph. may still be traced in this district, which as General Roy states "having passed the Avon (Evan Water) near its confluence with the Annan, it continues along the ridge between these two rivers till it falls in with the source of the Clyde, at a place called Little Clyde" (in Lanarkshire). The New Stat. Acct. of Moffat says "In the list of antiquities may be mentioned that part of the old Roman Road up the vale of Annan towards Crawford which is still