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[Tinwald Parish continued]

situate, being one mile from Southern extremity and 4 1/2 from the other. It is at present undergoing a thorough repair. The Ministers Stipend amounts to £155 13s 7d with Manse and Glebe of 17 acres, the latter valued at £35. Patrons, the Crown and Marquis of Queensberry. There are two Parish Schools, supported however chiefly from the Interest of mortifications. There are two villages or hamlets vizt. [vizelicet] Tinwald and Amisfield Town.
The Parish of Tinwald anterior to the Reformation was a free parsonage within the Deanery of Nith; it now comprehends the Ancient Parish of Trailflatt, which was united to it in 1650. Trailflat was previously a Vicarage under the Monks of Kelso. The Western side of the Parish having an alluvial soil, has originated the supposition of its having been at an early age the bed of the River Nith and that the tide flowed so far inland, in support of which it is even asserted that there is yet extant an ancient Dutch Chart, having a clause somewhat to effect "that the isles of Tinwald afford the safest and most commodious harbour for shipping in Scotland", and also in confirmation of this Tradition large pieces of boats have frequently been dug up at Cullyveat, a name perhaps of dutch origin - signifying the foot of the Gully - voet foot in dutch, or perhaps it is only the Gaelic Cully & vat - a harbour for boats. The Roman Road as pointed out by locals is evidently that called by General Roy and other antiquarians the Nithsdale or Western Roman Road, all of whom merely state that it passed by Murder Loch and Lanegate. A Camp at Amisfield is generally supposed by antiquarians to be of Roman construction which Chalmers particularly notices as a small Roman Post and where as the Parish Statistical Account remarks a Cohort or two may have been occasionally kept. Five others have been traced by Examiners, but there is no authority for supposing them of Roman origin, probably they have been only hill forts or as this district was possessed by the Danes they may possibly have been constructed by them, The Camp on Parshell Hill is however by some Antiquarians attributed to British design, and possibly may have formed the counterpart to the Roman Camp at Amisfield. There is a Tower or Border Fortress sometimes called Amisfield and Elmsfield Castle, like the generality it is merely a high square tower, having very thick walls and vaulted roofs.