OS1/20/151/83
| List of names as written | Various modes of spelling | Authorities for spelling | Situation | Description remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KIRKCUDBRIGHT | Kirkcudbright . Kirkcudbright Kirkcudbright |
William McLellan Esqr [Kirkcudbright] John Brown Statistical Acct. [Account] |
050 | [Situation] On the Eastern side of the River Dee and about 3 Miles above its estuary. A sea port, A Royal Burgh and the county town of Kirkcudbrightshire pleasantly situated on the Eastern bank of the "River Dee" about 4 Miles above its estuary [30] Miles from Dumfries & 60 from Portpatrick. It is bounded on the West side by the Dee, on the East by the wooded and most elevated portion of the parish, and on the South by St Mary's Isle surrounded by large plantations which adds much to the scenery of the burgh, when looking on from the heights on the East side the town looks gay & more resembling a small but proud city, than an inconsiderable populated town. Its interior is regular, neat, clean, and contains not a few of recently built houses. A society of rather singular character, consisting of a large number of the inhabitants who built by subscription of all the Members a given Number of houses annually and disposed of each amongst the Subscribers by a kind of lottery which has done a great deal in modernizing the town. In 1763 it became supplied with excellent spring water conveyed in leading [pipes] from springs within the Glebe, to founts or Spouts which are dispersed through several parts of the town, and in 184_ it was provided with the modern luxury of gas light. The town contains 6 streets viz High St. Castle Street Union St. St. Cuthbert's St. St. Mary's St. the Mill Burn on Old Mill Burn St. One Ph [Parish] Church a Free Church a United Presbyterian Church A Roman Catholic Chapel 2 Academies one of which called Johnston's Free School, A branch office of the Bank of Scotland, a branch office of the Western Bank, A News room 3 Masonic Lodges, the old & New Gaol, Court room, Several good Inns the principal ones of which are the Commercial, Kings Arms & Selkirk Arms (Inns) all of which see their respective descriptions, and a considerable number of hard and soft ware shops etc. Kirkcudbright anciently was a burgh of regality & held by the Douglases Lords of Galloway as Superiors. It was erected to a Royal burgh in 1455 by a charter from James the II & in 1633 it received another charter from Charles I. The town is governed by one provost [2 baillies] one treasurer & 13 ordinary councillors, the burgh property is very considerable and yields a revenue of about £1200 expenditure about £870 [Continued] |
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[Page] 82Parish of Kirkcudbright
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