GATEHOUSE-OF-FLEET, a port and town (manufacturing) and burgh of barony,
partly in the parish of Anwoth, but chiefly in the parish of Girthon, stewartry of
Kirkcudbright, 7 miles (W.) from Kirkcudbright;
containing 1832 inhabitants, of whom 419 are in the
parish of Anwoth. This place, which was built on the
site of the ancient town of Fleet, about the middle of the
last century, takes its name from an old tenement, the
only house at that time in existence, which was situated
at the gate of the avenue leading to Cally. The mansion
of Cally was the family seat of the founder, James Murray,
Esq., of Broughton, and is now the residence of his
descendant, who is lord of the manor and superior of
the burgh. Gatehouse is pleasantly seated on the river
Fleet, near its influx into Fleet bay, and consists principally
of three spacious and well-formed streets, parallel
with each other, and of which the eastern leads to a
handsome stone bridge of two arches, connecting it with
that portion of the burgh lying on the opposite bank of
the river. The houses are well built and of good appearance;
the inhabitants are amply supplied with water;
and the immediate vicinity of the town abounds with
pleasingly-diversified and interesting scenery. The chief
manufacture is that of cotton, introduced here by James
Murray, Esq., who for that purpose induced Messrs.
Birtwhistle and Sons, from Yorkshire, to erect two large
mills, which for some years have been conducted by
their lessees, John Mc Kie and Company, by whom the
business is carried on with great success. One of these
mills was destroyed by an accidental fire in 1840, but
has been rebuilt, and fitted up with machinery of the
most improved kind. Both are in full operation, affording
employment to 200 persons. The works are driven
by two water-wheels of fifty-five horse power, supplied
by a tunnel cut from Loch Whinnyan at an expense of
£1400; and the average quantity of cloth annually
made is 60,000 pieces, twenty-four yards each in length.
A brewery has been established upon a moderate scale.
There is a tannery on the west bank of the river; green
hides are dressed in the town, to the amount of £400
annually; and about 60,000 bricks are made in some
works a little to the north.
The trade of the port consists chiefly in the exportation
of cotton goods, leather, and agricultural produce;
and in the importation of cotton, wool, timher, lime,
coal, wine, and groceries. Several vessels belong to the
port, averaging eighty tons' burthen: in 1840 the number
of vessels that entered mwards was forty-two, of 931
tons' aggregate burthen; and in the same year sixteen
cleared outwards, of 395 tons. The harbour, called
Boat-green, about 300 yards below the bridge, is accessible
for vessels of 160 tons, and has been greatly improved,
at a cost of nearly £3000, by the Murray family,
who in 1824 constructed a canal 1400 yards in length,
into which they diverted the waters of the Fleet, which
previously inundated the lands at every tide. By this
work, the navigation from Fleet bay to the town has
been much facilitated, and a considerable tract of marshy
ground reclaimed. From two rocks on opposite sides
of the canal, a swivel bridge has been thrown across,
which has removed the road from the demesne of Cally,
and affords an easier approach to the town. A market
is held on Saturday, which is amply supplied with provisions
of all kinds: there are large markets for cattle,
for eight successive weeks, beginning on the first Friday
in November; and a fair is held on the 27th June, or
Monday after. Gatehouse was erected into a burgh of
barony, by royal charter, in 1795, and is governed by a
provost, two bailies, and four councillors, annually elected
by the resident proprietors of £2 annually. The magistrates
exercise civil and criminal jurisdiction within the
burgh, but only to a small extent; and there is a prison
for the temporary confinement of petty offenders, but it
is seldom used. The post-office has a daily delivery;
and a branch of the Western bank of Scotland has been
established. Facility of communication is afforded by
good parish roads, kept in repair by statute labour; and
the turnpike-road from Dumfries to Portpatrick passes
through the town.