GLENCAIRN, a parish, in the county of Dumfries,
13^ miles (N. W. by W.) from Dumfries; containing,
with the villages of Dunreggan, Kirkland, and
Minnyhive, 2094 inhabitants. This village is about fifteen
miles long, and three and a half broad, and contains
about 35,000 acres; it is bounded on the north by
Tynron parish, on the south by Dunscore, on the east
by Keir, and on the west by the parishes of Balmaclellan
and Dairy. The surface is diversified by numerous hills
and valleys, by wood and water. The hills extend in
ranges from east to west, rising from 1000 to 1500 feet
above the level of the sea; the higher parts are covered
with heath, but the rest generally affords good green
pasture. The valleys are highly cultivated, and produce
crops of grain. From its proximity to the high hills on
the west, the parish has a moist atmosphere; and it
suffers frequently from violent inundations caused by
copious rains, which bring great mischief to the low
grounds. There is a lake about three miles in circumference
and four or five fathoms deep, abounding with
pike and a large kind of trout; the water has a black
hue, on account of the mossy ground in the neighbourhood.
Three streams, namely, the Castlefairn, the Craigdarroch,
and the Dalwhat, rise in the western hills, and
meeting a little below the village of Minnyhive, form one
stream, which takes the appellation of Cairn. This river
has a course of sixteen miles, and then joins the Nith,
about a mile above Dumfries, and seven miles distant
from the Solway Firth.
The SOIL in general is light and gravelly, and adapted
in a superior degree for turnip husbandry. About 7000
acres are cultivated, or occasionally in tillage j 26,600
have never been cultivated; and 800 are occupied by
wood. The crops of grain raised in the valleys are very
fine, and the grounds are under the most improved system
of agriculture. Great benefits have resulted from efficient
draining, and the construction of embankments;
and by the spirited and liberal support of some of the
proprietors, much moss has been reclaimed, and excellent
farm-houses and offices have been erected. The
quantity of arable land has, indeed, been quadrupled
within the last fifty years; and the annual value of real
property in the parish now amounts to £11,138. The
rocks are chiefly of the transition class: a slate-quarry
was formerly wrought to some extent, but it has since
been neglected. The mansions are Maxwellton House
and Craigdarroch House. Fairs are held at Minnyhive,
in March, July, and October, for the hiring of servants
and a market for lambs has recently been established.
There is a daily post; and about eighteen miles of
turn-pike-road run through the parish, upon which the Glasgow
and Dumfries coach used to travel three times aweek;
there are four bridges on this road, and six upon the parish
roads, and all of them are kept in good order.
For ECCLESIASTICAL purposcs the parish is within the
bounds of the presbytery of Penpont, synod of Dumfries;
patron, the Duke of Buccleuch. The stipend is £^80;
and there is a manse, with a glebe of twelve acres, valued
at £18 per annum. A new parish church has been
lately erected to seat upwards of 1000 persons. There
are a place of worship for members of the Free Church,
and one belonging to the United Presbyterian Church.
Three parochial schools are supported, in which the
classics, with the usual branches of education, are taught;
the respective salaries are £25. 13., £1/. 2., and £8. 11.,
and the joint fees amount to about £54. There are
likewise two subscription libraries at Minnyhive, and a
congregational library belonging to the United Presbyterian
body. The chief relic of antiquity is a tumulus
generally called the Moat, but sometimes the Bow Butts,
situated about a mile and a half from the church, and
supposed to have been formerly employed as a place
for the exercise of archery. In the village of Minnyhive
is a cross, erected about the year 1638, when a charter
was granted, constituting the village a burgh of barony,
with power to hold a weekly market.