KELTON, a parish, in the stewartry of Kirkcudbright;
including the villages of Rhonehouse and
Gelston, and containing ^875 inhabitants, of whom 1848
are in the town of Castle-Douglas, 10 miles (N. E. by E.)
from Kirkcudbright. This parish derives its name, of
Celtic origin, from the extensive woods formerly in its
vicinity; and is bounded on the west by the river Dee,
which separates it from the parishes of Balmaghie and
Tongland. It extends nearly six miles in length, and is
about three miles in average breadth, comprising an area
of almost 11,400 acres, of which 3000 are arable, 560
woodland and plantations, and the remainder moorland
pasture and waste. The surface rises gradually from the
river into a ridge of hills of conical form, most of which
are arable to the summit, and which, towards the south,
increase in loftiness, till they attain, in some parts, an
elevation of 1200 feet above the level of the sea. Of
these hills the highest are Bengairn, the Skreel, and Dungyle:
from the two former is obtained an extensive view
embracing the whole vale of the Dee, the hill of Cairnsmuir,
the mountain range that separates the county of
Kirkcudbright from Ayrshire, St. Bees Head, and the
Cumberland hills. The river Dee, which here attains its
greatest breadth, divides into two streams above and
below the bridge, inclosing two large and beautifully
wooded islands. Several rivulets, descending from the
hills, intersect the parish in different directions. The
Slack burn and the Auchlane burn, which have their rise
in Bengairn, after flowing for some distance towards the
north, take a western direction, and fall into the Dee.
Three other burns descend from the Skreel, one of which,
taking a northern course, flows past the village of Gelston
into Loch Carlinwark, while the other two run
south-eastward into the Solway Firth. The loch of
Carlinwark, situated in the north angle of the parish, was
originally 180 acres in extent; but in 1765 it was partly
drained by the construction of a canal, one mile and a
half in length, which, conveying its water to the Dee,
reduced its height to the same level, and diminished its
surface to 100 acres. By the draining of the lake, great
quantities of rich marl were obtained, which, being carried
by the canal to the Dee in boats, were shipped to
many of the surrounding parishes for the improvement
of the lands.
For the most part the soil is a thin hazel loam, or
brown mould, mixed in some places with sand, and in
others incumbent on gravel and a stiff retentive clay, but
generally fertile, producing abundant crops of grain, with
potatoes and turnips, and the various grasses. The system
of agriculture has been greatly improved under the
encouragement of an agricultural society comprising
Kelton and the adjacent parishes, in each of which
ploughing matches take place by turns: and a general
show of stock is held annually at Castle-Douglas on the
first Tuesday in October, when prizes are awarded. The
farm-houses are substantially built, and roofed with slate.
The lands have been much enriched by the marl from
Carlinwark loch, and are inclosed partly with stone dykes,
and partly with hedges of thorn; bone-dust is used as
manure for turnips; and all the more recent improvements
in the implements of husbandry have been adopted.
On the moorlands is good pasturage for black-cattle, of
which considerable numbers are reared; and though
none of the farms are exclusively appropriated to the
purpose, numbers of sheep, chiefly of the black-faced,
with a few of the Leicestershire and Cheviot breeds, are
fed on the several lands. There is no established fishery;
but salmon are taken in the Dee, and trout, pike, and
perch in the loch, which is also frequented by almost
every variety of waterfowl. In this parish the substrata
comprise greywacke and slate, with veins of porphyry;
and granite is found in the hills. The plantations, most
of which are of modern growth, consist of oak, ash, elm,
and larch, Scotch, and spruce firs, and are in a very
thriving state. The annual value of real property in the
parish is £9170. Gelston Castle was built by the late
Sir Willam Douglas, and is conspicuous for the elegance
of its architecture, and the romantic beauty of its situation.
Carlinwark, erected by the late Mr. Mc Culloch,
and Daldawn, built by the late proprietor, Captain
Mc Dougall, are also handsome mansions. The village
of Rhonehouse, on Kelton hill, was long celebrated for
its annual fairs for cattle and horses, all of which have
been removed to Castle-Douglas, except the summer fair,
which is still held at Rhonehouse, on the first Tuesday
after the 17th of June, O. S., chiefly for horses and for
the hiring of servants. There are no manufactures of
importance; but a few of the inhabitants are employed
in hand-loom weaving for the houses at Carlisle. Facility
of communication is afforded by good roads, of
which the military road from Carlisle to Portpatrick
passes through the northern part of the parish for about
four miles, and others intersect it in various directions.
This parish is within the bounds of the presbytery of
Kirkcudbright, synod of Galloway; and both civilly and
ecclesiastically includes the ancient parishes of Gelston
and Kilcormack, which, after the decay of their churches,
were annexed to Kelton about the year 1689. The
minister's stipend is £"^46. IS., with a manse, and a glebe
valued at £'20 per annum; patron, the Crown. The
present church, a plain substantial structure with a
campanile turret, was erected on a more eligible site than
that of the old edifice, in 1S06, and has since been enlarged
by the addition of galleries; it now contains 1000
sittings. There are places of worship for members of
the Free Church, the United Presbyterian Church, and
Reformed Presbyterians. Three parochial schools are
supported, of which the original school is at Rhonehouse,
and the two others respectively at Gelston and
Castle-Douglas: about 440 children are instructed.
The master in Rhonehouse has a dwelling-house, and
one-third of £51. 6. paid by the heritors, with £2
from a bequest by Sir William Douglas, and £~. 10.
from the seat-rents of the galleries in the church. The
master of Gelston receives one-third of £51. 6., with
£3. 3. from Sir William Douglas's fund, but has no
dwelling-house; and the fees in each of the two schools
average £32. The master at Castle-Douglas has onethird
of £51. 6., £~. 10. from the Douglas fund, and
£15 from seat-rents, in addition to the fees, which average
£120 per annum. There are three other schools,
for females, unendowed, but the teachers of which, besides
their fees, receive a small sum from the Douglas fund.
Miss Harriet Douglas bequeathed £100, the interest of
which is distributed in coal among the poor.
The parish contains numerous remains of antiquity,
among which is part of a Druidical circle on the farm of
Torrs. There are several British forts, two of which are
in good preservation, on the hill of Dungyle, and both
defended by three ramparts of stones and earth; one
has a circular area of IIZ, and the other of si.xty-eight,
paces in diameter. In a tumulus near Gelston, have
been found a stone coffin containing human bones of
gigantic size, a copper helmet, and some military weapons
greatly corroded. At Mid Kelton, a Roman tripod
has been discovered by the plough; and on an island in
Carlinwark loch has been found a large iron hammer,
supposed to have been used by the Druids. Several
canoes; a Roman dagger, plated with gold, and twcnty-
Iwo inches long; the remains of an iron forge said to
have been employed by the troops of Edward I., for shoeing
their horses; and various other relics, have also been
discovered in the loch. The great cannon called Mons
Meg, which stands on the Argyll battery of Edinburgh
Ca?itle, -wan made in this parish, at a place called The
Buchan.