PARTON, a parish, in the stewartry of Kirkcudbright,
7 miles (N. W.) from Castle-Douglas; containing
808 inhabitants, of whom 40 are in the village
of Parton, and 38 in that of Corsock. This parish.
which is situated nearly in the centre of the stewartry,
takes its name from a Gaehc term signifying " the Hill
Top". On the east runs the river Urr, which separates
it from the parish of Kirkpatrick-Durham; on the
north-west, the river Ken j and on the south-west the
river Dee. It is almost seven miles in extreme length
and about five miles in breadth, comprising nearly
17,000 acres, of which about 9190 are arable and pasture,
1400 woodland and plantations, and the remainder
uncultivated waste. The surface towards the north is
diversified with hills, but of no great elevation; the most
considerable are Mochrum Fell and Cruckie Height,
commanding a fine view of the vales of the Ken and the
Dee, which rivers, uniting about half a mile above the
village of Parton, flow together under the name of the
latter into the Solway Firth. There are several lakes,
of which the principal are those of Corsock, Lurky, and
Falbey; but they are not of sufficient importance to
require description. The soil on the arable lands is
light and sandy, and the chief crops are oats, barley, and
potatoes, of which last large quantities are raised; the
farms are of moderate extent, and the lands inclosed with
stone dykes. Numbers of sheep and cattle, generally of
the native breeds, are pastured in the hills; and the
mosses afford an ample supply of peat for fuel. A slatequarry
has been many years in operation, producing
slates of good quality for roofing; but since the reduction
of the duty on English slates it has been less extensively
wrought. The annual value of real property in
the parish is £5210.
In this parish the principal seats are Parton House,
Corsock, and Nether Corsock, all of them handsome
modern mansions finely situated. The villages of Parton
and Corsock, though inconsiderable, are neatly
built; and the surrounding scenery is pleasingly diversified.
There is a post-office under that of Castle-Douglas
_: and facility of communication is afforded by good
roads, of which those from Castle-Douglas and Dumfries
to New Galloway pass through the parish. Ecclesiastically,
this place is within the bounds of the presbytery
of Kirkcudbright and synod of Galloway. The
minister's stipend is £231. 6. 2., with a manse, and a
glebe valued at £25 per annum; patroness, Miss Glendonwyn.
Parton church, situated on the bank of the
Dee, is a neat structure erected in 1834; and part of
the old church, of which about one-half is still remaining,
has been converted into a burial-place for the families
of Glendonwyn and Maxwell. A chapel has been
erected on the bank of the Urr; the minister derives
his income from the seat-rents and an annual donation
from Mr. Fletcher of Corsock. There are two parochial
schools, the masters of which have respectively salaries
of £31. 6. 6. and £20, but without either house or garden;
the fees of the one average £16, and of the other
£8. Near the church is an artificial mount, surrounded
by a deep ditch; and about half a mile to the north of
it is a larger, of similar character, about 200 yards in
circumference at the base; not far from which are some
Druidical remains. There are also some cairns, and at
Corsock the remains of an ancient castle.