STONEYKIRK, a parish (corruption of Stephenkirk), in
the county of Wigtown; containing, with the
fishing-port of Sandhead and the hamlet of Stoneykirk,
306*2 inhabitants, of whom fifty-six are in the hamlet, 5
miles (S. S. E.) from Stranraer. This place, the name of
which, originally Siep/ienAJr/c, was derived from the dedication
of the principal church, consists of the three ancient
parishes of Stoneykirk, Clayshank, and Toscarton,
united about the time of the Reformation. It appears
to have been at an early period the residence of the
Tiianes of Galloway, of whose baronial castle there were
till lately some remains on the lauds of Garthland, consisting
chiefly of a square tower forty-five feet in height,
on the battlements of which was legible the date 1274.
There are but few events of importance connected with
the parish. Some vessels belonging to the Spanish Armada
were wrecked off the western coast, not far from
a bay which, in commemoration of that circumstance,
has since been called the bay of Float; and at Money
Point, near the bay, a considerable number of Spanish
dollars was subsequently discovered.
The I'AKlsii is bounded on the east by the bay of
Luce, and on the west by the Irish Channel, and is
nearly ten miles in length and three miles and a half in
average breadth, comprising about 2 1 ,.'>00 acres, of which
19,000 are arable, '.',7^> woodland and plantations, and
the remainder, whereof 1100 might be reclaimed, moorland
and waste. Its surface is varied; in some parts
tolerably level, and in others diversified with numerous
hills, none of which, however, attain any considerable
degree of elevation. The only stream approximating to
the character of a river is the Poltauton burn, which separates
the parish from the parish of Inch, on the north.
This stream, which is twenty feet in width, takes an
eastern course, and flows into the bay of Luce; it
abounds with par and pike, affording good sport to the
angler, and salmon and sea-trout are occasionally found,
entering it from the bay. The west coast is bold and
rocky, towards the north in some places precipitous, but
less elevated towards the south; it is indented on that
side with several small bays, giving shelter to vessels
employed in the fisheries, and the principal of which are
Port-Spittal, Port-Float, and Ardwell bay. The eastern
coast is more level, and towards the north the shore for
a considerable extent is sand, which is dry at low water;
the principal bays are Sandhead and Chapel-Rosan. The
sands extending from Sandhead, and forming a continuation
with those of Luce, were, previously to the erection
of the lighthouse on the Mull of Galloway, fatal to numbers
of vessels, which were stranded on this part of the
coast. These sands abound with shell-fish of various
kinds, particularly with the razor-fish, which, during the
months of March and April, is caught in great numbers;
mackerel are also plentiful in the bay of Luce in the
month of August. Off the western coast, cod are found
in abundance; and the fishery is carried on to a considerable
extent, for the consumption of the adjacent
district: every facility for extending it into a lucrative
pursuit is afforded by the advantages of the place, but no
more fish are taken than suffice for the inhabitants.
Along the shore of the bay the soil is sandy; but in
other parts, though light and dry, it is generally fertile.
Crops are raised of wheat, oats, barley, potatoes, and
turnips, with the usual grasses; flax was formerly grown,
but its cultivation has been some j'^ears totally discontinued.
Husbandry has been greatly improved. The
farm-houses, many of which are of recent erection, are
substantial and comfortable, and the offices well arranged.
Much waste land has been reclaimed by draining, and
brought into profitable cultivation; and all the more
recent improvements in the construction of agricultural
implements are in use. The plantations consist of firs of
various kinds, interspersed with other trees, and are all
in a thriving state: there are also considerable remains
of natural wood, chiefly ash, birch, and elm. The annual
value of real property in the parish is £11,060. Balgreggan,
the seat of Patrick Maitland, Esq., a handsome
mansion beautifully situated in a richly- wooded demesne;
Kildrochat, the residence of the late Countess of Rothes
and Ardwell, the seat of Sir John McTaggart, M.P., are
the principal houses. The village of Sandhead is described
under its own head; the village or kirk-town of
Stoneykirk consists only of a few luwscs around the
church. A post-office under that of Stranraer is established,
and facility of communication is maintained by
the county-road from Stranraer to Kirkmaiden, and other
roads that intersect the parish. For ecclesiastical
purposes this parish is witliin the limits of the presbytery
of Stranraer and synod of Galloway. The minister's
stipend is £'2'M. 1.5. 1 1., with a manse, and a glebe valued
at £10 per annum; patrons, alternately, the Crown and
the Earl of Stair. Stoneykirk church, which is situated
about two miles from the shore of Luce bay, was built
in 18'27, at a cost of £2000; it is a substantial structure
in the later English style of architecture, and contains
nearly 1000 sittings. The members of the Free Church
have a place of worship. The parochial school affords a
complete course of instruction; the master has a salary
of £'25. 13. 3., with a house and garden, and the fees.
On the lands of Ardwell are some remains of Druidical
circles and Picts' houses. On those of Garthland, two
lachrymatories of gold, weighing three ounces and a half
each, were found in 1783. Upon the farm of Clayshank,
the foundations of a church may be distinctly traced;
and at Kirkmadrine, the churchyard of which is still preserved
as a burying-place, are some gravestones with
ancient inscriptions. There are several artificial mounds
of earth in the parish, one of which, near Balgreggan
House, of circular form, is 460 feet in circumference at
the base and sixty feet in height, and has on its summit
an excavation surrounded with a ditch.