DOLPHINTON, a parish, in the Upper ward of the
county of Lanark, 6 miles (S. W.) from Biggar; containing
305 inhabitants. This place, anciently Dolphinstown,
derived its name from Dolfine, elder brother of
Cospatrick, first Earl of Dunbar; who in the reign of
Alexander I. acquired possession of the manor, which,
after passing through numerous families, several of
whom were eminently distinguished, was divided among
various proprietors. The parish is about three miles in
length, from east to west, and two miles and a half in
breadth; and its surface, which has a gentle acclivity,
is tolerably level, with the exception of the hills of Dolphinton
and Keir, the former 1550, and the latter 900,
feet above the level of the sea. The principal stream is
the Medwin, which near Garveld House divides into
two channels, one flowing eastward into the Tweed, and
the other westward into the river Clyde. There is also
a small rivulet which, after receiving several tributary
rills, falls into the Lyne. The scenery is generally
pleasing, but the want of wood renders it less picturesque;
great numbers of young plantations, however,
have latterly been formed, which will soon contribute
much to its embellishment.
The SOIL is generally a dry friable loam, intermixed
with sand; in some parts, a kind of clay with portions
of moss. The number of acres is estimated at 3668,
whereof 22'21 are arable, 444 in woods and plantations,
and the remainder, of which probably 300 acres might
be rendered arable, are rough pasture and waste. In
this parish the chief crops are oats and turnips, and
barley, wheat, and potatoes are also grown. The system
of agriculture is improved; considerable progress has
been made in draining, and much land heretofore totally
unproductive has been converted into excellent meadow,
producing luxuriant crops of hay. Attention is paid to
the management of the dairy; about 200 milch-cows,
chiefly of the Ayrshire breed, are kept in the several
farms, and about 100 head of young cattle are annually
reared. About 1000 sheep, also, are annually fed, the
greater number of which are of the black-faced, and a
few of the Cheviot breed. The annual value of real property
in the parish is £1988. The substrata are whinstone,
sandstone, and freestone. Some indications of
lead-ore induced an attempt in search of that mineral,
but it was not attended with success; fire-clay is obtained,
and in the southern extremity of the parish is
found a kind of stone well adapted for ovens. Dolphinton
House and Newholm are handsome mansions
of modern erection. The road from Edinburgh to Biggar
intersects the parish.
For ECCLESIASTICAL purposcs the parish is within the
bounds of the presbytery of Biggar, synod of Lothian
and Tweeddale. The stipend of the incumbent is £158,
of which above two-thirds are received from the exchequer:
the manse was put into thorough repair and
enlarged in 1828, and the glebe comprises about fourteen
acres, valued at £27- 10. per annum: patron, Lord
Douglas. Dolphinton church is a substantial edifice,
but altogether inadequate to the wants of the population;
it appears to have been built about two centuries since.
The parochial school is well conducted; the master has
a salary of £26, with a house and garden, and the fees
average about £15. He receives, also, the rent of four
acres of land bequeathed by Wiliian Brown about 1658,
and now producing £8 per annum; the interest of 1000
merks by the same benefactor, for the gratuitous instruction
of poor children; and the annual sum of 100
merks for instructing twenty children, bequeathed by
Mr. Bowie in 1*59. Mr. Bowie also bequeathed 100
merks a year for the education of any youth of promising
genius, or, in failure of such, to be appropriated to the
apprenticing of children; fifty merks a year, either to
the poor, or for the purchase of school books for children;
and fifty merks a year to the minister for managing the
property, which consists of lands at Stonypath, purchased
by the testator for 8000 merks, and given in trust to the
minister and Kirk Session for the above purposes. The
poor have the interest of 200 merks left by William
Brown about 1658. On the summit of Keir hill are
some remains of an ancient camp in good preservation;
and there are similar remains at other places in the
parish. Within less than a mile south-west of the manse,
is a tumulus of stones, about four feet in height, surrounded
by a circle of upright stones inclosing an area
twenty paces in diameter. Near this spot was found an
ornament of fine gold, resembling part of a horse's bit,
with about forty gold beads. Stone coffins are frequently
found in various parts of the parish, of rude and ancient
construction; aud numerous sepulchral remains.