ECCLESFECHAN, a village, in the parish of Hoddam,
county of Dumfries, 6 miles (N.) from Annan;
containing 768 inhabitants. It is very centrally situated,
in the south-eastern part of the parish, on the road
between Carlisle and Glasgow, and is an important
and thriving market- village, with many respectable
shops in various branches of trade. A large part of
the population is engaged in the manufacture of gingham,
which is the chief product of the place. It has a noted
cattle fair or market, to which its prosperity has been
principally owing, and also a flourishing pork-market;
the former is held monthly, but the great sales are in
June and October, and the pork-market is held during the
winter. In the vicinity are five cross-roads, and there
are great facilities of intercourse afforded to the inhabitants
by the Caledonian railway, which has a station at
Ecclesfechan. A post-office has for some time been
established. The parochial church stands about a mile
south of the village; and the members of the Free
Church have a place of worship.