KIRKGUNZEON, a parish, in the stewartry of
Kirkcudbright, 9 miles (S. W.) from Dumfries; containing,
with the village of Gateside, 63S inhabitants,
of whom 40 are in the village of Kirkgunzeon. This
place is supposed to have derived its name, anciently
Kirkwijnon, from the dedication of its church to St.
Wynnin; and this opinion is corroborated by the name
of a spring near it, which still retains the appellation of
St. Wynnin's well. In the reign of David Bruce, the
church and lands belonged to the abbey of Holm-Cultram,
in Cumberland; but in 1369, the abbot, having
sided with the English against that monarch, was dispossessed
of his property in Scotland. The abbey lands
were then conferred by the king upon Sir John Herries
of Terregles, from whose family they passed to the
Maxwells of Nithsdale, whose descendant, Marmaduke
Constable Maxwell, of Terregles, Esq., is now the principal
proprietor in Kirkgunzeon. The pari.sh is about five
miles in length, and nearly three in average breadth,
comprising an area of 7600 acres, of which 5000 are
arable, meadow, and pasture, 400 woodland and plantations,
and the remainder moor and w<iste. Its surface
is irregularly broken into hills of moderate elevation,
abounding with grouse and blark game. The lower
grounds are intersected by a nameless river, which has
its source in two lakes iu the parish of Newabbey, and,
flowing through the centre of this parish, after a course
of nine miles, falls into the Urr, about a mile below
the village of Dalbeattie. The river abounds with trout,
and, in the deeper parts, with perch and pike; and
during the spawning .season some very large trout, of
excellent (juality, and wcigliing from four to six pounds,
are taken at the outlets of the lakes in which the stream
has its source. Partridges and hares are to be seen in
abundance, and there are also pheasants, but in much
smaller numbers.
Along the banks of the river the ground is level, and
in various other places also flat, and well adapted for
the plough; the soil on these lands is rich and fertile,
but of lighter quality in the upland districts. The crops
are barley, oats, and a small quantity of wheat, with
potatoes and turnips. The system of agriculture is improved:
the farm-houses are substantial and well built,
chiefly of granite, and roofed with slate; the lands are
well inclosed, and the fences kept in good repair; and
all the more recent improvements in husbandry are generally
practised. The cattle, of which considerable
numbers are pastured on the hills, are mostly of the
Galloway breed; and Highland bullocks are bought in
at Falkirk, at the end of harvest, and during the winter
fattened for the markets. Comparatively few sheep are
reared; and on two farms only are shepherds kept to
tend the flocks. The plantations have been greatly extended
within the last few years, and are in a thriving
state. Granite, of which the rocks are principally composed,
and whinstone, are quarried. The annual value of
real property in the parish is £4084. The village is very
inconsiderable, consisting only of a few houses around
the church. There is a post-office at Dalbeattie, about
four miles from the village, which has a daily delivery;
and facility of communication is atforded by the turnpike-
road from Dumfries to Kirkcudbright.
Ecclesiastically the parish is within the limits of the
presbytery and synod of Dumfries. The minister's stipend
is £158. 6. 6., of which nearly one-half is paid
from the exchequer; with a manse, and a glebe valued
at £30 per annum: patron, Mr. Maxwell of Terregles.
Kirkgunzeon church, situated in the centre of the parish,
was erected in 1*90, and is a plain neat structure containing
'i'24 sittings. The parochial school is well attended;
the master has a salary of £34, with a house
and garden, and the fees average £15 per annum. A
small school is held at the lower end of the parish, for
which a building was erected by the farmers, at their
own expense; and in addition to the fees, £4 are allowed
out of the parochial salary, to the master, who lives by
turns with the parents of his pupils. There are still the
remains of two ancient houses, formerly seats of the
Herries family, and both of which appear to have been
places of strength; parts are left also of the tower of
Drumcoltran. On the farm of Glaisters was a large
cairn, the stones of which have been removed for building
dykes, and in which were found many urns containing
human ashes that crumbled into dust on exposure
to the air. A beautiful gold coin of James V., in
good preservation, was found some years since on the
lands of Lochend; and within the last few years there
was discovered in the glebe a silver medal, supposed to
have been struck on the dispersion of the Spanish Armada.