MOFFAT, a parish, partly in the county of Lanark,
but chiefly in the county of Dumfries; containing 2199 inhabitants,
of whom 1413 are in the town of Moffat, 21 miles
(N. N. E.) from Dumfries, and 52 (S. by W.) from Edinburgh.
This place, the name of which is of doubtful
etymology, but supposed to be derived from Muir-foot,
is not distinguished by many events of historical importance;
the principal on record are, the defeat of Edward
Baliol in 1333, by Sir Archibald Douglas, at the head of
1000 horse, and the passage of a division of the Highland
army in the service of the Pretender in 1715, on
its route to England. With the exception of two farms
only in the county of Lanark, the parish is contained
within the county of Dumfries. It is about fifteen miles
in extreme length and nine miles at its greatest breadth,
comprising 38,400 acres, of which 3750 are arable, 800
woodland and plantations, and the remainder hill-pasture,
moor, and waste. Nearly one-half of the lands are the
property of Mr. Hope Johnstone of Annandale, a descendant
of the Johnstones of Lochwood, lords of Annandale,
of whom William, the second earl, was created
a marquess in the reign of William IH.; the remainder
is divided among numerous proprietors. The surface is
generally hilly, and towards the borders mountainous.
On the northern boundary are the mountains of Hartfell
and Lochcraig, nearly equal in height, and of which the
former has an elevation of 3000 feet above the level of
the sea, terminating in a flat summit of very considerable
extent: in the north-east are the heights of Saddleyoke,
Bodisbeck, and Lochfell. The vales of Evan,
Annan, and Moffat, through which flow the rivers of
those names, are nearly parallel, and inclosed by ranges
of bills of moderate elevation. The river Evan, which
runs for four miles through the parish in a south-eastern
direction, and the MoflFat, which takes a south-western
course of about seven miles, both fall into the Annan,
a few miles below the town; and the Annan, after a
southern course of ten miles here, and receiving the
waters just referred to, passes through the rest of Annandale
into the Sohvay Firth. Moffatdale is considered
one of the finest vales in the south of Scotland, and
abounds with interesting associations: the Covenanters
took refuge in the wild and rugged mountains that encircle
it, when they were pursued by Claverhouse and
his followers; and in recent times, the vale was one of
the favourite haunts of the poet Burns. The only lake
of importance is Loch Skcen, situated to the north-east,
at an elevation of 1400 feet above the level of the sea;
it is about three-fourths of a mile in length and onefourth
in breadth, and surrounded by mountains of
dreary aspect. In the centre is a rocky islet, the undisturbed
resort of the eagle. The lake abounds with three
kinds of trout, and is frequented by anglers: a stream
issues from it with great force, and, falling from precipitous
rocks nearly 400 feet in height, forms a stupendous
cataract called the Grey Mare'.s Tail.
In the vales, especially those of Annan and Moffat, the
SOIL is rich, dry, and fertile; and in the higher lands,
light and heathy, chiefly affording pasture for sheep, for
wiiich purpose above 30,000 acres are appropriated. The
crops are oats, wheat, barley, potatoes, and turnips, with
the various grasses. The system of agriculture is good,
and the farm-buildings are substantial and commodious;
great attention is paid to the management of live stock,
and a farming association has been established. About
400 milch-cows of the Ayrshire breed are kc[)t, and there
are 550 head of young cattle; the number of sheep is
about 25,000, and of swine 400. There are remains of
ancient woods at Craigieburn and in a few other places;
the pkntations consist of larch, oak, ash, birch, hazel,
and mountain-ash, and are well managed and in a thriving
state. The chief substrata are sandstone and blue whinstone,
with slate of good quality for roofing; an attempt
to find coal was made in 1844, but without success, and
a previous search for copper-ore in Hartfell was equally
unavaihng. The principal seats are, Craigieburn House,
the seat of Mr. Proudfoot, which, with the adjacent wood,
is celebrated by the poet Burns; Duraerief, the property
of Mr. RoUo, once the residence of McAdam, the celebrated
improver of roads, whose remains lie interred in
the churchyard of Moffat; Granton, the seat of Mr. Jardine,
a new and elegant structure; and Heathryhaugh,
the seat of the late Mr. Tod, a beautiful spot, situated
on the road to Moffat well.
The TOWN stands near the opening of the vale of Annan,
on an elevated site 300 feet above the level of the
sea. It is neatly built, consisting of one spacious street,
in the centre of which is the market-place, a square area
where is a public cistern for supplying the town with
water. This place is much frequented by visiters, who
resort in numbers during the season to drink the waters
of the mineral springs in its immediate neighbourhood,
and for whose accommodation there are several good
inns and respectable lodging-houses. Moffat is also
celebrated as a fishing station. The vicinity abounds
with beautifully picturesque scenery and with objects of
interest; many new houses have been erected, and some
pleasing villas have been built, which are inhabited by
opulent families. The Well of Moffat is about a mile
and a half from the town, and is approached by an excellent
carriage road. The water is strongly sulphureous,
and on analysis by Dr. Garnet a wine gallon was found
to contain, of muriate of soda tbirty-six grains, sulphuretted
hydrogen gas ten cubic inches, of azotic four, and
carbonic acid gas five. It evaporates quickly, and can
be drunk with due effect only at the well, for which purpose
elegant baths have been erected, with reading and
billiard rooms and a bowling-green attached; a quadrille
band plays in the pump-room twice a week, and there is
good stabling at the inn. The Ilarlfcll Spa, about four
miles from the town, is a powerful chalybeate issuing
from a deep ravine on the west side of the Hartfell
mountain. A wine gallon contains, of sulphate of iron
eighty-four grains, sulphate of alumina twelve grains,
and of azotic gas five cubic inches: the water is a
powerful tonic, and may be kept for a considerable time
without losing its efficacy. The Evan-Bridiie Spa, a little
to the south of tlic town, in the parish of Kirkpatrick-
Juxta, is a chalybeate less powerful than the Hartfell,
containing in a wine gallon, of oxide of iron two grains,
of carbonic acid gas thirteen cubic inches, and of azotic gas two.
The weaving of stockings is carried on to a moderate
extent, and there are a mill for fulling cloth, a saw-mill,
and a corn-mill; many of the inhabitants are employed
in the various handicraft trades recjuisite for the supply
of the neighbourhood, and there are numerous shops
well storeil with merchandise. A market is held weekly,
and two branch banks have been established; the postoffice
has two deliveries daily. The police is under the
management of two sjiecial constables; two magistrates
reside in the town, and a court of petty-sessions is held
monthly. Facility of communication with Edinburgh,
Glasgow, Carlisle, and other places, is afforded by good
roads, and by the Caledonian railway. The annual value
of real property in the parish is £8654. For kcclesi-
ASTiCAL purposes the parish is within the bounds of the
presbytery of Lochmaben and synod of Dumfries. The
minister's stijjend is £260. 5., with a manse, and a
glebe valued at £25 per annum; patron, Hope Johnstone,
Esq., of Annandale. Moffat church, a handsome
structure, built by James, Earl of Hopetoun, and beautifully
situated, contains about 1000 sittings. There are
places of worship for Burghers and members of the Free
Church. The parochial school is well conducted; the
master has a salary of £25. 13. 6., with a house and
garden, and the fees average £10 per annum. A distinct
grammar school was formerly supported from the
proceeds of a bequest of £1000 by Robert Johnstone,
Esq., of London, for its erection and endowment; but
this is now combined vi'ith the parochial school under
the superintendence of a head-master and an assistant.
There are, also, a free school endowed by the late Mr.
Morrison; a school supported by subscription; and
others, depending solely on the fees. Part of the Roman
road through the vale of Annan to Crawford may still
be traced in the parish; and there are some tolerably
perfect remains of Frenchland Tower, of which little of
the origin is recorded; also of a more ancient fortification
called the Cornal Tower.