STONEHOUSE, a parish, in the Middle ward of the county of Lanark; containing 2471 inhabitants, of whom 1794 are in the village of Stonehouse, 7 miles (S. S. E.) from Hamilton. This place is said to have derived its name from the residence of the principal proprietor, a mansion of stone and lime, situated near the site of the present village, and which, being at the time a kind of building of rare occurrence in this part of the country, was considered of sufficient interest to give name to the parish. It seems much more probable, however, that the appellation is a corruption of Stone Hows or Hollows, from certain extensive localities answering to that description, in various parts of the parish; in proof of which it may be mentioned, that on two old communion cups still preserved the name is spelled Stain Hows. The parish is about six miles in length and three in breadth, and is bounded on the east by the Cander stream, on the west and north by the river Avon, and on the south by the Kype. It comprises 7560 acres, of which 300 are woodland and plantation, and the remainder chiefly arable land. With the exception of the above-mentioned hollows, the surface is in general even, but gradually rises from the centre towards the north and south. Its appearance has been greatly improved by numerous plantations, which in some parts, and more especially on the lands of Mr. Lockhart of Castlehill, include much ornamental timber. There are also some few remains of ancient trees of venerable aspect, though the greater portion of the old wood has long since been cut down for various purposes; and around the churchyard and manse are some planetrees of luxuriant growth. The soil is generally rich and fertile. Considerable improvements have taken place in draining, and a moss of considerable extent has been reclaimed and brought into profitable cultivation, producing abundant crops of oats, barley, and wheat, with rye-grass and clover. There was also a considerable extent of marsh at Gozlington, which has been improved, and converted into meadow land. The Avon, in its course by the parish, formerly abounded with salmon; but few have been found of late, as their passage is intercepted by the increased elevation of a mill-dam. This river flows with great impetuosity, being obstructed in its progress by huge masses of stone, wliich, falling from its precipitous and rocky banks, have in some parts choked up its channel. After receiving the waters of the Kype and the Cander, it takes a northern direction, and falls into the Clyde near Hamilton. The crops raised in the parish comprise oats, barley, wheat, potatoes, and turnips, with a small portion of flax; the lands are well inclosed, partly with stone, and partly with hedges of thorn and beech. Freestone abounds in the parish, as well as whinstone of sufficient cjuality for mending the roads; limestone of a good description is also prevalent, and is worked for manure. In the fissures of the vein of limestone are fine specimens of mica, interspersed with globular particles of a bright yellow colour. Ironstone has been discovered in thin beds above the limestone in detached nodules of good quality, but not in quantity sufficient for working; and coal is also found, but it is worked only for burning the limestone. The annual value of real property in Stonehouse is £7079. The village is situated nearly in the centre of the parish, and the approach to it is facilitated by a handsome bridge over the Cander water. It consists chiefly of one principal street about a mile in length, and some smaller streets which are macadamized, and kept in neat order. The houses are mostly but one story high, and covered with thatch; but of late years several of larger dimensions, and roofed with slate, have been erected, and two new streets have been formed, adding materially to the appearance of the place, which is rapidly increasing in population and importance. The weaving of silk and cotton has been carried on to a considerable extent for many years, and to this has lately been added the weaving of silk and woollen into tartan and other dresses: the number of persons thus employed is about 500, working with hand-looms at their own dwellings. In the upper part of the parish, near the mouth of the Kype, is a small manufactory of coarse cotton yarn, which is chiefly used for lamp and candle wicks. A number of persons are also employed in the lime and coal works, and in three manufactories of draining-tdes. The new turnpike-road from Edinburgh to Ayr passes through the village, and, communicating with the road from Glasgow, affords great facility of intercourse with places in the vicinity. Fairs, chiefly for black-cattle and wool, are held at Martinmas, in May, and in July, which are numerously attended; and a post-office has been established. Ecclesiastically the parish is in the presbytery of Hamilton, synod of Glasgow and Ayr, and in the patronage of Robert Lockhart, Esq., of Castlehill: the minister's stipend averages £250, with a manse, and a glebe valued at £20 per annum. Stonehouse church, a handsome modern structure, surmounted by a wellproportioned spire, is situated in the centre of the village, and is adapted for a congregation of 900 persons. There are places of worship for members of the Free Church and a congregation of the United Presbyterian Church. The parochial school affords a useful education; the master has a salary of £28 per annum, the fees, and a house and garden. There are three other schools, one of them altogether on private adventure, and the other two having each a schoolroom provided for the master by subscription. On the banks of the Avon, and near a farmhouse called Coat or Cat Castle, there is understood to have been in former days an old castle; but not a vestige of it is to be seen: the ground, when struck by the foot, is said to sound hollow, as if vaulted underneath. Tradition says there was a similar building near the farm of Low Tweedieside, on the banks of the Kype. At the junction of the Avon and Gander waters, are the remains of an encampment called the " Double Dykes"; it comprises an area of nearly four acres, completely surrounded by masses of perpendicular rock, except in one point between the channels of the rivers, which approach within fifty yards of each other, where the narrow interval was artificially fortified by three lofty dykes, some parts of which are yet entire. On the farm of West Mains, a Roman tumulus was discovered, in which were found numerous urns containing burnt bones and ashes; several of them were in good preservation, and ornamented with flowers elegantly carved, and various other devices. Not far from the same spot are remains of the Roman road from Ayr to Castle-Cary, which in some places is still entire, and is formed of large stones rudely placed. Roman urns have also been found in tumuli that have been opened in other parts of the parish.