STRANRAER, a parish and town, in the county of Wigtown, 6^ miles (N. E.
by N.) from Portpatrick, and 50 (S. S. W.) from Ayr; the parish containing
3440 inhabitants. The name of this place is supposed to be derived from
its situation on a shore that is dry at low water. Stranraer is of considerable
antiquity, and was formerly the residence of the
Earls of Stair, whose ancient castle of Stranraer still
remains. The town is the cajiital of the district of the
Rhyns. It is beautifully situated at the head of Loch
Ryan, a branch of the Firth of Clyde; and consists
mainly of several parallel streets, of which the principal
extends nearly halt a mile along the loch, and which are
intersected at right angles by smaller streets leading to
the shore. The houses are well built, and many of them
of handsome appearance; the streets are paved, and
lighted with gas, and the inhabitants amply supplied with
excellent water. From its advantageous situation, and
the healthiness of its climate, Stranraer has become the
residence of many respectable families. Two public
libraries, one containing a good collection of works on
general literature, and the other chiefly a theological
library, are supported by subscription; there are also a
public reading and news room well furnished with
journals and periodical publications, and a mechanics'
institution. Two newspapers are published. Several good
houses have been recently built in the immediate vicinity;
and considerable improvements have been made in the
town itself, which extends into the parishes of Inch and
Leswalt. There is a regatta club under the patronage of
His Royal Highness Prince Albert.
The scarcity of fuel has hitherto prevented the extensive
introduction of manufactures. A few of the inhabitants
are employed in weaving linen and cotton for the
Glasgow houses; there are some tanneries and a sailcloth
manufactory, and also some nurseries in which
large quantities of plants, fruits, and vegetables are
raised. An important fishery is carried on in Loch
Ryan, for skate, flounders, turbot, halibut, cod, haddocks,
whiting, lobsters, and crabs; oysters of good
quality are also found in great abundance. The herringfishery,
too, was formerly extensive, and employed 300
boats; but for many years it has not been so productive.
The trade of the port consists chiefly in the export of
grain, cattle, and other agricultural produce, leather,
shoes, and a few other articles, which are sent to Glasgow,
Belfast, and Liverpool; and in the importation of
timber from the Baltic, of iron, coal, &c. The number
of vessels registered as belonging to the port, in 1843,
was thirty- four, of an aggregate burthen of 1895 tons;
and the amount of duties paid at the custom-house was
considerable. Two powerful and fast steamers, which
sail daily, carry on a flourishing traffic between Stranraer
and Ayr, Greenock, Glasgow, and Belfast. Stranraer
harbour is easy of access to vessels of tolerably
large burthen, but only those not exceeding one hundred
tons can approach the quay, and unload and take in their
cargoes; the loch affords safe anchorage for vessels of
300 tons within half a mile of the pier. The depth of
the harbour is ton feet at spring tides. A considerable
sum was expended by the corporation, in 1820, for its
improvement; but, not having the authority of an act
of parliament, the proposed increase of harbour dues has
been resisted, and the corporation have not been indemnified
for the outlay, which exceeded £4680. Loch
Ryan is about ten miles in length, and two miles wide at
the entrance: about half way up, a sand-bank called the
Scar, stretches across it obliquely for a considerable distance,
forming a fine natural breakwater, beyond which
it expands into a breadth of four miles. A market,
which is amply supplied with provisions of all kinds, is
held weekly, on Friday. Fairs are held annually, on the
Tuesday before the first Wednesday in January, and the
Tuesday before Kilton Hill fair in June, for horses; on
the third Friday in April, the first and third Fridays in
May, and the third Friday in July, August, September,
and November, for cattle; and the third Friday in October,
for fruit. There are three branch banks in the
town. The post-office has a good delivery; and facility
of communication is afforded by the great military road
from Carlisle to Edinburgh, and by vessels that frequent the harbour.
Stranraer was erected into a royal burgh, in 1617, by
charter of James VI.; and the government is vested in
a provost, two bailies, a dean of guild, a treasurer, and
thirteen common-councillors, elected agreeably with the
provisions of the Municipal Reform act. There are no
incorporated trades having exclusive privileges; but the
magistrates may compel any one carrying on business
within the burgh to enter as a burgess, for which the
fee of admission varies from one to three guineas. The
magistrates exercise both civil and criminal jurisdiction,
and hold bailie and dean-of-guild courts for the trial
of cases within the burgh. The town-hall, situated in
George- street, is a neat structure containing the requisite
accommodation; and the prison is under good regulations.
This burgh is associated with New Galloway,
Whithorn, and Wigtown, in returning a member to the
imperial parliament; the number of qualified voters is
I9'2. The annual value of real property in Stranraer
parish is £3905. This parish, consisting of about forty
acres, originally formed part of the parishes of Leswalt
and Inch; it is within the bounds of the presbytery of
Stranraer, synod of Galloway. The minister's stipend
is £158, including an allowance for communion elements,
and of which £120 are paid from the exchequer; an
allowance of £30 per annum is received in lien of a
manse, and the glebe is valued at £70 per annum:
patron, the Crown. The old church, which contained
700 sittings, being condemned in 1833 as unsafe and incapable
of repair, a temporary building of wood was
erected by the minister for the use of the congregation;
and the present church, which is a neat structure, was
built by public subscription in 1841. There are places
of worship for members of the Free Church, the United
Presbyterian Church, Reformed Presbyterians, and a
Roman Catholic chapel. An academy of very handsome
design vi'as lately built by public subscription, at an expense
of about £2000, and was opened in February 1S45:
it has a rector, and first and second masters, and the
course embraces all the branches of a thorough English,
commercial, and mathematical education, adding tc
these the ancient and modern languages, oriental and
European. The parochial or burgh schoolmaster has a
salary of £20, besides school-fees. This place gives the
title of Baron to the Earl of Stair.