SYMINGTON, a parish, in the Upper ward of the
county of Lanark, 3^ miles (S. W.) from Biggar; containing
488 inhabitants, of whom 213 are in the village
of Symington. This place derived its name, originally
" Symon's Town", from its ancient proprietor, Symon
Loccard, who, having in the reign of Malcolm IV. obtained
a grant of the lands, fixed his residence here, and
also erected a chapel, which subsequently became the
church, on the erection of the lands into a distinct parish,
about the year 1232. The parish is bounded on
the north and east by the river Clyde, and is about three
miles in length and a mile and a half in breadth, comprising
an area of 3400 acres, of which 2400 are arable,
meadow, and pasture, 140 woodland and plantations,
and the remainder waste. Its surface is diversified with
several hills of considerable elevation, on one of which,
called Castle Hill, was anciently a fortification, whose
site is now covered with trees. Towards the west is the
mountain of Tinto, which rises to a height of about 2400
feet above the level of the sea, and has on its summit a pile
of stones. On its south-east side, at no great height above
its base, are the ruins of the castle of Fatlips, consisting
of part of one of the walls, of great thickness, and the
stones of which are so firmly compacted as to be incapable
of separation. From the top of this mountain is
obtained a view extending over sixteen counties.
The arable land is chiefly along the banks of the
river; the pastures reach to the summit of the mountain.
In the lower lands the soil is fertile, and great
improvement has taken place in the system of agriculture.
Favourable crops of grain of all kinds, with
potatoes, turnips, and hay, are produced; and the high
lands afford excellent pasture. The cattle are chiefly
of the Ayrshire breed, and much attention is paid to
their improvement; the horses, of which few more are
kept than what are required for agricultural purposes,
are of the Clydesdale breed. For the most part the
plantations are Scotch fir and larch, which latter seems
the more congenial to the soil; and around the village
are some hardwood trees of several kinds. The village
is ])leasantly situated at the foot of Castle Hill; a few
of the inhabitants are employed in weaving for the Glasgow
manufacturers, but the population of the parish is
chiefly agricultural. Facility of intercourse is afforded
by the Caledonian railway and the Carlisle and Stirling
road, which pass tlirough the i)arish; and the road from
Lanark to IJiggar runs along a bridge over the Clyde,
which connects the parish with that of Cultcr. The
annual value of real property in Symington is £2385.
It is ecclesiastically in the presbytery of Biggar, synod
of Lothian and Twceddalo. The minister's stipend varies,
but is not less than £158. 6. 8., about half of which
is paid from the exchequer; with a manse, and a glebe
valued at £15 per annum: patrons, the family of Lockhart,
of Lee and Carnwath. Symington churcli is an
ancient structure, repaired in 1761, enlarged in 18'20,
and which again underwent repair in 1S45; it contains
about 300 sittings. The parochial scliool is well attended;
the master has a salary of £34. 4. 4., with a
house and garden, and the fees. There is also a parochial
library. Remains of several camps exist in the
parish, but they are in a very imperfect state. In a
tumulus near the base of the mountain of Tinto, were
found the bones of a human skeleton without the skull;
and as the grave was shorter than the ordinary dimensions,
it was supposed that the body had been buried
after being decapitated. In a tumulus about a quarter
of a mile distant were found two urns, one of which was
broken by the labourers, and the other is in the possession
of Mr. Carmichael, of Eastend. About fifty yards
to the north of the village, are traces of the foundations
of the ancient seat of the Symingtons j the moat is stiU
nearly entire.