THORNHILL, a post-village, in the parish of Morton,
county of Dumfries, 14 miles (N. N. W.) from
Dumfries, and 61 (S. W. by S.) from Edinburgh; containing
1416 inhabitants. This is a considerable place,
finely situated on an eminence in the south-western
part of the parish, and on the east side of the river
Nith, from which it is distant about half a mile. It is
regularly built, consisting chiefly of two wide streets
crossing each other at right angles; and in the centre
is a neat stone pillar, or cross, erected by the last Duke
of Queensberry, and surmounted by a pegasus and his
grace's arms. The village is now the sole property of
the Duke of Buccleuch, by whom it has been very
greatly improved since the year 18'27; and its present
appearance is peculiarly clean and pleasing. It contains
numerous excellent shops, two good inns, a tannery
where about thirty hands are employed, a brewery,
and other works, chiefly of a domestic kind; and has
a post-office, a branch bank, a subscription library, a
literary society, a freemasons' hall built in 1834, and
a spacious bowling-green and quoiting-ground. The
agreeable aspect of the village is much heightened by
the erection in its vicinity of the new parish church, a
handsome edifice in the Norman style, standing on an
elevated spot. There are also places of worship for
members of the Free Church and for another dissenting
congregation. Two high roads afford means of communication
here; one leading from Dumfries through the
village to Sanquhar and to Leadhills; the other going
westward from the village into Galloway, by Minnyhive.
Great facility of intercourse is also afforded by the
Glasgow, Dumfries, and Carlisle railway. Several fairs
are annually held, in which woollen and linen cloth and
yarn are sold.