TONGLAND, a parish, in the stewartry of Kirkcudbright,
2 miles (N. N. E.) from Kirkcudbright;
containing 826 inhabitants, of whom 31 are in the village
or hamlet of Tongland. This parish, the name of
which is of very doubtful origin, is bounded on the east
by the river Dee, separating it from the parish of Kelton;
and on the west by the river Tarff, dividing it from the
parish of Twynholm. From the confluence of these
rivers, at its southern extremity, the parish extends
nearly eight miles towards the north, gradually increasing
from less than half a mile to about three miles
in breadth, and comprising an area of about 6138 acres.
Of this extent, 1346 acres are arable, 2792 meadow and
pasture, a few acres woodland and plantations, and the
remainder moor and waste. The surface is divided in
the southern and central portions by a narrow and uneven
ridge, which increases by degrees in height from
the junction of the two rivers; in the northern portion
it expands into broken moorlands, interspersed with
irregular tracts of partially cultivated land, and with
rugged valleys whose acclivities are partly clothed with
wood. The Tarff has its source in Loch Whinyion, in
the adjoining parish of Twynholm, and, after winding
through the western district of this parish in a beautifully
limpid stream, runs into the Dee at Compston
Castle. It abounds with yellow trout, and herling, and
occasionally with salmon. In its course it forms several
romantic cascades, the principal of which is the Linn of
Lairdmannoch, where its water falls from a height of
nearly sixty feet into a dark and deep pool. The scenery
of the Dee is remarkably picturesque, along the whole
of the four miles for which it forms the boundary of the
parish; its banks are planted with oak, birch, ash, elm,
alder, and hazel, and in many places it forces its way
wilh great impetuosity between rugged and precipitous
rocks rising to the height of seventy or eighty feet.
The SOIL varies greatly in different parts, but is
mostly fertile, and in some places exuberantly rich; the
crops are oats, barley, potatoes, and turnips, which last
are cultivated to a great extent, and in every variety.
Agriculture is improved: the farms are usually of moderate
extent, averaging from 300 to 500 acres; the principal
manure is lime, and the rotation system of husbandry
is generally practised. The farm-buildings are commodiously
arranged. The cattle are of the Galloway breed,
except on some of the dairy-lands for which the Ayrshire
breed is preferred; the sheep on the arable farms are
the Leicestershire, and on the moorlands mostly the
Cheviot and the black-faced. In this parish the substrata
are chiefly porphyry and clay-slate; the bed of the
Dee is entirely slate. An attempt was made some time
since in search of coal, but without the least success.
Lime, coal, and bone-dust for manure, are supplied from
the landing-place at Tongland bridge. The plantations
consist of oak, ash, lime, larch, and Scotch, spruce, and
silver firs; and around the church are some fine plane
and beech trees, of more than 100 years' growth. The
annual value of real property in the parish is £6283.
The principal mansions are, Argrennan, the seat of
Robert Ker, Esq., a handsome modern house, beautifully
situated; and Barcaple, Valleyfield, and Dunjop, which
are also modern residences. There is no village of any
importance; neither is any trade or manufacture carried
on, the population being wholly agricultural. Communication
is afforded by the turnpike-road from Carlisle
to Portpatrick, which passes through the centre of the
parish, and by other roads in excellent repair. There are*
three bridges across the Tarff, and two across the Dee.
The latter river, which is navigable for vessels of forty
tons to Tongland bridge, affords means of conveyance
for supplies of coal and lime from Cumberland, and of
bone-dust from Ireland and from Liverpool, and also
facility for the export of grain, potatoes, and other agricultural
produce; for which there is a commodious wharf.
Tongland bridge is a handsome structure of one arch,
110 feet in span, erected under the superintendence of
Mr. Telford, engineer, at a cost of £7700.
For ECCLESIASTICAL purposcs this place is within the
limits of the presbytery of Kirkcudbright and synod of
Galloway. The minister's stipend is £158. 17. 7-, of
which about one-tenth is paid from the exchequer; with
a manse, and a glebe valued at £40 per annum: patron,
the Crown. The church, situated on the Dee, at the
southern extremity of the parish, was erected in 1813;
it is in the early English style of architecture, with a
square embattled tower, and contains 420 sittings.
Tongland parochial school is attended by about ninety
children; the master has a salary of £34. 4. 4., with a
house and garden, in addition to the fees. There is a
school for females, the mistress of which receives a
salary of £10, raised by subscription; and a Sunday
school is taught by the same person. Of the abbey of
Tongland, founded in the twelfth century by Fergus,
Lord of Galloway, for Praemonstratensian canons, the
only remains are a small low arch forming part of the
northern wall of the old church: in digging in the
vicinity for a garden, on the farm of Kirkconnel, part of
an ancient cemetery was explored, in which was found a
gold ring, without either name or date. There are some
remains of a Druidical circle, of eleven upright stones,
with one in the centre; the tops are very little above the
surface of the moor on which they are situated. At a
short distance to the west is a large cairn.