WESTERKIRK, a parish, in the county of Dumfries,
6 miles (N. W.) from Langholm; containing 650
inhabitants. By some writers this place is supposed to
have derived its name from its situation to the west of
an ancient fortress on the river Megget, near the influx
of that stream into the Esk; and by others, from its
relative position to other churches in Eskdale, of which
district a portion was once included within the limits of
the parish. The manor, during the twelfth and thirteenth
centuries, formed part of the possessions of the
Soulis family, and on the forfeiture of John de Soulis
was granted with the advowson of the church, by Robert
I., to the abbey of Melrose, to which it continued to be
annexed till the Dissolution. In the latter part of the
fourteenth century a chapel was founded here by Adam
de Glendonyng, who endowed it for the support of a
chaplain to sing masses for the repose of the souls of
James, Earl of Doiiglas, and his brother-in-law. Sir
James Simon, of Glendonyng, who had fallen in the
battle of Otterburn. A portion of the parish subsequently
became the property of the Johnstone family;
and Sir James Johnstone, Bart., in 1760, discovered on
the lands of Glendinning a rich mine of antimony, which
in 1793 was brought into operation, producing on an
average about 100 tons of regulus of antimony annually.
A village called Jamestown was built on the Megget, by
Sir James Johnstone, for the residence of the miners: it
contained a smelting-house and all the requisite apparatus
for working the mine, with a schoolroom for the
children of the workmen; and roads were formed for
connecting the vdlage with the chief lines of conveyance
through the county. On an average the produce of the
mines made an annual return of £8400. Towards the
close of the century, from what cause has not been recorded,
the operations were discontinued: the village,
being abandoned, fell rapidly into decay; and the only
remains of it are three or four cottages occupied by
families employed on the neighbouring farm.
The PARISH is bounded on the south for nearly two
miles by the river Black Esk, which separates it from
the parish of Eskdalemuir; and is ten miles in length
and from five to six miles in breadth, comprising about
35,000 acres. Of this area, barely '2000 acres are arable,
300 are woodland and plantations, and the remainder
hill-pasture, moorland, and waste. Its surface is mountainous
and hilly, with the exception of the narrow valley
of the Esk; but though some of the hills are heathy
and barren, the far greater number are covered with
verdure affording good pasturage for cattle and sheep.
The Black Esk, after forming for part of its course a
boundary of the parish, flows into the White Esk at a
place called the King's Pool; and this confluence forms
the river Esk, which winds through the parish for seven
miles towards the south-east, and eventually falls into
the Solway Firth. The rivers Megget and Stennis have
their sources in a ridge of mountains separating the
counties of Dumfries and Roxburgh. Of these streams,
the former takes a southern course; the latter flows
towards the south-west; and after a progress of six
miles the two unite at a place called Crooks, and then
flow together into the Esk, which receives also the
waters of numerous rivulets that descend from the hills
and water the parish in various directions. The Esk
formerly abounded with salmon, which are still found
in it in moderate numbers, especially after floods; and
salmon, sea-trout, and the common burn-trout are taken
in some of the other streams, which are much frequented
by the angler. The moors afford game of every kind.
Grouse, partridges, and pheasants are very plentiful.
Hares and blackcock, snipes, curlew, lapwing, and plover
frequent the hills; and woodcocks, and the various species
of common birds, are found in the woods on the
Westerhall estate.
On the low grounds along the banks of the Esk, the
soil is chiefly a light loam of great fertility; upon the
rising grounds, a deep strong loam intermixed with
stones; and the summits of many of the hills present
extensive tracts of moss. The principal crops are potatoes,
barley, and oats, of which, however, not more is
produced than is sufficient for the consumption of the
inhabitants. There is nothing peculiar in the agriculture
of this parish, which is, indeed, chiefly of a pastoral
character, a very small proportion of the land being in
cultivation: the system of husbandry has been greatly
improved under the encouragement afforded by the
landed proprietors, and all the more recent discoveries
are in general operation. The cattle are of the pure Galloway
breed, which is found to thrive well upon all the
pastures, and is occasionally crosseil with the Teviot or
the Ayrshire: many of them attain a large growth, and
find a ready sale at high prices. More than 18,000
sheep are kept; they are all of the Cheviot breed, and
much attention is paid to them: wool and sheep form
the chief dependence of the farmers. There are considerable
remains of natural wood along the banks of
the Esk; and on the demesne of Westerhall are some
fine oak, ash, elm, plane, horse-chesnut, and other foresttrees,
which have attained to a luxuriant growth. The
plantations are extensive, well managed, and in a thriving
state. In general the rocks are grcywacke and
greywacke-slate, and secondary trap is found on the
summits of the higher hills. Shell-marl occurs on the
lands of Megdale, belonging to the Duke of Buccleuch,
who is the principal proprietor of the parish; but the
pit being on the dechvity of a hill, is difficult of access,
and consequently but little of the marl is used for
manure. The only mineral ever discovered in the
parish was the antimony previously noticed. The
annual value of real property in Westerkirk is £4409.
Westerhall, the seat of the late Sir Frederick George
Johnstone, Bart., is an ancient mansion on the eastern
bank of tlie river Esk, beautifully seated in a demesne
embellished with well-grown timber and thriving modern
plantations. Burnfoot, Hopesrigg, and Georgefield, are
also handsome houses pleasantly situated. Facility of
communication with Langholm, the nearest markettown,
is afforded by good roads kept in excellent repair,
W'hich traverse the parish in various directions, and
many of which were constructed by Sir James Johnstone,
to facilitate access to the mine formerly in operation.
Of the l)ridges across the numerous streams, oue
may be mentioned over the Esk, a substantial structure
of three arches, and another, a handsome and picturesque
chain-bridge, opposite Burnfoot, erected by the late Sir
Pulteney Malcolm.
For ECCLESIASTICAL purposes this place is within the
limits of the presbytery of Langholm and synod of
Dumfries. The minister's stipend averages about £200,
with a manse, and a glebe valued at £'20 per annum;
patron, the Duke of Buccleuch. Westerkirk church,
erected in 17*8, is a plain structure, situated nearly in
the centre of the parish; it is in good repair, and contains
700 sittings. In the churchyard, which has a fiue
avenue of trees, is the mausoleum of the Johnstone
family, a handsome structure of stone, of circular form,
crowned with a graceful dome supported on fluted
columns of the Doric order, and embellished with a
richly-sculptured frieze. The parochial school affords
a useful course of instruction to about seventy children;
the master has a salary of £34. 4. 4., with a
house and garden, and the fees average £20. A parochial
library was established in 1795, and now forms
a large collection of volumes, many of which were presented
by the late Thomas Telford, Esq., civil engineer, a
native of this parish, who also bequeathed £1000 to the
minister and Kirk Session, to appropriate the interest to
the purcliase of books for its increase. A friendly society
was established in 1789, which has a fund of £300
for the relief of the sick. On a rising ground between
the rivers Esk and Megget are several upright stones,
supposed to have formed part of a Druidical circle.
There are also, on the hills in the north-west of the
parish, some vestiges of camps apparently connected
with the Roman station in Eskdalemuir. On the farm
of Euzieholm are remains of a triangular fort of great
antiquity; and at Glendinning and Westerhall are ruins
of castles.