Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/509

This page needs to be proofread.
501

KIRKMICHAEL. 501 KIKE NEWTON. . m winds, and has from 4 to 9 fathoms water, with the Bahama bank at its mouth. A considerable business is done in mining, fishing, and the coasting trade. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Sodor and Man, yal. 175, in the patron, of the crown. The church, which is a very ancient structure, had formerly the privileges of a sanctuary. It contained an antique font and several Scandinavian crosses. In the churchyard are a Runic pillar and a venerable cross 6 feet high, carved with the image of the Virgin and the island arms. The old church of St. Peter is now in ruins. There is a district church at Ramsey, dedicated to St. Paul, erected in 1819. The minister's income is 100, in the patron, of the bishop. There are several schools, including Cowell's grammar school. A fair ia held on the 1 1th August. KIRKMICHAEL, a par. in co. Banff, Scotland, 9 miles S.S.W. of Inveraven. It contains the vil. of Tomantoul. The size of the par. is 19 miles by 4. Its upper part is occupied by the Cairngorm Grampians, and is uninhabited. Its surface is generally moory, and it contains about 142,400 imperial acres, of which only 2,400 have been reclaimed. The rivers are the Aven and Altnacli the former having here a fall of 18 feet. The prevailing rocks are granite, slate, ironstone, sand- stone, and limestone. Cairngorms are found on Cairn- gorm Hill, which is partly in this parish and partly in the parish of Abernethy. This hill rises to an altitude of 4,095 feet above the level of the sea. The par. is in the presb. of Abemethy and synod of Moray. The minister's stipend is 226. The parish church ia a modern building. There is a government church at Tomantoul, also a Free church and a Roman Catholic chapel at Kirkmichael. In this parish are five schools, two of which are endowed. Near Loch Aven, on Cairn- gorm, is the Clachdhian Stone, 6 feet by 12 ; and on Iloal-a-ghaneimh Hill is the Clach Oban, a sort of chair, which pregnant women sit in that their pains may be easier. KIRKMICHAEL, a par. in the district of Carrick, CO. Ayr, Scotland. It comprises the vils. of Crossbill and Kirkmichael, the latter being 10 miles S. of Ayr, and 3% E. of Maybole. Its length is 12 miles, by 5| at the broadest part. The surface is hilly towards the S. and E., and in some parts even mountainous and rocky, but the whole ia more or less cultivated. There are several limestone quarries, and one of freestone. The Doon traces its boundary for several miles, and the Dyrock and Girvan flow through the parish. It is in the presb. of Ayr and synod of Glasgow and Ayr, in the patron, of the crown. The minister's stipend is A'277. The parish church is a commodious structure erected in 1787, on the site of one dedicated to St. Michael, from which the parish derives its name. In the churchyard is the tomb of Gilbert McAdam, who was shot in 1685 for his adherence to the Covenanters. There is a quoad lacra parish church, and a Free Church preaching station at Crossbill. There are two schools. The principal eats are Cloncaird Castle, Cassillis Castle, Kirkmichael House, and Blairquhan. A largo number of the inha- bitants are employed in cotton-weaving and other work in connection with the Glasgow factories. There are also extensive mills and works of various descriptions in this district. Fairs are held on the first Thursdays in April and August, the second Thursday in September, and the first Thursday in November. KIRKMICHAEL, a par. in co. Dumfries, Scotland, 8 miles N. of Dumfries, its post town. It comprises the ancient par. of Kirkmichael, and a part of the ancient par. of Garvald. The length of the par. is 9 milea, and its breadth is 4J. About one half of the whole area ia hilly sheep-walk, one-third arable, and the rest planta- tion. There are two mountain ranges, rising in some places to 1,000 and 1,500 feet above sea-level. The parish is watered by the river Ae, the Kinnel Water, and the Garvald and Glenkiln burns. It is in the presb. of Lochmabon and synod of Dumfries. The minister's stipend ia 240. Tho church was erected in 1815. Many remains of ancient fortifications and Roman roads are visible in this district. There is a small fort on an (>L. II. eminence in the Knockwood, known sis Wallace's House, near which are stones marking the spot where that hero killed six Englishmen. Kirkmichael House is the chief seat in the neighbourhood. More than half the parish belongs to the Duke of Buccleuch. KIRKMICHAEL, a par. in co. Perth, Scotland. It comprises the vils. of Glensheo and Kirkmichael, the latter being 10 miles N.E. of Dunkeld. Its size is about 17 miles in length and 7 in breadth. Its surface being mountainous, is better adapted for pasture than tillage, and by far the greater portion has never been cultivated. It is watered by the rivers Airdle and Black- water, the former having a handsome bridge near the village of Kirkmichael. The parish is intersected by the military road from Cupar Angus to Fort George, which passes through Glenshee, and the road from Blair Athol to Blair Gowrie, which passes up Strath- ardle. It is in the presb. of Dunkeld, and synod of Perth and Stirling. The minister's stipend is 158. The parish church was built in 1791. There is also a Free church, and at Glenshee is a chapel-of-ease. There are four schools, two of which are parochial. In the vici- nity are several cairns and Druidical remains. On some of the hills in this district tradition fixes the scene of the Fingaliau exploits. Aahintully and Woodhill are the principal seats. KIRKMICHAEL, a par. in cos. Cromarly and Ross, Scotland, but popularly known as Resolis, which see. KIRK MICHAEL, a par. in Michael sheading, Isle of Man, 10 miles N.E. of Peel. The village, which is considerable, is situated in a sheltered spot under Sliev- ne-fraughane Hill. It is the seat of a deemster and seneschal's court, and the residence of the Bishop of Sodor and Man, whose palace, called the Bishop's Court, is an interesting structure, with a tower built in the 13th century, the other portions, including the chapel, being of later date. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits, and in the corn trade. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Sodor and Man, val. 165, in the patron, of the crown. The church is an ancient structure, containing monuments to several of the former bishops, including Wilson and Hydersley, the translators of the Bible into Manx; also a very ancient Runic pillar. There is a village school. Fairs for the sale of cattle are held on the 10th and 20th October. KIRKMUIRHILL, a vil. in the par. of Lesma- hagow, co. Lanark, Scotland, 3 miles from Lanark. KIRKNEWTON AND EAST CALDER, a par. in the W. side of co. Edinburgh, Scotland. It contains the vils. of Kirknewton, Wilkinston, and East Calder, the former being 2J miles E. of Mid Calder, a railway station on the Edinburgh and Glasgow railway. The par. ia 6 miles in length by 4 in breadth, and is embraced by the river Almond and Water of Leith. The surface is hilly, but neither rocky nor mountainous. The lowlands are enclosed and highly cultivated, and the hills afford excellent sheep pasturage. It affords, from one spot, a view of thirteen counties. Limestone, whin- stone, and sandstone are quarried. The par. is in tho presb. of Edinburgh, and synod of Lothian and Tweed- dale. Tho minister's stipend is 300. The parish church was built in 1750. The United Presbyterians and the Free Church have each a place of worship. Bellfield, Calderhall, Hillhouse, Meadowbank, and Or- miston Hill are the chief mansions. In the churchyard lie the remains of the celebrated William Cullen, M.D., who died in 1790, and was the proprietor of Ormiston Hill. KIRK NEWTON, a par. in tho ward of West Glen- dale, co. Northumberland, 5 miles W. of Wooler. This par., which ia very extensive, comprising near 38,000 acres, includes tho tnshpa. of Akeld, Coldsmouth-with- Thompaon's Walla, Coupland, Crockhouse, Gray's Forest, Heathpool, Howtell, Kilham, Kirk Newton, Lanton, Milfield, West Newton, Paston, Selbys Forest, and Geavering. It is situated on the river Glen, in the N. div. of the co. ; and ia bounded on the N. by the par. of Ford, on the S. by Coquetdale ward, on the E. 3 s