Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 3.djvu/252

PORT MARY. 240 PORTO BELLO. ago, by the chieftain MacRoebuck of the De Bir- minghams. PORT MARY, a creek in the par. of Rerwick, co. Kirkcudbright, Scotland, 6 miles S.E. of Kirkcudbright. It was here that Mary Queen of Scots embarked in her flight to England. PORT MARY, or PORT ST. MARY, a vil. in the par. of Rushen, Isle of Man, 4 miles S.W. of Castle- town. It is situated on Balvash Bay, near Spanish Head, and has a lighthouse, put up in 1812. The inha- bitants are principaDy employed in the fisheries, and in the limestone quarries. PORTMOAK, a par. in the co. of Kinross, Scotland, 4 miles E. of Kinross, and 28 from Edinburgh. It is situated on the Fife border, under "West Lomond and Benartie hills, and takes its name from St. Moak, in honour of whom a priory for Culdees was founded on the banks of Loch Leven in the 9th century by Ungus, a Pictish king. The par. includes the vils. of Kiuness- wood and Scotland - wells. The surface comprises mountains, rich meadows, and thriving plantations, lying around Loch Leven. The arable land lies chiefly about the eastern extremity of the lake, and on the banks of the river Leven, which issues from it, while the remainder of the parish is hilly pasture. The pre- vailing rocks are limestone and sandstone. The soil is light, early, and very productive, and the climate healthy. Limestone is extensively quarried at Bishop's Hill, and there are freestone and muirstone quarries in different parts of the parish. The river Leven is crossed by a bridge, but the roads are not well kept. A portion of Loch Leven, which is about 12 miles in circum- ference, is in this parish, and abounds with fish and aquatic fowl. On St. Serf's Island in this lake, which comprises about 48 acres of good pasture, aro the ruins of the ancient priory of Loch Leven, dedicated to St. Ser- vanus, and was annexed in the 12th century to the priory of St. Andrew's by David I. The castle of Loch Leveu, anciently a royal residence, stands on another island in the lake, and was formerly a place of great strength. In 1335 it sustained a siege by Sir John do Stirling, and the English partisans of Edward Baliol ; and in the IGth century was the place of confinement of Mary Queen of Scots, after she had separated from Bothwell, and was made captive by the confederate lords at the battle of Pinkie. It is now the property of the ancient family of Douglas, Earls of Morton, to whom it gives the title of Baron Douglas in England. After his victory at Inver-Kcithing, Oliver Cromwell halted here on his way to Perth, and lodged in the house of Kirkness, the Beat of the Earls of Morton. This par. is in the presb. of Kirkcaldy and synod of Fife. The minister has a stipend of 250. The living was once held by Ebenezer Erskine. The church was built in 1059. There are also a Free church, and several other places of worship. To the E. of the village are the ruins of the old castle of Arnott. Andrew Winton, prior of Loch Leven, in the reign of James I. of Scotland, and who wrote " The Loch Leven Chronicle," in Scotch metre, John Douglas, the first Protestant archbishop of St. Andrew's, and M. Bruce, were natives of this parish. PORT-MONTEITH. See MOXTEITH, POUT OF, co. Perth, Scotland. PORTMORE, a small lough in the co. of Antrim, Ireland, 5 miles S.W. of Crumlin. On its banks are the ruins of Portmore Castle, built by Lord Conway in the reign of Charles I. PORTMORE, a creek in the bar. of Inishowen, co. Dontegal, Ireland, near Malin Head. PORTMUCK, a harbour in Magee Island, bar. of Lower Belfast, co. Antrim, Ireland. PORTNABLAS AND PORTNACROSS, two small harbours on the coast of co. Donegal, Ireland. PORTNACURRACH, or PORTA-MUNICH, a creek on the coast of the island of lona, in the par. of Kil- finichen, co. Argyle, Scotland. It is asserted by tradi- tion to have been the landing-place of St. Columb, and is marked by a mound or barrow, 50 feet long. PORTNAFRANKAGH, a creek on the coast of the co. of Mayo, Ireland, 5 miles W. by N. of Belmullet. PORTNAHAVEN, a quoad sacra par. in the par. of Kilchoman, Isle of Islay, co. Argyle, Scotland. It is situated on the W. side of the island, near Lochs Indaal and Gruinast, under Rliinns Point, and has a light- house. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in the cod and herring fisheries, and in the breeding of black cattle. PORTNAHINCH, a bar. in Queen's County, prov. of Leinster, Ireland. It is bounded by King's County and co. Kildare, and by the bars, of Stradbally and East Maryborough. This bar. contains the pars, of Ardea, Coolbanacher, and Lea ; also the town of Portar- lington, and part of that of Mountmellick. PORTNAHINCH, a vil. in the bar. of Portnahinch, Queen's County, Ireland, 4 miles S.W. of Portarlington. It is situated on the river Barrow, and gives name to the barony. PORTNASCULLY, a par. in the bar. of Iverk, co. Kilkenny, prov. of Leinster, Ireland. Waterford is its post town. It is 2 miles long by 1 mile broad. The surface is flat, and consists of a good soil. The living is a vie. in the dioc. of Ossory, val. with Pollrone, 216. The church is in ruins. There is a Roman Catholic chapel, and Sunday and day schools. In the vicinity are the ruins of Corluddy Castle. PORTNASHANGAN, a par. in the bar. of Corkaree, co. Westmeath, Ireland, 4 miles N.W. of Mullingar. The village, in which petty sessions are held, is situated on Lough Hoyle. The land is chiefly arable. There are several stone-quarries. The living is a rect. annexed to that of Portlomau. The principal seats are Ballina- gall and Mountmurray. PORTNASON, a vil. in the par. of Innismacsaint, in the bar. of Tirhugh, co. Donegal, prov. of Ulster, Ire- land. It is a poor place. PORTNASPAGNA, a bay on the N. coast of the co. of Antrim, Ireland, near the Giant's Causeway. It takes its name from several of the vessels belonging to the Spanish Armada having been driven ashore here. PORTNATRUM, a bay on the K. coast of the co. of Antrim, Ireland, between Benbane and Bengore Heads. PORTNATU AND PORTNEAN, two small bays on the coast of the co. of Antrim, Ireland, near Port- rush. PORTNESSOCK, a creek in the par. of Kirkmaiden, co. Wigtown, Scotland, 5 miles N.W. of the Mull of Galloway. It is situated on the North Channel, and is a sub-port to Stranraer. PORTNOCKIE, a vil. in the par. of Rathven, co. Banff, Scotland, 2 miles N.W. of Cullen. It is situated on the Moray Frith. PORTNOFFER, a creek on the N. shore of the co. of Antrim, Ireland, between the Giant's Causeway and Portnaspagna. PORTNOO, or PORTHNOE, a small harbour in the bar. of Boylagh, co. Donegal, Ireland. It has a pier, chiefly used by fishing-boats. PORTOBELLO, a vil. in the par. of St. Peter, in the bar. of Uppercross, co. Dublin, prov. of Leinster, Ire- land, 1 mile S.W. of the castle in Dublin, of which it is a suburb. It is situated on the banks of the Grand canal, and contains the barracks. PORTO-BELLO, a hmlt. in the chplry. of Bilston, par. and borough of Wolverhampton, co. Stafford, 1 mile of Bilston, and 16 miles S. of Stafford. It is a station on the Birmingham and Wolverhampton section of the Lon- don and North- Western railway. It is situated on a branch of the river Tamo, near the Grand Junction canal. PORTO BELLO, a hmlt. in the par. of Watlington, hund. of Pirton, co. Oxford, 2 miles E. of Watlington, and 16 S.E. of Oxford. PORTO BELLO, a hmlt. in the par. of Shipston- upon-Stour, upper div. of the hund. of Oswaldslow, co. Worcester, 2 miles S.W. of Shipston-upon-Stour, and 17 S.W. of Warwick. It is situated in a fertile country in the vale of the river Stour.