Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 3.djvu/831

WIGTONSHIRE. 819 WIGTONSHIRE. inhabiting 395 houses. Wigtou unitos with Whithorn, Stranraer, and New Galloway in returning one member to parliament. The constituency in 1856 was 109. It is governed by a provost, 2 bailies, a treasurer, and 15 common councillors. The harbour admits vessels of 300 tons. The principal trade is with the ports of the V. coast of England, in tho importation of coals and exportation of agricultural produce, and in sup- ply of the adjacent country. It has a custom-house establishment, a gas company, masonic lodge, and several benevolent and religious institutions. The castle, supposed to have been built about the close of the l'2th century, is now in ruins. This par. is the seat of a presb. in the synod of Galway. The minister's stipend is 290. Tho parish church was built in 1853. The old church, situated a little to the E. of the town, was originally dedicated to St. Machute, a British saint, and was given by Edward Bruce, lord of Galloway, to the canons of Whithorn ; it is now surrounded by the public cemetery. There are also a Free church and a United Presbyterian church. The principal schools are the Wigton Academy and Normal School, mentioned above, and the Wigton charity school, all partly sup- ported by the town council. WIGTONSHIRE, a maritime county of Scotland, occupying its south-western extremity. ' It is bounded on the E. by the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright and by Wigton Bay, on the S. and W. by the Irish Sou, and on the N. by the co. of Ayr. The extent of the shire from N. to S. is about 30 miles, and, including Luce Bay, its breadth is about the same, tho superficial area com- prising 288,960 acres, of which a little above one-third is under cultivation. In former times it formed the western district of the province of Galloway, and was inhabited by the British tribe of the Novantea, whose principal town was LeucopUibia, now Whithorn, and their principal port, Hetiyoniui, now Loch Ryan. On the departure of the Romans from Britain, the in- habitants of the S. are supposed to hare constructed tho ancient wall, or rampart, which, under the name of the Deil's Dyke, may be traced from Loch Ryan to Bowness in Cumberland, where it joined the Great Wall of Hadrian. There are but few other prehistoric and Roman remains, the most curious being the standing stones of Torrhousc, in the parish of VVigton. These etones are 19 in number one of unwrought granite and stand upright in a circle, with several others at a little distance to the S. and E., and in the neigh- bourhood two cairns. In the sixth century the Anglo- Saxons overran the district, and Oswig, the Northum- brian king, had a palace at Whithorn. During the 9th and 10th centuries, the country on the W. -was over- run by the Picts from Ireland and the Isle of Man, and hence tho name of Galloway, or " the country of the Gael," was given to the whole of the south-western corner of Scotland, which continued independent of the Scottish kings till the reign of Alexander II. In the wars of Bruce and Baliol, the chieftains of Galloway were attached to the party of the latter, whose family they sheltered after Edward Bruce had subdued the rest of Scotland. The family of Douglas subsequently be- came possessed of the lordship of Galloway, but in 1155 tho title became extinct, and a portion of the estates passed to the Maxwells of Nithsdale. It now gives the title of earl to the family of Stewart and Garlies. The Gaelic dress, manners, and language lingered here long after they had fallen into desuetude in the rest of the Lowlands. There were monasteries at Whithorn, Wigton, Soulseat, and Glenluce. No part of the county is above 13 miles from the sea, the coast line being deeply indented by several spacious bays. Wigton Bay, on tho E., diminishes from a width of 8 miles until it terminates in the river Cree. The Bay of Luce indents the land to the extent of 15 miles, and forms two promontories : at the southern extremity of the western projection is the Mull of Galloway, while the apex of the eastern is called Burrow Head ; these two peninsular headlands are also known by the Celtic name of the Rhinns or Rhyns of Galloway. On the VOL. III. N.W. another promontory is made by the intrusion of Loch Ryan, which here forms a safe and commodious harbour, extending into the country about 8 miles, and varying in breadth from 4 to 2 miles. This district is divided into Upper and Lower Galloway, the northern, or higher, and the southern, or lower parts of the shire. The surface, though hilly, is less elevated above the level of the sea than any other county of Scotland. Tho principal eminences are Mull Hill, Ifontlokoure, Buiiman, Cairnhill, Cairn of Dolt, and Gronnan Hill, which vary from 400 to 900 feet in height. The best lands lie near tho shores ; the inland districts, including the moors, which comprise above one-third of the whole county, being more elevated, and largely mixed with heath and moss. The prevailing rocks belong to the primary transition, and secondary schists, comprising graywacke, slate, argillaceous schist, and a little sand- stone in the northern part of the " Rhinns." There are little or no limestone and coal in the county, and though iron stone is abundant, the absence of coal renders it of comparatively little value. There are quarries of slate of different qualities, and lead mines were formerly wrought. The chief rivers are the Cree and Bladenoch, both partially navigable. The former rises in Ayrshire, and separates this county from Kirkcudbright before it. falls into Wigton Bay ; and the latter, after a circuitous course of 24 miles, falls into tho same bay. The other streams of tho county, including the river Luce, are comparatively insignificant, but abound in salmon and trout, and mostly descend to the Irish Sea. The fresh- water lochs are numerous but small, tho largest being Dowalton in the Machers, about 2 miles long by 1J mile broad. In early times this district, like most other sections of the country, was covered with wood, but was fast becoming bleak and barren, when the extensive plantations of the Earl of Stair were under- taken at the commencement of the present century. The salutary improvements in agriculture inaugurated in this part of Scotland by the Agricultural Society of Dumfries, have so reformed tho spirit and practice of husbandry in this shire, that rents have rapidly risen, draining is scientifically carried out, the most improved implements and artificial manures are in general use. The exports are corn, agricultural produce, black cattle, sheep, wool, and a choice breed of horses, distinguished by the appellation of " Galloways," which are said to be of Spanish, or rather Moorish, extraction. Tho coasting trade of this county is considerable, and is steadily increasing, as are likewise the fisheries connected with the numerous bays and lochs. The principal ports are Stranraer, Whithorn, and Wigtown, which are also royal and parliamentary bm'ghs ; and Portpatrick, a burgh of barony, which last was, until recently, the station of the mail steam-packets communicating 'with Ireland. There are, besides, a number of small sea- ports or natural harbours. The other towns, which are also burghs of barony, are, Newton-Stewart, Garlieston, and Glenluce, besides several thriving villages. Tho population of the county in 1851 was 43,389, and in 1861, 42,038, having nearly doubled since the commence- ment of the present century, when it was only 22,918. The county returns one member to parliament, and one member is returned by the Wigton district of burghs, consisting of Stranraer, Wigton, Whithorn, and New Galloway. Its constituency in 1856 was 1,359. The sheriff court of the county is he-Id at Wigton every Tuesday and Friday during session, the commissary court on every Tuesday during session, and the sheriff small- debts court also on every Tuesday during session; a sheriff small-debts court is likewise held at Stranraer ten times a year. Quarter sessions are held at Wigton on the first Tuesdays of March and May, and on tho last Tuesday of October, and at Glenluce on the first Tues- day of August. The bishopric of Galloway, or Whit- horn, was one of tho oldest in Scotland. At tho Reformation, there were 21 parishes, churches, and several chapels, but there are now only 17 parishes. Eight of the eastern parishes, along with Kirkmabreck and Minigaff, in the adjoining county of Kirkcudbright, 6 N