OS1/10/42/2

Continued entries/extra info

2
Parish of Penpont
County of Dumfries
[Continued]
Glenmanna Burn, Druidhill Burn and Mar Burn.- The Nith from the North forms the Eastern boundary of the lower division - The Scar rising on the heights in the North - Western district runs South - East through the parish for about 10 miles, when it forms for about 7 miles South-western and southern Parish Boundaries.- Chanlock Burn - having its source nearly on the Western Parish Boundary - runs East through the upper division fro about 7 miles to Scar Water. Glenmanna Burn - taking its source from the same neighbourhood as preceding - sources also a similar direction which after a course of about 5 miles falls into Scar Water.- The other two Druidhill and Mar Burns - respectively from Sanquhar and Durisdeer - trace and form for a considerable distance the Eastern Parish Boundary - the former falling into Scar Water, the other into River Nith at respective points where these last named Streams commence to form the S.Wn. [South Western] and En. [Eastern] Parish Boundaries. There are numerous other Streams in the inland districts which, with one or two exceptions, form tributaries of Scar Water. - The Turnpike Road from Dumfries enters the Parish at its Sn. [Southern] extremity from which,- after a run of ½ mile,- three roads diverge at the village of Penpont to Moniaive, to Sanquhar and to Thornhill, traversing respectively a distance of ½ mile, 4 miles and 2½ miles - making altogether about 7½ miles of Turnpike within this Parish. Sandstone is abundant but has not been quarried for several years past. Indications of Coal and Lead have been noticed in the district adjoining Sanquhar which however have never been satisfactorily investigated. With the exception of a small woollen or Carding Mill in the SWn. [South Western] vicinity of Penpont village, there is no other manufacturing- The entire district is rural.- There is only one village - that of Penpont at Sn. [Southern] extremity of Parish distant 15 miles from Dumfries. It is pleasantly situate on the Scar, its general appearance is neat and clean - the houses are for the most part one storey high and in good repair - In it are the Parish Church, one Parish school and Sub-post office.- The population is nearly 500.- There are four Churches all within this Parish - the Established , Reformed Presbyterian, United Presbyterian and Free Church - and two Parish schools. Population of the Parish1290.
A Roman Causeway is adverted to by several authorities as having passed up the side of Scar Water towards Tynron village - no traces of which can now be discovered.- A Roman Camp which Genl. [General] Roy in his antiquities mentions to be a square fort and supposes it of Roman origin was situated at the NEn. [North Eastern] extremity of the lower division of parish on the same site where existing remains of a stronghold are shown.- There exist no remains of such a fort and the vestiges as indicated on the grond are in every respect confirmatory that they belong to "a Castle which was garrisoned by the English in the early part of the wars of succession and was taken by surprise by Sir William Wallace" See Sir Robert Sibbald's book.- This stronghold was probably erected upon the site of a Camp which may have originated the supposition of the existing vestiges on the ground having formed a part of a Roman Fort. The name Tibbens Castle or Tiberie Castra - in honour of Tiberius Caesar is assigned by same as having originated with the Romans.- As the circumstances are conflicting - Tibbens Castle has been shown also as the site of a supposed Roman Camp.- An Obelisk is mentioned by Authorities but to which neither date nor origin is assigned.- Some people in the district have attached to it the character of a Runic Monument from the similarity of formation to the one at Ruthwell.- It is however wanting in the most essential point in being altogether sinless of inscription. It is a flattened pillar about 10 feet high, surmounted by a cross greatly dilapidated. Its two faces are sculptured, but the representations thereon are now so much defaced that it is impossible to say to what they relate.- Gordon in his Itinerarium while describing the Ruthwell Runic Monument which he thought was a Danish monument adverts to another of similar formation which he had examined but does not mention its situation. May this not be it? In the lower division of parish there is a large Tumulus called White Cairn being the only one of four stated by Statiatias to exist in this Parish which Examiners have been able to discover - unless that be another on the hill called Allan's Cairn where it is reported one Allan a Covenanter was slain.- A recently reclaimed marsh called Gallstack Well about 2 [and] 1/3 miles N.N.E [North North East] from penpont village is pointed oout as the Site of an ancient Druidical Temple (See Page 101) The name Gallstack evidently implies the Strangers' mounds - Which may be construed the stran[ge] place of interment - and the adjoining Knocktimpen may be considered a corruption of Knock or Cnoctiampill - the hill of the temple.- In Dunscore Parish a similar name occurred where an ancient church is said to have existed. At the Sn. [Southern] extremity of Parish there are remains of two separate intrenchments, which indicate by their formation and seemingly opposed Situations - a Roman and a British Post (Lauderdale Maitland of Eccles having caused some time ago, there to be dug up from the square entrenchments, he is of opinion that these structures formed foundations of a Castle!).- About 4½ miles West by North therefrom at Arkland there is a hillock which appears to have been strengthened by air, - believed in the locality to have formed a place of defence during a remote [war]. In close proximity thereto on the site of Arkland offices, the site of an ancient Tower is pointed out.- About 1¼ mile N.E. [North East] of preceding the site of an ancient Castle is shown, of which a lady in the immediate vicinity remembered there to have seen the walls and about 1½ mile N.N.W. [North North West] therefrom a Moat probably connected with this stronghold may be readily discerned.-
Novr. [November] 29/56