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MINNIGAFF, Kirkcudbrightshire - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

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The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer (1868)]

"MINNIGAFF, a parish in the W. division of the county of Kirkcudbright, Scotland. It comprises the villages of Creebridge, Millcroft, Mines, and Blackcraig, and extends about 17 miles S.E., with a breadth varying from 8 to 12 miles. It is bounded by the counties of Wigtown and Ayr and the parishes of Carsphairn, Kells, Girthon, and Kirkmabreck. Within its boundaries are numerous lochs: as Dee, Enoch, Trool, and Moan. It is also watered by the rivers Filnour, Cree, Polkil, and Minnick. The surface is rugged, and there are several hills of great altitude: as Cairnsmuir, rising 2,400 feet above sea-level, the Garlies and Glencaird hills, Larg Fell, &c. The land is a good deal improved, especially towards the margin of the Cree. A large portion of the parish is in pasture, and is covered by large flocks of sheep and numerous herds of black cattle. Greywadke and clay slate are the chief rocks, but granite abounds in boulders. Lead was formerly worked, but of late years the mines have become exhausted. The village of Minnigaff is situated in a valley at the confluence of the rivers Polkil and Cree, here crossed by a bridge. It contains a small woollen manufactory, tan-yard, and two corn-mills. It is of ancient date, and was formerly of some importance, but is now much decayed. This parish is in the presbytery of Wigtown and synod of Galloway, and in the patronage of the crown. The minister bas a stipend of £269. The parish church has a tower, and was erected in 1836. There is a chapel-of-ease at Bargrennan; also a parochial school. There are numerous tumuli among the hills, and within a mile of Newton-Stewart is "Heron-Kirouchtree," a mansion built on the side of a hill in the midst of well-wooded grounds, in which is a curious grotto formed out of an old stone quarry."

"CRAIGTOWN, a village in the parish of Minnigaff, in the county of Kirkcudbright, Scotland, 2 miles from Newton Stewart."

"CREEBRIDGE, a village in the parish of Minnigaff, in the county of Kirkcudbright, Scotland, opposite to Newton Stewart. It is situated near the river Cree."

"KITTERICK, a lofty mountain in the parish of Minnigaff, county Kirkcudbright, Scotland, near Palmure Water."

"MEYRICK, a mountain in the parish of Minnigaff, county Kirkcudbright, Scotland. It rises about 2,600 feet above sea-level."

"MILLCROFT, a village in the parish of Minnigaff, county Kirkcudbright, Scotland. It adjoins Creebridge."

"MINES, a village in the parish of Minnigaff, county Kirkcudbright, Scotland, 3 miles from Newtown-Stewart."

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)
Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]