Vol 13 - Dumfriesshire & Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian ...

30 Antiquities of Buittle.
found in mosses ; they had been hidden, to prevent the excisemen
finding them.
Mr Tarbet said the site of the round tower was not at all
suitable for watch purposes.
Mr Sulley said Orchardton had no connection with the ordi-
nary round towers, such as are found in Ireland. It appeared to
be a mediseval residence, of the same period as the Scottish keeps,
but built round instead of square for some unknown reason.
Mr Barbour said there were traces of other buildings attached
to Orchardton Tower, and up to the present its purpose had not
been explained.
Mr J. A. Moodie referred to the fact that farms were commonly
" thirled " to the mill of the estate, to which they had to
pay multures.
Mr Barbour said there was no more curious instance of thirl-
age than existed in the town of Dumfries. There were two mills
in the town. One was said to be built by Devorgilla. The
'' race " was carried from the weir, which was then at Stakeford,
down the line of the present Brewery Street, and through the
abutment of the Old Bridge, and the mill itself was at the end of
the bridge. It passed into the hands of Lord Herries, and was
then bought by the town. The town also acquired the Mill Hole
Mill, as it was called, and which he believed was, like the other,
connected with the church. The possession of these two mills
secured to the town the thirlage of the whole district. Much
trouble arose, because they were not able to grind all the grain of
the district. They built a horse mill further up the river, on the site
now occupied by the Old Brewery, and in addition they leased
Stakeford to help to overtake the work. Then they built the
mills on the Maxwelltown side of the river (Smeaton, the cele-
brated engineer, being the architect, but the mills erected to his
plans were burned down and replaced by the present structure).
A question arose whether the town could thirl the district to a
sume to grind quheit, mashlock, or rye with hands milne, except he be
compelled be storm ; or be lack of mills quhilk sould grind the samen.
And in this case : gif a man grinds at hand milnes he shall gif the
threttein measure as imdter, and gif anie man contraveins this our pro-
hibition he sail tine his hand mylnes perpetuallie." This act was not
complied with strictly, as the quern was used long after that ; but no
doubt the majority of them would be laid aside at that time.