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Dailly
DAILLY, a parish in the centre of the
district of Carrick, Ayrshire. It is bounded on the north by
Kirkoswald; on the east by Kirkmichael and Straiton; on the south by
Barr and Girvan; and on the west by Girvan. It is of an irregular
oblong figure, stretching from north-east to south-west; and measures,
in extreme length, nearly 7 miles, and in breadth from 4 to 6. Its
area probably contains upwards of 17,000 acres. The parish is
intersected, in its extreme length, and along its central division, by
Girvan water; which, all the way, is a beautiful pastoral stream, and
here receives, on both banks, several rills of local origin. The
surface, at first, rising gently and variedly from the banks of the
river, and, afterwards soaring into hills of considerable height, is a
basin abounding in the beauties of landscape. The lowlands are
fertile, well-cultivated, and richly wooded; and the uplands, though
naturally heathy and bleak, are partly reclaimed; and nearly all
afford good pasturage. The beds of the indigenous rills are, "for the
most part, deep, well-wooded, picturesque glens. The soil, in the
holms and meadows along the banks of the Girvan, is light but very
productive; on the south side, is light and dry, resting on a bed of
gravel; on the north side, is clayey and retentive; and, on the hills,
is thin, wet, and spungy, consisting in many places of moss, toal,
limestone, and freestone abound. The coal-bed is believed to be a wing
of the great coal-field which stretches from the vicinity of Edinburgh
into Ayrshire, and is here worked in 5 seams, of from 4 to 14 feet in
thickness. Limestone is worked at Blairhill, near the south-eastern
extremity of the Parish, and at Craighead, near the north-western
extremity. Argillaceous marl is found in most parts, and has been
successfully employed as manure. Numerous small chalybeate springs
welling up in different parts of the parish, seem to indicate the
existence of strata of ironstone. The climate, in the valley, is
generally dry and mild, but on the high grounds is moist and chilly;
and though everywhere subject to heavy showers during westerly winds,
is rarely loaded with fogs. The parish is divided among 7 landowners,
5 of whom have mansions within its limits. At Kilkerran and Penkill
are ruins of fortified castles. Near the lower extremity of a wild and
romantic glen once stood a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary, whence
the locality is still called Ladyglen. At a place called Machry-kill
are vestiges of a small church or chapel, probably dedicated to
St.Macarius. At the southern termination of the western heights is an
oval and doubly enclosed encampment, 100 yards by 65, commanding an
extensive and uncommonly brilliant view, and probably raised during
the wars of Robert Bruce. There is only one village, that of New
Dailly, situated on the Girvan, substantially and singularly built,
and, of late years, greatly improved. There are here a library, a
friendly society, and a savings bank. Across the Girvan are 4 bridges,
3 public and one private. Population of the parish, in 1801, 1,756; in
1831, 2,074. Houses 314. Assessed property, in 1815, £7,887. - Dailly
is in the presbytery of Ayr, and synod of Glasgow and Ayr. Patron, the
Crown. Stipend £348 7s. 9d.; glebe £15 10s. The old church which stood
at Old Dailly, about 3 miles from the present church and village, was
granted by Duncan, the first earl of Carrick, to the monks of Paisley;
but was afterwards transferred by Robert I to the monks of Crossraguel,
and remained with them till the Reformation. In 1653, an extensive
tract of the original parish of Dailly, lying on the south-east among
the upper branches of the Stinchar, was detached in order to form the
modern parish of Barr. Dailly, however, received, at the same time, a
small addition on the north-east from Kirkoswald. Though nowhere
touching the sea-coast, the parish includes also the romantic rock of
Ailsa, in the centre of the frith of Clyde. See AILSA CRAIG. The
present church was built in 1766, and cost £600. Sittings 650. There
are 4 schools, 3 of them nonparochial. Parish schoolmaster's salary
£30, with £30 other emoluments.
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