Dalry, a village and a parish of N Kirkcudbrightshire. The village stands, 200 feet above sea-level, on the left bank of the Ken, near the southern extremity of the parish, 3½ miles NNW of New Galloway, and 9¾ NW by N of Parton station, with which it communicates twice a day by omnibus. Called variously Dalry, Claughan of Dalry, and St John's Town of Dalry, it offers a picturesque assemblage of houses, irregularly scattered over a considerable space of ground, with gardens, hedges, and rows of trees; at it are a post and telegraph office, a branch of the Union Bank, a good hotel, and a public hall (1858). Pop. (1861) 639, (1871) 637, (1881) 585. The parish was anciently one with Kells, Balmaclellan, and Carsphairn, comprising the entire district of Glenkens, and had several chapels, all subordinate to a mother church. It is bounded NW by New Cumnock, in Ayrshire; N by Sanquhar and NE by Penpont, in Dumfriesshire; E by Tynron and Glencairn, also in Dumfriesshire; SE by Balmaclellan; SW by Kells; and W by Kells and Carsphairn. Its utmost length, from N by E to S by W, is 151/8 miles; its breadth, from E to W, varies between 1¼ and 7¾ miles; and its area is 34,729½ acres, of which 194 are water. In the extreme N, close to the meeting-point of Kirkcudbright, Ayr, and Dumfries shires, the Water of Ken rises at 1870 feet above sea-level, and thence winds 21½ miles south-south -westward and south - south - eastward, mainly along the Carspbairn and Kells borders; it is joined by Carroch Burn, Black Water, Earlston Burn, and other streams from the interior, and by Garpel Burn, which runs south-westward along the boundary with Balmaclellan. That with Glencairn is traced for 2¼ miles by Castlefern Burn; and in the interior are these four lakes, with utmost length and breadth and altitude,- Lochinvar (41/3 x 2½ furl.; 770 feet), Knocksting (1¾ x 1½ furl.; 980 feet), Regland (11/3 x 1/3 furl.; 900 feet), and Knockman (1¼ x ½ furl.; 875 feet). At the southern extremity, where the Ken quits the parish, the surface sinks to 165 feet above sea-level, thence rising northward and north-eastward to 559 feet near Kirkland, 825 near Gordonston, 700 at Ardoch Hill, 1062 at Corse Hill, 1127 at Stroan Hill, 1262 at Wether Hill, 950 at Mackilston Hill, 1127 at Glenshimeroch Hill, 1154 at Lochlee Hill, 1188 at Fingland Hill, 1300 near Cornharrow, 1376 at Manwhill, 1900 at *Benbrack, 1750 at Coranbac Hill, 1900 at *Ewe Hill, 2063 at *Alwhat, and 2100 at Lorg Hill, where asterisks mark those summits that culminate on the borders of the parish. Granite and trap are the prevailing rocks; but blue slate occurs, and has been quarried. The southern district consists in great measure of rich arable land and fertile holms, interspersed with wood; the northern is all an assemblage of swelling hills and heathy mountains. A pavement, found at Chapelyards, on Bogue farm, in 1868, is thought to mark the site of a religions house; and besides several moats, cairns, and hill-forts, there are remains of a stronghold on an islet in Lochinvar, a trench-the 'Whighole'-near the top of a hill on Altrye farm, the Gordons' old tower of Earlston, and, at the village, a large stone, known as St John's Chair. David Landsborough, D.D. (1782-1854), poet and naturalist, was a native; so, too, was John Gordon Barbour (1775-1843), author of several works, and a friend of Hogg and ` Christopher North.' He is buried in the churchyard, where also rest three martyred Covenanters. The old church was associated with a Tam-o'-Shanter-like legend, and in it Grierson of Lag stabled his troopers' horses; whilst at this village originated the great Covenanters' rising, that ended at Rullion Green. Three proprietors hold each an annual value of £500 and upwards, 3 of between £100 and £500,3 of from £50 to £100, and 13 of from £20 to £50. Dalry is in the presbytery of Kirkcudbright and synod of Galloway; the living is worth £337. The present parish church was built in 1832 at a cost of £1400, and contains 700 sittings. At the village is also a U.P. church (1826; 200 sittings); and Glenkens Free church stands at Bogue, 1½ mile to the E. Three public schools-Corseglass, Dalry, and Stroanfreggan-with respective accommodation for 37,125, and 32 children, had (1880) an average attendance of 12,105, and 10, and grants of £27,2s., £78,11s. 8d., and £25,9s. Valuation (1860) £7792, (1882) £13,275,13s. 4d. Pop. (1801) 832, (1831) 1246, (1861) 1149, (1871) 1074, (1881) 988.—Ord. Sur., sh. 9,1863.
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