Laurieston

   1) LAURIESTON, a village, in the parish of Balmaghie, stewartry of Kirkcudbright, 6½ miles (W. N. W.) from Castle-Douglas; containing 275 inhabitants. This place takes its name from William Kennedy Laurie, Esq., proprietor of the lands on which it is built, near Lochinbren, a sheet of water abounding with trout. It appears to owe its origin to the resort of numerous invalids, attracted by the medicinal virtues of a powerful chalybeate spring, and for whose accommodation a commodious inn had been erected near the spot. The water, which is perfectly transparent, is strongly impregnated with sulphate of iron and carbonic acid, and has been found efficacious as a tonic, and in complaints of the stomach arising from obstruction and debility. In cases of ague, also, and in obstinate intermittents, it has proved a complete restorative, when bark and other medicines have been unavailing. The road from Kirkcudbright to New Galloway passes through the village. The members of the Free Church have a place of worship. The principal parochial school is situated here, and a dwelling-house has been recently erected for the master by the heritors.

   2) LAURIESTON, lately an ecclesiastical district, within the jurisdiction of the city of Glasgow, county of Lanark. This district was formed out of that part of the parish of Gorbals adjoining the suburb of Tradeston, and on the south side of the river Clyde. The ecclesiastical affairs are under the presbytery of Glasgow and synod of Glasgow and Ayr, and the patronage is vested in the Church Building Society of Glasgow: the church, which is of recent erection, is built upon a site purchased by the commissioners in Warwick-street.

   3) LAURIESTON, a village, in the parish of Falkirk, county of Stirling, 1½ mile (E.) from Falkirk; containing 1198 inhabitants. This place, originally called New Merchiston, from Francis, Lord Napier, Baron of Merchiston, on whose lands it was built in 1756, received the name of Laurencetoun, of which its present appellation is a contraction, from Sir Laurence Dundas, afterwards proprietor of the estate, and whose descendant, the Earl of Zetland, is the existing lord. The village is pleasantly situated on the road to Edinburgh, and consists of a handsome square, and several wellformed streets intersecting each other at right angles; the houses are well built, and of modern appearance, and from its elevated site the surrounding scenery is extensive. The inhabitants are chiefly employed in weaving for the manufacturers of Glasgow, and in the manufacture of nails, which is carried on to a considerable extent. There are numerous well-stored shops; and many persons are engaged in the various trades requisite for the accommodation of the adjacent district, and for the large traffic which the place derives from its position on a great public thoroughfare. A post-office under that of Falkirk has been established here, and there is every facility of communication with the neighbouring towns. In the village is a place of worship for members of the Reformed Presbytery; and there are several schools, of which one was erected by the late Lord Dundas.