Newark

   NEWARK, lately a quoad sacra parish, in the parish of Port-Glasgow, Lower ward of the county of Renfrew; containing 2449 inhabitants. This place is united to Port-Glasgow, and the two are termed the burgh of Port-Glasgow and Newark, the latter forming the eastern portion of the town. It is connected with Port-Glasgow in all municipal affairs, but was till recently separated from it, as far as ecclesiastical matters were concerned, by an act of the General Assembly. The extent of the quoad sacra parish was about one square mile, partly rural; but with the exception of about forty persons, the whole population of the district, chiefly composed of ship and other carpenters, coopers, smiths, joiners, weavers, rope-makers, and other labouring classes, reside in the town portion. The bay of Newark is now converted into a spacious wet-dock, in which vessels of the largest burthen can lie at any state of the tide: at its eastern extremity stands the old decayed castle of Newark, on a point of land. The parish, formed in 1838, was in the presbytery of Greenock and synod of Glasgow and Ayr: the stipend of the minister was £100, arising from feu-duties and assessments. The church was built by subscription in 1774, and is a plain building, affording accommodation for about 1600 persons; patrons, the proprietors and seat-holders. There are several schools.

   See Port-Glasgow.