Thornhill

   1) THORNHILL, a post-village, in the parish of Morton, county of Dumfries, 14 miles (N. N. W.) from Dumfries, and 61 (S. W. by S.) from Edinburgh; containing 1416 inhabitants. This is a considerable place, finely situated on an eminence in the south-western part of the parish, and on the east side of the river Nith, from which it is distant about half a mile. It is regularly built, consisting chiefly of two wide streets crossing each other at right angles; and in the centre is a neat stone pillar, or cross, erected by the last Duke of Queensberry, and surmounted by a pegasus and his grace's arms. The village is now the sole property of the Duke of Buccleuch, by whom it has been very greatly improved since the year 1827; and its present appearance is peculiarly clean and pleasing. It contains numerous excellent shops, two good inns, a tannery, wherein about thirty hands are employed, a brewery, and other works, chiefly of a domestic kind; and has a post-office, a branch bank, a subscription library, a literary society, a Freemasons' hall, built in 1834, and a spacious bowling-green and quoiting-ground. The agreeable aspect of the village is much heightened by the erection of the new parish church in its vicinity, a handsome edifice in the Norman style, standing on an elevated spot, and built in 1840; there are also places of worship for members of the Free Church, and for a dissenting congregation. Two high roads cross each other here; one leading from Dumfries to Glasgow, Sanquhar, and Edinburgh, by Leadhills; the other going westward into Galloway, by Minnyhive. Several fairs are annually held, in which woollen and linen cloth and yarn are sold.

   2) THORNHILL, a village, in the parish of Kincardine, forming part of the late quoad sacra parish of Norrieston, county of Perth, 10 miles (W. N. W.) from Stirling; containing 531 inhabitants. This is a considerable village, immediately adjoining that of Norrieston, and is pleasantly situated in an insulated portion of the parish, on the high road from Stirling to Monteith, upon both sides of which the houses, mostly detached, are built, occupying somewhat elevated ground. It contains a tannery employing several hands, and some of the inhabitants are weavers and handicraftsmen; but the greater number are agricultural labourers. The church of Norrieston is situated here; and there are two schools, of which the teachers have free dwellings, school-houses, and gardens.

   See Norriestown.