Drumelzier

DRUMMELZIER, a parish in Peebles-shire. It contains a village of its own name; but its post-office is at Rachan-Mill, a little beyond its north-west limit. It is bounded on the south-west by Lanarkshire, and on other sides by the parishes of Glenholm, Stobo, Manor, Lyne, and Tweedsmuir. Its length south-westward is 13¼ miles; and its breadth varies from ¾ of a mile to 5 miles. It stretches from the mountain-ridge or water-line, which divides Peebles-shire from Lanark, away north-eastward into the centre of the county. Kingle doors burn rises in the heights which divide the two counties, and intersects a limb of the parish over a distance of 4½ miles. There the Tweed, having entered the parish from the south, flows directly across, receiving the waters of this burn on its way; and it thence forms the north-western boundary-line over a distance of 9 miles. On the other hand, the eastern or south-eastern boundary-line is formed by a ridge of heights which separate the local waters of Drummelzier from those of Manor. The body of the parish is thus a slope or acclivity of hills looking down upon the Tweed, and terminating in the vale upon its banks. Its indigenous brooks, 7 in number, all rise toward the east, and run down westward or north-westward to pour their waters into the Tweed. But though a hilly district, and forming a part of the southern high-lands, the parish contains much arable land, and is finely variegated with plantations and cultivated fields. The vale along the river is in general narrow; yet, in some places, it expands into beautiful haughs; and, where the rivulets break down from the heights, it opens into fine cleughs or glens. This vale is the chief scene of culture, and the principal seat of the population. The soil in the haughs is rich alluvial loam; but elsewhere is, in general, sharp and very stony. Limestone and slate are found, but are not worked.