Stranraer

Stranraer, a royal burgh and seaport of western Wigtownshire, beautifully situated at the head of Loch Ryan, 73 miles WSW. of Dumfries by rail. The buildings are a 16th-century castle in which the bloody Claverhouse lived as sheriff, the new town-hall and court-house (1872-73), and several handsome churches. There are no manufactures, but considerable trade in farm-produce. Loch Ryan affords fair fishing, but not now in oysters. There is a small but constant shipping-trade in bottoms belonging to the town, and a commodious mail-steamer plies daily between Stranraer and Larne in Ireland, the 'short-sea passage' merely taking about 24 hours, only half being in open channel. Pop. of royal burgh (1871) 5977; (1881) 6415; (1891) 6193. Till 1885 Stranraer returned one member with Wigtown (q.v.).