History of Dumfries

The administrative center for the region, Dumfries (pop. 33,000) lies on the River Nith which flows into the Solway Firth a little further south. The town can look back over an eventful history. It obtained its charter as a "Royal Burgh" from Robert II in 1395. The old town hall in the middle of the market place was built in 1708 and the bridge, ... More

now reserved for pedestrians, dates from 1208.In 1186, Dumfries was officially given the rights of a royal burgh. Throughout the first 50 years of its foundation the town was at the forefront of the Scottish Borders until the consolidation of Galloway in 1234. A royal castle, which no longer exists, was built in the 13th century on the site of the present Castledykes Park, and before becoming King of Scots, Robert the Bruce slew the Red Comyn at Greyfriars Kirk in the town in 1306. His uncertainty about the fatality of his stabbing caused one of his followers, Roger de Kirkpatrick, to utter the famous, "I mak siccar" ("I make sure") and finish the Comyn off.

Tourist Attractions in Dumfries

Burns' House
The house on Burns Street (formerly Mill Vennel), where the celebrated poet spent the last four years of his life and where his wife Jean Armour lived until her death in 1834, is now a museum displaying Burns memorabilia.

Caerlaverock Castle
The B735 leads past the imposing ruins of Caerlaverock Castle (8mi/13km to the southwest) which was once the home of the Maxwell family. The castle dates from 1270 when the English established a bridgehead here in order to mount an invasion of the rest of Scotland. The triangular fortress plus drawbridge and water-filled moat was altered in the 15th century and a double-tower gate house was added. The Nithsdale Apartments and ornate Renaissance facade on the east side of the castle originated in the 17th century when, after the Union of Crowns in 1603, the castle became more a residence and less a fortification. The first Earl of Nithsdale improved the appearance of his home by adding heraldic symbols and pointed or round window and door pediments. A few years later, however, the interior was abandoned after an attack by the Covenanters. It is thought that "Ellangowan" in Scott's "Guy Mannering" is modeled on this moated castle.

Drumlanrig Castle
Drumlanrig Castle is situated about 9mi/14.4km north of Moniave. It was the seat of the Douglas family, later to become the Dukes of Buccleuch and Queensberry. An avenue of beech trees leads up to this picture-book castle of red sandstone crowned with numerous small towers. James Smith and his father-in-law Robert Mylne were commissioned by the first Duke of Queensberry to design the castle and work started in 1679. When the duke was presented with the bill for the castle of his dreams, he is said to have been so taken aback that he only stayed there one more night. This four-winged Renaissance palace with its decorative facade possesses a unique collection of French furniture from the 17th and 18th centuries. Highlights include fine chests of drawers, cupboards and inlaid tables by Charles Cressent, Pierre II Migeon, Jacques Denizot and Adrien Delorme. Carvings by Grinling Gibbons are highlights of the Lounge and Dining Room and the collection of paintings with portraits by Kneller, van Dyck, Ramsay, Reynolds and Gainsborough deserve attention but the three masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Hans Holbein the Younger and Rembrandt are the castle's most prized possessions. Some 17th century Brussels tapestries, Chelsea, Derby and Meissen porcelain are also of interest. "Bonnie Prince Charlie" is said to have stayed the night here on December 22, 1745 and a portrait and a gold casket belonging to the unfortunate Pretender are on display.

Ecclefechan - Thomas Carlyle's Birthplace
The Victorian writer Thomas Carlyle was born in Ecclefechan and the house where he grew up maintains a collection of manuscripts and other memorabilia.

Glenkiln Sculpture Park
Just 3mi/4.8km northwest of Maxwelton House near Moniave a special experience awaits art lovers. Just a mile or two south of the village on a lonely moor near Glenkiln estate, about halfway up the hillside, stand Henry Moore's life-size bronze sculptures entitled "King and Queen". The owner Sir William Keswick has gathered together an appreciable outdoor collection, including works by Rodin and Renoir.

Grey Mares Tail
To the northeast of Moffat just before the boundary with the Borders region, the A708 passes a 200ft/61m high waterfall that cascades from the southern end of Loch Skene.

Lincluden Abbey
The ruins of Lincluden Abbey lie about 1.5mi/2.4km north of Dumfries. This Benedictine monastery founded in the 12th C was elevated to collegiate church by Archibald "the Grim". All that remains are the chancel, sacristy and parts of the small 15th C sandstone chapel. Princess Margaret (d. 1430), daughter of Robert III, is buried in the chancel where the Late Gothic window tracery still survives.

Moffat
In the middle of the 17th century the discovery of sulfur springs transformed the quiet village of Moffat ((pop. 2,000; 20mi/32km north of Dumfries) into a popular spa town. Of more importance for the local economy, however, was sheep farming. A bronze ram on the Colvin fountain in High Street symbolizes the prosperity that wool and textiles .

have brought to the region. The local woolen mill can offer a wide selection of high-quality woolen products from both the Southern Uplands and northern Scotland.

Ruthwell Cross
Ruthwell and its early Christian cross are well worth a visit before returning to Dumfries. A niche in the purpose-built church houses one of the two most famous Christian crosses of Anglo-Saxon times. Carved out of sandstone probably in the eighth century, it reaches a height of 17ft/5.20m. It is possible to make out some Latin inscriptions as well as several biblical figures and leaf patterns.

Sanquhar
The post office in Sanquhar High Street has been in business without a break since 1738    and is said to be the oldest in Britain.

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