56-514: Middlebie is a hamlet and parish in the historic county of Dumfriesshire in Dumfries and Galloway , south-west Scotland . It is approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Ecclefechan , and 6 miles (9.7 km) north-east of Annan , on the banks of the Middlebie Burn. Middlebie Parish consists of the ancient parishes of Middlebie, Pennersax (Pennersaughs) and Carruthers, united in 1609. Middlebie
112-414: A leader of the council . The leader may also act as the convener, chairing council meetings, or the council may choose to appoint a different councillor to be convener. Prior to 2007 the council sometimes chose to appoint a leader, and sometimes did not. The leaders since 2007 have been: Following the 2022 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to July 2024, the composition of
168-484: A converted pair of late 18th century houses. A large extension was built in 1952 to the rear of the building facing Daar Road. Kirkcudbrightshire was abolished as an administrative county in 1975 under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 . A two-tier system of regions and districts was put in place instead, with the area becoming part of the Dumfries and Galloway region. Most of Kirkudbrightshire became part of
224-601: A general store and post office. In 1841, as well as 73 farmers, 314 people were employed as agricultural labourers and 60 more as servants. Notable people from Middlebie include Matron Jane Bell who was sent as an orphan to Australia and William Brown (1888–1975), professor of plant pathology and head of the botany department at Imperial College of Science and Technology. 55°04′N 3°14′W / 55.07°N 03.23°W / 55.07; -03.23 Dumfries and Galloway Dumfries and Galloway ( Scots : Dumfries an Gallowa ; Scottish Gaelic : Dùn Phrìs
280-471: A longer line via Kilmarnock and Ayr . The area is served by buses which connect the main population centres. Express bus services link the main towns with Glasgow , Ayr , Edinburgh and Carlisle . Local bus services also operate across the region. Dumfries and Galloway is home to two ports which have services to Northern Ireland, both are in the West of the region. Stena Line and P&O Irish Sea both have
336-468: A port in the village of Cairnryan . The region also has no commercial airports; the nearest are Glasgow Prestwick Airport and Carlisle Lake District Airport . The region does host a number of private airfields. The town of Lockerbie was the scene of the Pan Am Flight 103 terrorist attack on 21 December 1988. The main roads to and from the region are: As with the whole of Scotland, Police Scotland
392-610: A ridge parallel to Annandale but to the west of it which makes for a much easier ascent. From Moffat the A708 heads north east along the valley of Moffat Water (Moffatdale) on its way to Selkirk . Moffatdale separates the Moffat hills (to the north) from the Ettrick hills to the south. There are three National scenic areas within this region. Transport in the region is operated by bus companies Houston's , Stagecoach Western , McCall's coaches, and
448-503: A short period. The treaty of Norham (24 March 1550) established a truce between the nations for ten years; and in 1552, the Wardens of the Marches consenting, the debatable land ceased to be matter for debate, the parish of Canonbie being annexed to Dumfriesshire, that of Kirkandrews to Cumberland . McCulloch and Gordon families were of Cardoness Castle, Anwoth Parish and Rev. Rutherford
504-524: A small mass forms the Cairnsmore of Carsphairn . Much granite was quarried from Kirkmabreck, near Creetown for dock construction from 1830 on. Glacial deposits occupy much of the low ground; the ice, having travelled in a southerly or south-easterly direction, has left abundant striae on the higher ground to indicate its course. Radiation of the ice streams took place from the heights of Merrick, Kells, etc.; local moraines are found near Carsphairn and in
560-776: A stronghold for several rare and protected species of amphibian, such as the Natterjack toad and the Great crested newt . There are also RSPB Nature Reserves at the Mull of Galloway , Wood of Cree ( Galloway Forest Park ), Ken Dee Marshes (near Loch Ken ) and Mereshead (near Dalbeattie on the Solway Firth ) There are five 7Stanes mountain biking centres in Dumfries and Galloway at Dalbeattie , Mabie , Ae, Glentrool and Kirroughtree . The Sustrans Route 7 long distance cycle route also runs through
616-453: A unitary local authority. For lieutenancy purposes , the area is divided into three lieutenancy areas called Dumfries, Wigtown, and the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, broadly corresponding to the three historic counties. The term Dumfries and Galloway has been used since at least the 19th century – by 1911 the three counties had a united sheriffdom under that name. Dumfries and Galloway covers
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#1732852539677672-536: A variety of other small operators. Train operators in the region are, ScotRail , TransPennine Express and Avanti West Coast . The region has seven working railway stations. All are on the Glasgow South Western Line , except Lockerbie which is on the West Coast Main Line . The mainline from Dumfries railway station via Newton Stewart to Stranraer Harbour railway station , was closed under
728-648: Is Gall-Ghaidhealaibh ) is one of the 32 unitary council areas of Scotland , located in the western part of the Southern Uplands . It is bordered by East Ayrshire , South Ayrshire , and South Lanarkshire to the north; Scottish Borders to the north-east; the English county of Cumbria, the Solway Firth , and the Irish Sea to the south, and the North Channel to the west. The administrative centre and largest settlement
784-464: Is bounded on the north by Ayrshire , on the west by Wigtownshire, on the south by the Irish Sea and Solway Firth , and on the east by Dumfriesshire . The county town is Kirkcudbright. The country west of the Nith was originally peopled by a tribe of Celts called Novantae , who long retained their independence. After Gnaeus Julius Agricola 's invasion in 79 AD, the country nominally formed part of
840-458: Is the police force for the region and Scotland as a whole since it was formed from the merger of Scotland's previous regional police forces. Its predecessor, Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary (dissolved 2014) was the smallest police force in the United Kingdom. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (formerly Dumfries and Galloway Fire and Rescue Service ) provides firefighting services across
896-567: Is the town of Dumfries . The second largest town is Stranraer , located 76 miles (122 km) to the west of Dumfries on the North Channel coast. Dumfries and Galloway corresponds to the historic shires of Dumfriesshire , Kirkcudbrightshire , and Wigtownshire , the last two of which are collectively known as Galloway . The three counties were combined in 1975 to form a single region , with four districts within it. The districts were abolished in 1996, since when Dumfries and Galloway has been
952-655: Is well known for its arts and cultural activities as well as its natural environment. The major festivals include the region-wide Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival, and Spring Fling Open Studios . Other festivals include Big Burns Supper in Dumfries and the Wigtown Book Festival in Wigtown – Scotland's national book town. In terms of television, the area is cover by BBC Scotland broadcasting from Glasgow and ITV Border which broadcast from Gateshead . Radio stations are provided by BBC Radio Scotland which broadcast
1008-741: The Beeching cuts . The line previously connected London Euston and the West Coast Main Line with the ferries to Larne Harbour railway station and the Port of Belfast . The Port Road line to Stranraer was the last to go in June 1965, leaving only the original G&SWR main line open to serve the Stranraer. The Beeching cuts ended the Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway and Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Railway has resulted in adverse mileage to connect Stranraer with
1064-626: The Kingdom of Northumbria . A hoard that has been attributed to either a Northumbrian metal-worker, or a Viking campaigner, was deposited near Talnotrie c.875-900. During the next two hundred years the area was subject to incursions by Danes, Saxons and Scandinavians. After Malcolm Canmore defeated and killed Macbeth in 1057, he married the dead king's relative, Ingibiorg, a Pictish princess, (the view that there were Picts in Galloway in historical times cannot be wholly rejected) an event which marked
1120-449: The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 , which established a two-tier structure of local government across Scotland comprising upper-tier regions and lower-tier districts. A region called Dumfries and Galloway was created covering the area of the three counties, which were abolished as administrative areas. The region contained four districts: Further local government reform in 1996 under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 saw
1176-671: The Roman province of Britannia , but the evidence is against there having been a prolonged effective Roman occupation. There was a Roman temporary marching camp at Shawhead, in Kirkpatrick Irongray. After the retreat of the Romans, the fate of the Novantae is unknown. By the 6th century, Galloway was part of the Brythonic kingdom of Strathclyde . During the ninth century, the region was part of
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#17328525396771232-676: The Stewartry district. The two parishes of Kirkmabreck and Minnigaff in the west of the county went instead to the Wigtown district, whilst the five parishes of Kirkbean , Kirkpatrick Irongray, New Abbey , Terregles , and Troqueer in the east of the county went to the Nithsdale district. Further local government reform in 1996 saw the Stewartry, Wigtown and Nithsdale districts abolished and their functions passed to Dumfries and Galloway Council, which continues to operate area committees based on
1288-507: The 13th century. In 1369, the part of Galloway east of the River Cree was placed under the control of a steward based in Kirkcudbright and so that area became known as the "Stewartry of Kirkcudbright". The rest of Galloway remained under the authority of a sheriff based in Wigtown , and so became known as Wigtownshire . Kirkcudbrightshire was occasionally referred to as East Galloway. It
1344-506: The Deagh and Minnoch valleys. Glacial drumlins of boulder clay lie in the vales of the Dee, Cree and Urr. The climate and soil suit grass and green crops rather than grain. The annual rainfall averages 1,160 millimetres (45.7 in). The mean temperature for the year is 9 °C (48 °F); for January 4 °C (39 °F)and 15 °C (59 °F) for July. Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway
1400-554: The Douglases went down the Maxwells rose, and the debatable land on the south-east of Dumfriesshire was for generations the scene of strife and raid, not only between the two nations but also among the leading families, of whom the Maxwells, Johnstones and Armstrongs were always conspicuous. After the Battle of Solway Moss (1542) the shires of Kirkcudbright and Dumfries fell under English rule for
1456-509: The Shire of Wigtown. This led to the local custom of referring to Kirkcudbrightshire as "The Stewartry" and Wigtownshire as "The Shire" , which continued into the 20th century. In 1455 Threave Castle , the most important fortress in Galloway, which Archibald the Grim had built on the Dee immediately to the west of the modern town of Castle Douglas , was reduced and converted into a royal keep. As
1512-620: The Solway viaduct to Cumbria. It was built to transport iron ore to the Lanarkshire steelworks. In 1841 the population of the parish was 2,154 and about sixty of these people were handloom weavers . There were inns and shops and the Lime Works Blacketridge. Tradesmen listed in 1841 include joiners, shoemakers, tailors, cloggers, masons, millers, carters, grooms, gardeners, dressmakers, straw-hat makers, etc. Today, only Eaglesfield still has
1568-456: The Stewartry of Kirkcudbright is one of the historic counties of Scotland , covering an area in the south-west of the country. Until 1975, Kirkcudbrightshire was an administrative county used for local government . Since 1975, the area has formed part of Dumfries and Galloway for local government purposes. Kirkcudbrightshire continues to be used as a registration county for land registration. A lower-tier district called Stewartry covered
1624-462: The Stewartry of Kirkcudbright lieutenancy, and the Wigtown district corresponding to the Wigtown lieutenancy. The council headquarters is at the Council Offices at 113 English Street in Dumfries, which had been built in 1914 as the headquarters for the old Dumfriesshire County Council, previously being called "County Buildings". The first election to the Dumfries and Galloway Regional Council
1680-587: The Urr, rising in Loch Urr on the Dumfriesshire border, falls into the sea a few miles south of Dalbeattie 27 miles (43 kilometres) from its source. Silurian and Ordovician rocks are the most important in this county; they are thrown into oft-repeated folds with their axes lying in a north-east–south-west direction. The Ordovician rocks are graptolitic black shales and grits of Llandeilo and Caradoc age. They occupy all
1736-735: The W. side of the Nith at Dumfries. Volcanic necks occur in the Permian and basalt dikes penetrate the Silurian at Borgue, Kirkandrews, etc. Most of the highest ground is formed by granite plutons which have been intruded into the Ordovician and Silurian rocks; the Criffel pluton lies about Dalbeattie and Bengairn, another mass extends east and west between the Cairnsmore of Fleet and Loch Ken , another lies north-west and south-east between Loch Doon and Loch Dee and
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1792-494: The area that is now Dumfries and Galloway was administered as three separate counties: Dumfriesshire , Kirkcudbrightshire , and Wigtownshire . The counties of Scotland originated as sheriffdoms, which were established from the twelfth century, consisting of a group of parishes over which a sheriff had jurisdiction. An elected county council was established for each county in 1890 under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 . The three county councils were abolished in 1975 under
1848-438: The area's four districts abolished, with the Dumfries and Galloway Council taking over the functions they had previously performed. The council continues to use the areas of the four abolished districts as committee areas . The four former districts are also used to define the area's three lieutenancy areas , with Nithsdale and Annandale and Eskdale together forming the Dumfries lieutenancy, the Stewartry district corresponding to
1904-456: The beginning of the decay of Norse influence. The Galloway chiefs became lieges of the Scottish king, whilst retaining some independence as the sub-kingdom or semi-autonomous Lordship of Galloway . Following the death of Lord Alan of Galloway in 1234 the area was brought fully under the control of the Scottish crown. In 1308 the district was cleared of the English and brought under allegiance to
1960-462: The coast between the granite and the younger rocks. Carboniferous rocks appear in small faulted tracts, unconformable on the Silurian, on the shores of the Solway Firth. They are best developed about Kirkbean, where they include a basal red breccia followed by conglomerates, grits and cement stones of Calciferous Sandstone age. Brick-red sandstones of Permian age just come within the county on
2016-470: The council was: Three of the independent councillors and the Liberal Democrat sit together as the 'Independent Group'. Another three independent councillors form the 'Democratic Alliance' group, and the other independent does not belong to a group. The next election is due in 2027. Since 2007 elections have been held every five years under the single transferable vote system of election. This system
2072-625: The following year, on 28 August 1862, with the Stranraer Harbour branch, which opened on 1 October 1862; although building work continued on the line for another five years. The Kirkcudbright Railway was a railway branch line linking Kirkcudbright to the Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway at Castle Douglas . It opened in 1864, and closed in 1965. The Beeching cuts cut off the Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway and Portpatrick Railway in 1965 resulting in an adverse mileage increase via
2128-474: The inhabitants of the shire. In the 1760s a military road was constructed from Bridge of Sark, near Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway to Portpatrick by Major William Caulfeild . Elected county councils were established in Scotland in 1890 under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 . Kirkcudbrightshire County Council established its headquarters at County Buildings, 121–123 High Street, Kirkcudbright , being
2184-482: The king, when the lordship of Galloway was given to Edward Bruce . In 1369 Archibald the Grim , Earl of Douglas , was given the part of Galloway east of the River Cree , where he appointed a steward to administer the area, which became known as the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright. The following year, he acquired the rest of Galloway west of the Cree, which continued to be administered by the king's sheriff, and so became known as
2240-399: The local opt-out from its studios in Dumfries and the commercial radio station, Greatest Hits Radio Dumfries & Galloway also broadcast local news bulletins to the area. The area is served by these local newspapers: Largest settlements by population: 33,470 10,110 8,760 5,610 4,190 4,160 4,030 4,000 3,350 3,110 Main settlements in bold text. Prior to 1975,
2296-506: The longer rivers are the Cree, which rises in Loch Moan and reaches the sea near Creetown after a course of about 30 miles (50 kilometres); the Dee or Black Water of Dee (so named from the peat by which it is coloured), which rises in Loch Dee which after a course mainly S.E. and finally S., enters the sea at St Mary's Isle below Kirkcudbright , its length being nearly 36 miles (58 kilometres);
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2352-418: The majority of the historic county from 1975 to 1996. The area of Stewartry district is still used as a lieutenancy area . Dumfries and Galloway Council also has a Stewartry area committee . Ultimately meaning "shire of the church of Saint Cuthbert ", Kirkcudbrightshire forms the eastern part of the medieval lordship of Galloway , which retained a degree of autonomy until it was fully absorbed by Scotland in
2408-490: The majority of the western area of the Southern Uplands , it also hosts Scotland's most Southerly point, at the Mull of Galloway in the west of the region. The Dumfries and Galloway Council region is composed of counties and their sub-areas. From east to west: The region has a number of south running water systems which break through the Southern Uplands creating the main road, and rail, arteries north–south through
2464-669: The northern part of the county north-west of a line which runs some 3 m. north of New Galloway and just south of the Rinns of Kells. South-east of this line graptolitic Silurian shales of Llandovery age prevail; they are found around Dalry, Creetown, New Galloway, Castle Douglas and Kirkcudbright. Overlying the Llandovery beds on the south coast are strips of Wenlock rocks; they extend from Bridgehouse Bay to Auchinleck and are well exposed in Kirkcudbright Bay, and they can be traced farther round
2520-515: The parish, with Kirtlebridge on its southern boundary. Eaglesfield and Hottsbridge by Waterbeck still have primary schools. The school at Middlebie closed in 1972, nearly a hundred years after it opened. The Eaglesfield building is now just over a hundred years old. The former school in Waterbeck village, built about 1900, is now the public hall. Eaglesfield's public hall was built in 1892–3. Middlebie's old hall (a wooden ex-army building purchased in 1928)
2576-552: The pre-1996 districts, subject to some boundary changes where ward boundaries no longer follow the pre-1996 district boundaries. The former Stewartry district is used as a lieutenancy area under the name the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright. Kirkcudbrightshire has a shoreline on the Solway Firth , between the rivers Nith and Cree . Inland, the area has many hills, with its highest point being Merrick 843 metres (2,766 ft). There are many "burns" and "waters", but their length seldom exceeds 7 or 8 miles (11 or 13 kilometres). Among
2632-735: The region and breaking the hills up into a number of ranges. The A701 branches off the M74 at Beattock , goes through the town of Moffat , climbs to Annanhead above the Devil's Beef Tub (at the source of the River Annan) before passing the source of the River Tweed and carrying on to Edinburgh . Until fairly recent times the ancient route to Edinburgh travelled right up Annandale to the Beef Tub before climbing steeply to Annanhead. The present road ascends northward on
2688-614: The region. The Coastguard , Lifeboats , Moffat mountain rescue and Galloway Mountain Rescue also offer emergency services across Dumfries and Galloway. Nith Inshore Rescue is based at Glencaple . This independent lifeboat provides water rescue cover for the River Nith, surrounding rivers and inland water. Nith Inshore Rescue is a declared facility for HM Coastguard, the control centre and overseeing authority responsible for call outs. NHS Dumfries and Galloway provides healthcare services across
2744-475: The region. The two main hospitals are the Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary in Dumfries and Galloway Community Hospital in Stranraer. Dumfries & Galloway Council provides nursery, primary and secondary education across the region. For a list of nursery schools and primary schools, see List of state schools in Scotland/Council Areas A-D (excluding cities) . The region is known as
2800-714: The region. There is excellent hill walking in the Moffat Hills , Lowther Hills the Carsphairn and Scaur Hills and Galloway Hills . The Southern Upland Way coast to coast walk passes through Dumfries and Galloway and the 53-mile long Annandale Way travels from the Solway Firth into the Moffat hills near the Devil's Beef Tub . There is also fresh water sailing on Castle Loch at Lochmaben and at various places on Loch Ken Loch Ken also offers waterskiing and wakeboarding. The Solway Firth coastline offers fishing, caravaning and camping, walking and sailing. Dumfries and Galloway
2856-581: Was demolished and a new one built in 2001. The West Coast Main Line railway runs through the parish from London to Glasgow. Previously the Caledonian Railway , the line formerly had a station at Kirtlebridge, where the writer Thomas Carlyle would alight before walking up to his parents farm at Scotsbrig above Middlebie. From Kirtlebridge the Solway Junction Railway ran down to Annan and across by
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#17328525396772912-417: Was held in 1974, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new system came into force on 16 May 1975. A shadow authority was again elected in 1995 ahead of the reforms which came into force on 1 April 1996. Political control of the council since 1975 has been as follows: Regional council Unitary authority Since 2007 the council has been required to designate
2968-494: Was incorporated on 21 July 1856; the act was obtained by the Glasgow and South Western Railway . It opened on 7 November 1859 and was substantially closed, under the Beeching cuts , on 14 June 1965. The Portpatrick Railway was authorised on 10 August 1857. By 12 March 1861, the line connected Stranraer to Castle Douglas , where it joined the newly constructed Castle Douglas and Dumfries railway . The branch to Portpatrick opened
3024-511: Was introduced by the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 to achieve a reasonably proportionately representative outcome. Election results since 1995 have been as follows: The council area is divided into 12 wards that elect 43 councilors: Kirkcudbrightshire Kirkcudbrightshire ( / k ɜːr ˈ k uː b r i ʃ ər / kur- KOO -bree-shər ) or the County of Kirkcudbright or
3080-410: Was minister of Anwoth . After the union (1707) things mended slowly but surely, curious evidence of growing commercial prosperity being the enormous extent to which smuggling was carried on. No coast could serve the "free traders" better than the shores of Kirkcudbright, and the contraband trade flourished until the 19th century. The Jacobite risings of 1715 and 1745 elicited small sympathy from
3136-574: Was the seat of a Presbytery from some time after the Reformation until 1743. It was then divided to form the Presbyteries of Langholm and Annan. Middlebie parish is now in the Presbytery of Annandale & Eskdale. It is bounded by the parishes of Tundergarth , Langholm, Canonbie , Half Morton, Kirkpatrick Fleming , Annan and Hoddam. The villages of Eaglesfield , Middlebie and Waterbeck lie within
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