The Parish of All Stewartry

 General Histories

Introduction to "Rambles in Galloway" By Malcolm McL Harper:
The introduction to Malcolm McLachlan Harper's book "Rambles in Galloway" published in 1876 serves as an ideal opening chapter to our section on the general history of the Stewartry. - View Page

On the Agriculture of the Stewartry and Wigtownshire By Thomas MacLellend:
This article was written in 1875 and published in the Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. - View Page

The Levellers By Unknown:
Some account of the rising of The Levellers in Galloway in the year 1723 - View Page

The Roads in Galloway, 1808. By Alexander Gordon:
In 1808 Sir Alexander Gordon, of Culvennan in Wigtownshire, gave evidence to a Parliamentary Committee giving details of his experience of road building in Galloway etc. - View Page

The Improvement of Roads in the Galloway - 1813 By Samuel Smith:
From the General View of the Agriculture of Galloway, by Samuel Smith, minister at Borgue, 1813, relates to the building of the original military road across Galloway, and subsequent improvements. - View Page

The Introduction of the Railway into Galloway By unknown:
This article was written in 1909 marking the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Dumfries - Dalbeattie - Castle Douglas Railway. - View Page

Description of Galloway, 1662 By John MacLellan:
Translation of an Article which, in addition to an Extract from Camden, descriptive of the Province, accompanies Pont's Maps of Galloway in Blaeu's Atlas. - View Page

A Glance at Galloway and its Agriculture - Past and Present By unknown:
This interesting article about past country life in Galloway is taken from the Journal of Agriculture July 1865 to April 1866. - View Page

The Stewartry or County of Kirkcudbright By Robert Heron:
Chapter on the Stewartry from Scotland Described: or, a Topographical Description of all the Counties of Scotland, by Robert Heron, published in Edinburgh in 1797. - View Page

The true story of Mons Meg By J Hewitt:
Extracted from "The Archaeological Journal" Volume 10, 1853. The paper discloses historical record disproving the tradition that 'Mons Meg' was forged at Carlingwark specially for the bombardment of Threave Castle - View Page

A Tour in England and Scotland in 1785 By William Thomson:
Whilst Thomson did not enter Galloway, he travelled from Carlisle to Dumfries, and then to Moffat. His description of the people living in the countryside, and in particular their accommodation and clothing is of interest. - View Page

A View of the British Empire, More Especially Scotland By John Knox:
Written around 1780 the author crosses the county from Dumfries, via Castle Douglas (Carlingwark), Kirkcudbright, Gatehouse and Creetown, to Newton Stewart. - View Page

A History of Galloway Cattle By William Youatt:
This extract is taken from a book entitled "Cattle: their breeds, management, and diseases" published in London, 1834. Contains much about farming life in the Stewartry at the beginning of the 19th Century. - View Page

A tour through the whole island of Great Britain 1801 By Rev. Clement Cruttwell:
The transcribed section of this book contains some very interesting observations of some historical sites in the Stewartry. - View Page

Woollen Manufactures of Dumfries, Maxwelltown, Lochfoot etc. By David Bremner:
Published in 1869 this extract from the book The Industries of Scotland, by David Bremner. gives a good description of the mills etc in the Dumfries area at that time. - View Page

The Diary of an Eighteenth Century Galloway Laird By S R Crockett:
William Cuninhame was a rich tobacco grower who retired to Scotland after making his fortune in Virginia, and bought, amongst other properties, the estate of Duchrie in Balmaghie. - View Page

Living Conditions of Irish Emigrants in Galloway,, 1836. By unknown:
Very few people who are descended from families living in Galloway in the 19th century do not have Irish in their blood. This item is the evidence of several Galloway witnesses as to the terrible conditions many had to endure. - View Page

Galloway Lairds in Ulster Plantations 1610 By Rev. George Hill:
Details of the first Galloway/Ulster plantation owners. - View Page

The Murder of Earl William Douglas of Threave By George Vere Irving:
In 1452, William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas, captured and murdered Sir Patrick Maclellan, the tutor of Bombie, and was in turn killed by Charles II at Stirling. - View Page

The Galloway Horse By Capt. Thomas Brown:
Description and anecdote for our local pony. Published in 1830. - View Page

Stewartry Roads about 1800 By Charles Taylor:
This article describes the rapidly improving condition of the Stewartry roads of the time. Newton Stewart bridge, Tongland bridge, and a section of the Newton Stewart road west of New Galloway had still to be completed. - View Page

The Galloway Volunteer Rifle Corps 1860 - 1908 By J.M. Grierson:
This brief history of the Galloway Rifles is from the 'Records of the Scottish Volunteer Force, 1859-1908' published in 1909. - View Page

Sketch of the Reformed Presbyterian Congregation of Castle Douglas By unknown:
This history of the church appeared in the The Reformed Presbyterian magazine. Jan. 1855 - July 1858, 1862-76. - View Page

Circuit Journeys, by the late Lord Cockburn. By Lord Cockburn:
When on the South Circuit of the High Court Lord Cockburn occasionally resided at Compstone, Twynholm. He kept a journal in which he recorded some of his forays in the area. - View Page

Tenant Farmers and the Law of Hypothic in 1865 By Royal Commission:
The evidence of William Sproat, Borgue, and Thomas Biggar, Urr, to the Royal Commission in 1865 - View Page

Surnames of Kirkcudbrightshire. By James Shaw:
This essay is taken from the Transactions and journal of the proceedings of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society, 1892-3 - View Page

Galloway Clydesdales By Several:
Published in 1910, this article gives an account of the once profitable and competitive nature of heavy horse breeding and use in Galloway. - View Page

Robert Burns Tour of the Stewartry. By unknown:
This extract is taken from the obituary of Mr John Syme, a friend of Robert Burns. Mr Syme was a long-time resident of Kirkcudbrightshire. Our extract gives an insight into the character of Burns during his travels in the county - View Page