Gatehouse of Fleet

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Gatehouse of Fleet
Ann Street, Gatehouse of Fleet - geograph.org.uk - 973006.jpg
Ann Street, also the site of the original toll booth
Dumfries and Galloway UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Gatehouse of Fleet
Location within Dumfries and Galloway
Population990 (mid-2020 est.) [1]
OS grid reference NX597561
•  Edinburgh 84 mi (135 km)
•  London 287 mi (462 km)
Council area
Lieutenancy area
Country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town CASTLE DOUGLAS
Postcode district DG7
Police Scotland
Fire Scottish
Ambulance Scottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament
List of places
UK
Scotland
54°53′N4°11′W / 54.883°N 4.183°W / 54.883; -4.183

Gatehouse of Fleet (Scots : Gatehoose o Fleet Scottish Gaelic : Taigh an Rathaid) is a town, half in the civil parish of Girthon, and half in the parish of Anwoth, divided by the river Fleet, Kirkcudbrightshire, within the council administrative area of Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

Contents

History

The western approach to the town is dominated by the imposing Cardoness Castle. The castle was built in the late 15th century by the McCulloch family, who were notable for their lawlessness as well as their support for John Balliol's claim to the throne of Scotland in the late 13th century.

The town takes its name from its location upon the river the Water of Fleet, which empties into the Fleet Bay, eventually entering the larger Wigtown Bay. The town's former role as the Gait House, or toll booth, over the river gives it the initial part of its name.

The settlement of Anwoth is one mile (1.5 km) to the west of Gatehouse of Fleet; Samuel Rutherford was minister at Anwoth Old Church from 1627 to 1636.

The original toll booth was established for the late 18th-century stagecoach route from Dumfries to Stranraer. The route at that time is now roughly followed by the A75 road. The route was a haven for bandits and highwaymen at the time, and travellers would often stop in the area rather than continue their journey at night, to avoid the high numbers of outlaws.

Much of the town's early development was attributable to the entrepreneur James Murray's decision to build his summer home, Cally House, in the area. In 1795, Murray successfully petitioned George III to grant Gatehouse of Fleet Burgh of Barony status, further aiding development of the town. The house was designed by Robert Mylne in the mid 18th century and built in 1763, being finished that same year.

Over the century after Cally House was built, the town developed into a centre for industry. Cotton mills were a prominent aspect of the town's business, and most of the buildings were converted for other uses as time went on. The Mill on the Fleet [2] is a converted mill that is now used as an exhibition centre for Gatehouse and the Fleet Valley area.

The Public Library in the High Street was opened in 1857 and was established by Horatio Murray Stewart of Cally House, the local landowner. The building was then refurbished between 1963–65 by local architect Antony Curtiss Wolffe. [3]

The Clock Tower is the most noticeable landmark within the town, and dates back to 1871. It was designed by architect Frederick Thomas Pilkington. [4]

Cally House was a stately home, formerly the seat of the Murrays of Broughton and Cally. It was converted for use as a residential school for evacuees from Glasgow during the Second World War, reopening as a hotel in the later 1940s. Since then, the house has been operating as the Cally Palace, [5] a hotel with its own 18-hole golf course.

Gatehouse of Fleet Town Hall Gatehouse of Fleet - geograph.org.uk - 312999.jpg
Gatehouse of Fleet Town Hall

Gatehouse of Fleet Town Hall, designed by James Robart Pearson, was completed in 1885 and benefits from a fine ornamental garden to its rear side. [6]

The Church of the Resurrection, 1971 was designed by Sutherland, Dickie & Copland. [7] The last Mass was celebrated on 1 February 2020 by the Bishop of Galloway, William Nolan and parish priest Rev Fr William McFadden. The church has since been demolished and the site sold for housing. [8] [9]

Filming of The Wicker Man

The former Cally Estate Office was used to depict The Green Man Inn in the 1973 horror film The Wicker Man, in which a Christian policeman, played by Edward Woodward, investigates the disappearance of a missing girl in a remote community led by Christopher Lee on the Scottish island of Summerisle. Scenes were filmed outside the building with actors Edward Woodward as PC Howie and Britt Ekland as Willow, the landlord's daughter. Other scenes were filmed nearby at Anwoth, at the Old Kirk and at the Old Schoolhouse.

Scheduled Monuments

The Gatehouse of Fleet Roman Fortlet is a Scheduled Monument; however, there are no extant remains. [10] This fortlet may have existed "during the campaigns of governor Agricola sometime around 81 AD", and may have housed a garrison of about 80 men. [11]

Another Scheduled Monument in the Gatehouse of Fleet is Cardoness Castle, built in the late 15th century by a branch of Clan McCulloch. [12]

Notable people

Provosts

Gatehouse of Fleet had a provost for part of its history: These included: [19]

Town Council replaced by Community Council

Attractions

Cox's Lodge in Gatehouse of Fleet Gatehouse of Fleet - geograph.org.uk - 865413.jpg
Cox's Lodge in Gatehouse of Fleet
Gatehouse Library Gatehouse Library, High Street, Gatehouse of Fleet, Kirkcudbrightshire, Galloway, Scotland.jpg
Gatehouse Library

Garries Park is adjacent to Gatehouse of Fleet and is used for a variety of events throughout the year; the most notable being events throughout the Gala week. The park also serves as the home ground of Fleet Star Football Club. [21] The village formerly had a senior football club, Fleetside Rovers F.C., which entered the Scottish Qualifying Cup from 1902–03 to 1911–12. [22]

The Mill on the Fleet built in 1785 is a restored cotton mill on the banks of the River Fleet. It features displays on the history of the town and the Fleet Valley, a café with a riverside terrace, a second hand bookshop and the Gatehouse Tourist Information Centre. [23] [24]

On the edge of the town is situated the historically significant Cardoness Castle.

Beaches near the town can be found at Carrick, Cardoness, Mossyard and Sandgreen.

Rainton Farm is situated 3 miles (5 km) from the town and is home to two dairy companies: Cream O' Galloway, [25] an ice cream production company providing visitor attractions, and The Ethical Dairy, a cheese production company. [26]

The Clints of Dromore [27] near the old Gatehouse of Fleet railway station provide rock-climbing.

For gravel cyclists, the forest tracks around Gatehouse of Fleet are "some of the best gravel trails in the UK". This has led to events such as the 2023 UCI Mountain Bike season race, The Gralloch, being held in and around Gatehouse. [28]

Gatehouse Gala

Gatehouse Gala is an annual, week long series of events that take place in late July and early August, such that Gala Day is the first Saturday in August. [29]

An entrant to the 2017 float competition Gatehouse gala 2017 float example.jpg
An entrant to the 2017 float competition

Events include fireworks, guided walks, competitions and music. [30] [ failed verification ]

Each year, a "Gala Queen" (formerly "Miss Gatehouse") is elected from the Primary 7 year at Gatehouse Primary School along with a Queen's Consort. The Queen's Attendant and Queen's Page are elected from the Primary 3 year. The group of four lead the events throughout the week and hand the positions over to the newly elected at the opening ceremony of the following year's Gala.[ citation needed ]

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Dumfries and Galloway 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 ceremonial 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 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.

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Kirkcudbright is a town, parish and a royal burgh from 1455 in Kirkcudbrightshire, of which it is traditionally the county town, within Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirkcudbrightshire</span> Historic county in Scotland

Kirkcudbrightshire, or the County of Kirkcudbright or 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 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.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardoness Castle</span> 15th-century tower house in Scotland

Cardoness Castle is a well-preserved 15th-century tower house just south west of Gatehouse of Fleet, in the historical county of Kirkcudbrightshire in Scotland. It was originally owned by the MacCullochs of Myreton. They abandoned the castle in the late 17th century, following the execution of Sir Godfrey McCulloch for the murder of a Clan Gordon neighbour. It is now in the care of Historic Environment Scotland, and is a scheduled monument.

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Twynholm is a village in Scotland. It is located 2+1⁄4 miles (3.6 km) north-northwest of Kirkcudbright and 4+1⁄2 miles (7.2 km) east of Gatehouse of Fleet on the main A75 trunk road. It is in the historic county of Kirkcudbrightshire, Dumfries and Galloway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anwoth</span>

Anwoth is a settlement near the Solway Firth in the historic county of Kirkcudbrightshire, southwest Scotland, within a parish of the same name in the Vale of Fleet, Dumfries and Galloway. Anwoth lies a mile (1.5 km) to the west of Gatehouse of Fleet.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cally Palace</span> Building in Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries & Galloway

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Trusty's Hill is a small vitrified hillfort about a mile to the west of the present-day town of Gatehouse of Fleet, in the parish of Anwoth in the Stewartry district of Dumfries and Galloway.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anwoth Old Church</span> Ruined church in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

Anwoth Old Church is a ruined church building which was built in 1626 to serve the parish of Anwoth in the historic county of Kirkcudbrightshire in the administrative area of Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It is roofless, but much of the walls remain, including the west gable which is surmounted by a bellcote. A number of substantial monuments exist within the church and its surrounding churchyard.

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Anwoth Parish Church was built in 1826 to serve the parish of Anwoth in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. Designed by Walter Newall, it replaced Anwoth Old Church, which had been the parish church since it was built in 1626 and was partially demolished at the same time as the new church was built.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girthon Old Parish Church</span> Ruined church in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

Girthon Old Parish Church is a ruined ecclesiastical building in Girthon, near Gatehouse of Fleet in Dumfries and Galloway. Built around 1620 on the foundations of a mediaeval church, and incorporating some of the fabric of the older building in its eastern and southern walls, it served as the parish church for Girthon until 1818 when a new church was built for the parish in Gatehouse of Fleet, after which it was abandoned and allowed to fall into disrepair. The church itself has been designated a scheduled monument, and the churchyard a Category A listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gatehouse of Fleet Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Gatehouse of Fleet, Scotland

Gatehouse of Fleet Town Hall is a former municipal building in the High Street in Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The structure, which is now in private residential ownership, provides access to a fine ornamental garden behind the town hall.

References

  1. ↑ "Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  2. ↑ "The Mill on the Fleet | Historic Mill and Visitor Centre in Gatehouse of Fleet" . Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  3. ↑ "Dictionary of Scottish Architects - DSA Building/Design Report (January 24, 2024, 11:06 pm)". www.scottisharchitects.org.uk. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  4. ↑ "Dictionary of Scottish Architects - DSA Building/Design Report (January 21, 2024, 12:26 pm)". www.scottisharchitects.org.uk. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  5. ↑ "Home". Cally Palace Hotel and Golf Course. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  6. ↑ "Gatehouse of Fleet Town Hall" . Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  7. ↑ "Church of the Resurrection, Gatehouse of Fleet". 24 September 2017.
  8. ↑ Norris, Stephen (28 January 2020). "Last mass for Gatehouse church". Daily Record. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  9. ↑ Gillespie, Stuart (6 February 2020). "Church closes with Thanksgiving Mass". Daily Record. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  10. ↑ Canmore: National Record of the Historic Environment (21 May 2022). "Gatehouse of Fleet – Canmore". Canmore: National Record of the Historic Environment. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  11. ↑ Roman Britain (21 May 2022). "Gatehouse of Fleet Fortlet". Roman Britain. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  12. ↑ Historic Environment Scotland (21 May 2022). "Cardoness Castle: Historic Environment Scotland". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  13. ↑ "Famous Sons and Daughters". Royal Burgh of Whithorn & District Business Association. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  14. ↑ https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-34456
  15. ↑ Fraser, Robbie (Producer/Director) (2019). Final Ascent: The Legend of Hamish MacInnes. Bees Nees Media Ltd. 19:40 minutes in. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  16. ↑ "Henry Joseph Moule - Kirkcudbright Galleries | Dumfries and Galloway | Artists | Gallery". Kirkcudbright Galleries. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  17. ↑ Dean, Christopher (19 January 2024). Dorothy L. Sayers. Kirkcudbright: The Stewartry Museum. ISBN   978-0955163807.
  18. ↑ Coombey, Nic (2008). The Cally Story: The development of the parks and pleasure grounds of Cally by the Murray family. Solway Heritage.
  19. ↑ "Girthon Parish Graveyard". gatehouse-folk.org.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  20. ↑ "Dumfries and Galloway Council - dumgalrefresh Home Page". info.dumgal.gov.uk. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  21. ↑ "Home". Fleet Star FC. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  22. ↑ "Home". Fleet Star FC. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  23. ↑ "The Mill on the Fleet | Art UK". artuk.org. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  24. ↑ "Gatehouse Of Fleet, Birtwhistle Mills | Canmore". canmore.org.uk. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  25. ↑ "Deliciously Good! | Cream o' Galloway". creamogalloway.co.uk.
  26. ↑ "Welcome to The Ethical Dairy | The Ethical Dairy". theethicaldairy.co.uk.
  27. ↑ "Clints of Dromore Outbye, Fleet Valley". Walkhighlands.
  28. ↑ Barton, Sara (9 December 2022). "Gatehouse of Fleet to host UK's First Top Level International Gravel Race". SSD Alliance.
  29. ↑ "Gatehouse Gala – 29th July to 5th August 2018" . Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  30. ↑ "What's On – Gatehouse Gala" . Retrieved 27 February 2023.
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