Kingholm Quay | |
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Dumfries, Scotland GB grid reference NX438547 | |
![]() Kingholm Quay on the River Nith | |
Coordinates | 55°02′47″N3°36′19″W / 55.046294°N 3.6051920°W |
Kingholm Quay, commonly called the New Quay (NX975735) [1] in the 19th century and its associated village and warehouses is located on the River Nith, once serving the town of Dumfries and its hinterland in Dumfries and Galloway. [2] The port of Dumfries lay upstream and downstream quays or harbours were located at Laghall, Kelton, [3] Glencaple, Carsethorn [4] [5] and Kirkconnell Jetty. [6] It is not clear whether Kingholm was home to a fishing fleet of any sort. Mavisgrove Merse lay opposite. [7]
The quay lies on the east bank of the River Nith and has a single basin with associated red-brick, single-storey transit sheds. The basin was built to expand the number of berths rather than for shelter. [8] Two storey dwelling houses and three-storey and attic and four bay-bay warehouses are contemporary with the 19th century improvements. [2] [9] Many of the moorings are made of granite, but a few are old iron cannon, set muzzle downwards into the quayside. Local knowledge indicates that these were made locally for use in the Crimean War and were flawed castings, so they were utilised as mooring bollards. [10]
In 1856 the port and village had two public houses, the two storey 'Ship Inn' and the single storey 'Sailors Return' with substantial warehouses, two gasometers, a woollen mill and a gunpowder magazine. [11] In 1848/58 the Ship Inn's landlady was a Mrs Anderson and the Sailor's Return's landlord was John Young. [12] In 1893 the 'Ship Inn' is no longer marked on the OS map. [13] The village once had a Grocer's shop and the steam powered woollen mill gave employment on average to about 200 people. [1] This woollen mill was three storeys high and employed wool pickers, spinners weavers, etc. the main cloth produced was for trousers, plaids, etc. A bone mill producing bone dust as a fertiliser formerly stood nearby, but has been demolished. [14]
In 1907 neither inn is recorded, but two new warehouses are shown either side of the basin, however the dam and sluices are not marked and the basin is marked 'mud'. [15] By 1829 the mill was processing oatmeal and feeding stuffs, however warehouses had been built along the river front quay, with one demolished on the north side of the basin. A 'Lodge' is shown near where the magazine once stood. [16]
The holm is said to have derived its original name, Comyn's Holm, from the then owners. After King Robert the Bruce killed the Red Comyn in 1306 at Dumfries the name was altered to King Holm. [17] King Holm was given by King James to the Burgesses of Dumfries for recreations such as archery, especially the 'shooting for the Silver Gun' competition. [18]
A place for boats to lay up was present in 1707; in 1747 a quay was developed and in 1836-40 much of the present infrastructure was built. [2] [5] [9] John Lewars map of 1808 shows a few buildings at Kingholm and a "Pousance Island" between it and the west bank. Dumfries town had installed three weirs on the west bank upstream from Kingholm and on the east bank had built an earth bank running from the King Holm to the river and then a stone wall with a gap runs to "Pousance Island", all designed to protect the harbour area. The island is shown surrounded by shingle, a firm footing upon which boats may have laid. The site is shown without any stone built quays, but two buildings stand at right angles to each other and a lane is shown running down from Dumfries marked as the "New Quay" road. The Spring Tide depth is shown as ten feet. [19]
An 1812 map or plan shows Kingholm with a basin and quays without the presence of Pousance Island. [7] The name 'Pousance,' a variation on 'Puissance' in Anglo-Norman means 'Power, might or Authority' and also occurs as a surname or a first name. [20] The trading links with France may provide an explanation. In 1812 only a basin and quays are shown at Kingholm. [6] The 'Pousance Island' is still shown on the map in 1848. [21]
In 1848 the village had a population of a hundred and three inns were present, the Ship Inn being the largest. [22] By 1856 the 'New Quay Loaning' had been built so that Kingholm was now connected at both ends of the village to the roads into Dumfries. [11]
The poet Robert Burns lived in Dumfries from 1791 to 1796, working as an Excise Officer or Gauger and may have visited Kingholm Quay on official business as well as in his leisure time. His friend and physician Dr William Maxwell lived at Kirkconnell House on the west bank of the Nith, with its own jetty as previously mentioned. [23]
Laghall Quay on the west bank in 1848/58 was a small but safe harbour with mooring-place for two Vessels of about 50 or 60 Tons and imported mainly coal and timber whilst Kingholm Quay [1] was described as a small but safe harbour with mooring places for about twelve vessels of about 60 or 80 tons. The harbour imported are coal, bones, Guano, timber, etc. and exported various kinds of farming produce. [24]
As stated, the harbour's facilities were built in 1747 [5] and rebuilt in 1836-40. [2] [9] The commerce at Kingholm involved the import of tobacco from the North American colonies and unloading cargoes of lime and coal. Dried fruits, wines, brandy and luxury textiles were imported from Spain and France. [5]
A Victorian water scouring system existed here from circa 1856, where a pen or dam created a considerable head of water to build up in the King Holm itself from the waters of the Kingholm Burn and when a sluice was opened the power of the water was directed through two sluices either side of the basin that would then scour the accumulated silt away and wash it into the River Nith. [25] A similar arrangement existed at Wigtown Harbour. [11]
Today the harbour has a basin and a quay running parallel to the river with moorings and warehouses.
Considerable restoration and improvement works have been carried out recently (datum 2022). The harbour basin has a floating pontoon and ships can berth here with a new slipway slightly downstream providing access to the river for smaller boats. The site is owned by the Nith Navigation Commissioners and the Port of Dumfries Development Group have carried out improvements, such as the construction of the aforementioned slipway. [26] An information point giving details of the history of the harbour has been placed next to the slipway.
The River Nith has recently been dredged to permit access to the quay and Kingholm offers a variety of wintering options for all sizes of pleasure craft and small commercial vessels. [26]
The River Nith is one of only 15 or so rivers in the UK that exhibit tidal surge or aegir, better known as tidal bore. The incoming tide is forced by the shape of the land to form a wave of water that travels against the current up this funnel-shaped river. The surging water can often be heard before it is seen. The shallow Nith flows into the wide, flat Solway estuary and when conditions are right, as with high spring tides and with favourable winds the 'Bore' is created, scouring the river banks in its progress inland and potentially interfering with boats on the river and those that were moored at the time. [27]
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, near the mouth of the River Nith on the Solway Firth, 25 miles (40 km) from the Anglo-Scottish border. Dumfries is the county town of the historic county of Dumfriesshire.
Dumfries and Galloway is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland and is located in the western Southern Uplands. It covers the historic counties of Dumfriesshire, Kirkcudbrightshire, and Wigtownshire, the latter two of which are collectively known as Galloway. The administrative centre and largest settlement is the town of Dumfries. The second largest town is Stranraer, on the North Channel coast, some 76 miles (122 km) to the west of Dumfries.
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.
Dumfriesshire or the County of Dumfries or Shire of Dumfries is a historic county and registration county in southern Scotland. The Dumfries lieutenancy area covers a similar area to the historic county.
Bristol Harbour is the harbour in the city of Bristol, England. The harbour covers an area of 70 acres. It is the former natural tidal river Avon through the city but was made into its current form in 1809 when the tide was prevented from going out permanently. A tidal by-pass was dug for 2 miles through the fields of Bedminster for the river, known as the "River Avon New Cut", "New Cut", or simply "The Cut". It is often called the Floating Harbour as the water level remains constant and it is not affected by the state of the tide on the river in the Avon Gorge, The New Cut or the natural river southeast of Temple Meads to its source.
Apuldram or Appledram is a small parish and a village on the northeastern upper reach of Chichester Harbour about two miles (3 km) south-west of the centre of Chichester in West Sussex, England. Access to the harbour is at Dell Quay.
Glencaple is a small settlement in the Dumfries and Galloway area of Scotland. Situated on the banks of the River Nith, it once served as a port for nearby Dumfries. Glencaple is a Gaelic name meaning 'horse valley' from the words gleann 'narrow valley' and capall 'horse, mare'.
The Underfall Yard is a historic boatyard on Spike Island serving Bristol Harbour in England.
Troqueer is a former village and a parish in the historic county of Kirkcudbrightshire in Dumfries and Galloway on the west side of the River Nith. The eastern-side was merged with Dumfries to the east in 1929, and today eastern Troqueer is a suburb of Dumfries.
The harbours serving Irvine at Seagatefoot and Fullarton in North Ayrshire have had a long and complex history. Irvine's harbour was one of the most important ports in Scotland in the 16th century. Across from the main harbour at Fullarton on the River Irvine there was also terminal for the ICI-Nobel Explosives plant on the River Garnock. Much of the harbour went into decline in the 19th century when Glasgow, Greenock and Port Glasgow achieved higher prominence as sea ports. There was still some commercial sea traffic linked to local needs, though the harbour went into further terminal decline in the 20th century. The weir on the River Irvine forms the formal upper limit of the harbour.
Wigtown Harbour or Wigtown Quay was relocated in 1818 to serve the town of Wigtown and its hinterland in Wigtownshire, Dumfries and Galloway, following the silting up of the original natural harbour that was originally located near to St Machute's church. This relocation occurred following centuries of silting and then the alteration of the course of the River Bladnoch that runs into Wigtown Bay where it joins the River Cree.
Mennock is a small village or hamlet which lies 2 miles (3.2 km) south-east of Sanquhar on the A76, in Dumfriesshire, in the District Council Region of Dumfries and Galloway, southwest Scotland. Its original nucleus are the old smithy and corn mill with associated buildings. The site is dominated by the A76 that runs through the centre of Mennock. The village has expanded in recent years with housing on the River Nith side of the A76.
Enterkinfoot is a small village or hamlet which lies 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Thornhill on the A76 on the route to Sanquhar, in Dumfriesshire, Durisdeer Parish, in Dumfries and Galloway, south-west Scotland. Its original nucleus was the old mill with associated buildings, the school and the famous Enterkin Pass and path that followed the course of the Enterkin Glen to Wanlockhead and from there to Edinburgh. The site features the A76 that runs through the centre of Enterkinfoot, the River Nith and the Enterkin Burn that once powered the mill before joining the Nith. The area is famous for its association with the Covenanters.
Barburgh Mill is a hamlet composed of an old lint mill, later extended as a woollen mill and associated buildings which lies north of Auldgirth on the A76 on the route to Closeburn, in Dumfriesshire, Closeburn Parish, in Dumfries and Galloway, south-west Scotland. Its original nucleus was the old mill with associated buildings, the smithy, toll house and the miller's and workers dwellings. The site features the A76 that runs nearby, the River Nith and the Lake Burn that once powered the mill via a lade before joining the Nith. The area is famous for its association with the Covenanters. A Roman fortlet stood opposite the mill and a Roman road is thought to have run through Nithsdale at this point.
The site of the old Newbie Castle, Newbay Castle or Newby Castle was the caput of the Barony of Newbie near Annan close to the confluence of the River Annan and the Solway Firth in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. Held by the Corries and then the Johnstones. Newbie Harbour on the River Annan was located nearby.
Holm House and the Crawick Glen were originally part of a small estate in the parishes of Kirkconnel and Sanquhar and lay less than a 1 mile (1.6 km) upstream from the small village of Crawick that itself stands close to the A76 near Sanquhar in Dumfries and Galloway, south-west Scotland.
Laghall Quay (NX973732) is located on the River Nith, once serving the estate of Laghall, later named Mavis Grove and now again called Laghall as well as its hinterland in Dumfries and Galloway, previously Kirkcudbrightshire. The ports of Dumfries, Kingholm Quay and Castledykes Quay lay upstream and downstream quays or harbours were located at Kelton, Glencaple, Carsethorn and Kirkconnell Jetty. It lies on the edge of the old Mavisgrove Merse.
Glencaple Quay (NX994687) is located on the River Nith, it mainly served the town of Dumfries and to some degree the Glencaple area as well as its hinterland in Dumfries and Galloway. The quays at Dumfries, Kingholm Quay Laghall, Kelton and Castledykes lay upstream and downstream jettys were located at Kirkconnell and Carsethorn. It lies opposite Kirkconnell Merse.
Kelton Harbour and Village (NX988708) are located on the East side of the River Nith opposite the Kirkconnell Merse, about 3.5 miles (5.6Km) from Dumfries and 1.5 miles (2.4Km) north of Glencaple Quay. The old harbour served the immediate area as well as its hinterland in Dumfries and Galloway. The quays at Dumfries, Kingholm Quay Laghall and Castledykes lay upstream and downstream jettys or quays were located at Glencaple Quay, Kirkconnell and Carsethorn.