Kirkmabreck

Kirkmabreck Scottish Gaelic: [Church of] Magh Breac [1]
Kirkmabreck Church
Kirkmabreck Location within Dumfries and Galloway
Population	1,000 (2011)
OS grid reference	NX495542  (Carsluith)
Council area	Dumfries and Galloway
Lieutenancy area	Wigtown
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Newton Stewart
Postcode district	DG8
Dialling code	01671
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	Dumfries and Galloway
Scottish Parliament	Galloway and West Dumfries
List of places UK Scotland 54°54′00″N4°22′41″W / 54.900°N 4.378°W / 54.900; -4.378

Kirkmabreck is a civil parish in the historic county of Kirkcudbrightshire, within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland.

Located in the historic Stewartry of Kirkcudbright and centred on the small town of Creetown, situated on the east bank of the River Cree near the head of Wigtown Bay, the parish extends northwards to the parishes of Minnigaff and Girthon, and westwards to Anwoth. It also includes the small coastal settlement of Carsluith, which is dominated by Carsluith Castle, a 16th-century tower house now in the care of Historic Environment Scotland. The parish covers approximately 25,000 acres (100 km²). ^[2]

Following the local government reorganisation of 1975, Kirkmabreck was one of two parishes from Kirkcudbrightshire incorporated into the Wigtown District (1975–1996). As a result, it now lies within the Wigtown lieutenancy area rather than the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright lieutenancy. ^{[3] [4]}

Among the principal archaeological and historical sites in the parish are the prehistoric chambered cairns at Cairnholy, also under the care of Historic Environment Scotland; the Glenquicken stone circle; and the cup and ring marked stones at Barholm, together with the remains of Barholm Castle. ^{[5] [6]}

The philosopher Thomas Brown (1778–1820), noted for his contributions to metaphysical thought, was born and buried in the parish.

Military road

Heading west from Creetown and connecting with the Corse of Slakes road is an old military track built in the mid 18th century over an existing drove road ^[7] to serve as a troop access route to and from Ireland. ^[8]

References

1. The Parish of Kirkmabreck (1979) Creetown: A.S. Murray
2. Groome, Francis H. (1901) Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland. Edinburgh: T.C. & E.C. Jack.
3. "Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1973 c. 65, retrieved 22 November 2022
4. "The Lord-Lieutenants (Scotland) Order 1996", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 1996/731, retrieved 25 November 2022
5. "Cup and Ring Marked Stones: Site Name Barholm". Canmore.org. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
6. "Barholm Cup and Ring Marks / Rock Art". Themodernantiquarian.com. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
7. Haldane, A.R.B. (1952) The Drove Roads of Scotland, pp. 161–2. Edinburgh: Thomas Nelson
8. "Corse of Slakes". Heritagepaths.co.uk. Archived from the original on 9 February 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2019.