Newton Stewart

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Newton Stewart
Gaelic:	Baile Ur nan Stiùbhartach
Location
OS grid reference:	NX405655
Statistics
Population:	3,573 (2001 Census)
Administration
Council area:	Dumfries & Galloway
Constituent country:	Scotland
Sovereign state:	United Kingdom
Other
Police force:	Dumfries & Galloway Constabulary
Lieutenancy area:	Wigtown
Former county:	Wigtownshire
Post office and telephone
Post town:	NEWTON STEWART
Postal district:	DG8
Dialling code:	01671
Politics
Scottish Parliament:	Dumfries & Galloway
UK Parliament:	Dumfries & Galloway
European Parliament:	Scotland

Newton Stewart (Gd: Baile Ur nan Stiùbhartach) is a burgh in Wigtown (formerly the county of Wigtownshire), Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, on the River Cree. Across the river is the town of Minnigaff. Newton Stewart lies on the southern edge of the Galloway Forest Park, and is a base for walkers, some of whom use its youth hostel.

[edit] History

The town was founded in the mid 17th Century by William Stewart, youngest son of the 2nd Earl of Galloway. The "New Town of Stewart" was granted Burgh status by charter from King Charles II allowing a weekly market and two annual fairs to be held.

It was on a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Ninian at Whithorn in 1329 that Robert the Bruce forded the river where the present bridge stands. Built in 1813 it replaced the old bridge of 1745 which was destroyed by floods in 1806.

[edit] Places of interest

There are numerous nature trails nearby as part of Galloway Forest Park, managed on behalf of the state by Forest Enterprise. There is a local museum at St. John's Church, a doll's house exhibition and a butterfly and tropical plant house nearby.

[edit] Trivia

The celebrated horror movie The Wicker Man was filmed almost entirely on location around Newton Stewart in 1972.