| Auchencairn | |
The village of Auchencairn |
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Auchencairn
Auchencairn shown within Dumfries and Galloway |
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| Population | 200 (approx) |
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| OS grid reference | NX798513 |
| Parish | Rerrick |
| Council area | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Lieutenancy area | Dumfries |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DUMFRIES |
| Postcode district | DG7 |
| Police | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Fire | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Scottish Parliament | Dumfries |
| Website | Auchencairn.org.uk |
| List of places: UK • Scotland • | |
Auchencairn is a village in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It is located on the coast of the Solway Firth at the head of Auchencairn Bay and lies on the A711 road between the town of Dalbeattie to the east and Kirkcudbright to the west.[1]
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The name Auchencairn comes from the Scottish Gaelic 'Achadh an càirn' or 'Achadh nan carn' which translates as 'the field of the cairn'.[2][3]
Facilities available in Auchencairn include:[4]
There is evidence of human habitation of the area since the Mesolithic period, but the first written record of Auchencairn occurs from 1305 in a charter of Edward I in which 'Aghencarne' is listed among lands belonging to Dundrennan Abbey. In the early 17th century the village grew around the corn mill, and many of the older stone buildings in the village date from this time.[6]
From 1750 onwards, Auchencairn Bay became the centre of extensive smuggling activity in the area, with many of the local inhabitants being involved. This history is reflected in the name of the village pub, the Smugglers Inn.
At the top end of the village stands a dead tree; it is all that remains of a farm called the Ringcroft of Stocking, the site of the 'Mackie Poltergeist' incident in 1695.[6][7] Over a period of several months, the inhabitants, a farmer Andrew Mackie and his family, reported mysterious occurrences such as stones being thrown at them, cattle being moved and buildings being set alight.[1][7] The family and others also reported a ghost taking form and speaking. Several clergymen came to pray at the site, but no change was immediately evident; in the next few months the strange occurrences stopped but the farm was eventually abandoned due to the incident. The incident was made known when the details were published by the Reverend Telfair a year later with the support of 14 eyewitnesses.
Auchencairn is the name of a hamlet, also in Dumfries and Gallaway, that is located to the north of Dumfries and south of the village of Ae.[8] It is also the name of a hamlet forming the north part of the village of Whiting Bay on the Isle of Arran.[9]