Stoneykirk

Stoneykirk
Stoneykirk
Stoneykirk shown within Dumfries and Galloway
Population 1,235 (2001)
OS grid reference NX0853
Civil parish
  • Stoneykirk
Council area
Lieutenancy area
Country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town Stranraer
Postcode district DG9
Dialling code 01776
Police Scottish
Fire Scottish
Ambulance Scottish
EU Parliament Scotland
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament

Stoneykirk is an area and a village in the heart of the Rhins of Galloway, Wigtownshire, in the District Council Region of Dumfries and Galloway south west Scotland nearly ten miles in length and three and a half miles in breadth, bounded on the east by the bay of Luce, and on the west by the Irish Channel, 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Stranraer.

The area is about 21,500 acres, of which 19,000 are arable, 375 woodland and plantations, and the remainder, whereof 1100 might be reclaimed, moorland.[1]

Stoneykirk has a Community Council [2]

Knockinaam Lodge, Port Spittal, Stoneykirk, because of its remoteness was the location for a secret meeting between Sir Winston Churchill and General Eisenhower during the Second World War to discuss the D-Day plans.

The A716 runs through part of the village, and a local coach firm, McCulloch's Coaches, is based in the village

James King 407 Service provides a bus link north to Stranraer and south to Sandhead and Drummore [3]

Sandhead overlooks Luce Bay that was used for landing lime and coal.

The Village

Stoneykirk village, located near the RAF West Freugh, developed around the church (now disused) and was named after the church.

The Village Hall is headquarters of the South Rhins Community Development Trust

The village school is situated above the village.

The local garage has a Post Office. There is a shop which opened in 2008.

The village has a local park with goal posts and other amusements

It has two hotels, the 3 star Torrs Warren Country House Hotel, and the original manse built in 1790 with a restaurant and bar.

Cottages nearby provide self-catering accommodation.[4]

Stoneykirk Church

The first church, Saint Stephen's Kirk or Steeniekirk or Stephenskirk or Stevenskirk or Stainiekirk or Staneykirk or Stanykirk or Toskarton or Toskartoun or Toscartoun or Toscarton or Achawan or Auchwane or Achowane or Clayshant, and finally Stoneykirk, was dedicated to St. Stephen and is thought to have been built between the 12th and 14th centuries, possibly under the patronage of the McCulloch family of Ardwell, Toskarton Parish. Clan McCulloch [5][6]

Toskarton and Clayshant ancient parishes were united to Stoneykirk in AD1618.

In 1827 the old medieval parish church was rebuilt.

Stoneykirk Free Church building was erected in 1844 and it passed successively to the United Free Church and the Church of Scotland, and united with Ardwell-Sandhead as Stoneykirk in 1974.

Kirkmadrine Church

Kirkmadryne was dedicated to St. Medran, an early bishop of Ossory. There were three chapels of ease in the parish: St. Brioch's at Kirkmabreck, St. Donan's at Kildonan, and St. Lashrean's at Killaser.[7] The building is no longer used as a church.

The Monogram Stones of Kirkmadrine date from about AD450, which makes them the earliest inscribed Christian gravestones in Scotland and the oldest Christian monuments in Scotland outside Whithorn. The oldest is a pillar stone dating from the 5th Century. All the stones were found in the immediate vicinity, suggesting that it was an early Christian cemetery.[8][9] See Clachanmore.[10]

History

A cornerstone of McDowell's Garthland Castle (Tower House) bore the date AD1211, and on another towards the east, AD1274.[11]

In AD1295 Sir Dougal MacDougall (McDowell) had a Charter from his 3rd cousin, King John Baliol Lord of Galloway, confirming the Barony of Garochloyne with Lougan and Elrig in the Rhinns of Galloway.

Janet McDowell (McDowall), daughter of Uchtred McDowell of Garthland, married Ninian Adair, son of William Adair of Dunskey Castle and of Kilhilt who was killed at Battle of Flodden. Uchtred McDowell, who was also killed at Battle of Flodden, appeared to own the area of Stranraer, and Ninian & Janet McDowell built the Castle of St. John, Stranraer, possibly on her father's Stranraer land. On 27 Feb 1547, in book "Inquisitiones Speciales", under "Wigton", Uthredus M'Douell was heir to his father Joannis M'Douell de Garthland who was killed at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh (qui obit apud Pinkiecleuch), of 24 merkland of Garthland, Parish Stoneykirk, and 14 merkland of Lochans (adjoining Garthland) in Parish of Inche. On Ainslie's AD1782 map, William McDowall Esq. was shown at Garthland Castle. Killhilt, the ancient home of the Adair family, is also shown on the 1782 map just north of, and adjoining McDowell's Garthland Castle.[12]

In Wigtownshire, the name McCulloch Clan McCulloch appears on very early documents, i.e. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland. vol. I, appendix II. p. 531, nos. 321, 322, Kirkmadrine, Tuskercon / Toskerton / Toskertoun,Toskertoune.

About AD1317 King Robert the Bruce I of Scotland (reigned 1306–29) knighted Captain Cullo og Neil (o’Neil) and chose him to be his standard-bearer and Secretary of State. King Robert the Bruce I granted Sir Cullo og Neil lands and Achawan or Auchwane in Wigtownshire (also known as Kirkmadren, ref. RMS vol VIII, p. 87, #255, Toskartoun, Toscartoun, and Staneykirk, Stoneykirk ),[13] which encompassed the estates and castles of Ardwell and Killasser) near Clachanmore (Low Ardwell). The 42 merkland of Toskerton had been forfeited by Sir John le Mareschal de Toskerton to King Robert I. In 1331 Sir Cullo Og Neil died and left his estate to his eldest son Sir Godfrey, who assumed the surname of McCullog. (McCullough / McCullo’c).[14]

Barony of Achowane & Baronia Killasser On 7 July 1618 William McCulloch of Mertoun (Myretoun McCulloch Torhous in Mochrum Parish), with the consent of his eldest son Alexander, ratified a charter of Killasser in the barony of Achowane to William Houston and his wife Katherine Vaus. The subscript mentioned a new deed of baronia Killasser and the castle.[15] Another deed of 29 June 1621, was from William Houston to William Adair, whereby James Glover, Notary Public, recorded delivery of seizin (sasine) of 4 merk land of Carnewell ( Cairnweil ), next to Kirkmadrin Church, in the Parish of Toscartoun.[16]

Killasser Castle is shown on Ainslie's 1782 map as in ruins. It was the ancient seat of the Macculloch of Ardwell.[17]

The Parish List of Wigtownshire AD1684, pp. 57–61, lists the places in Stonykirk Civil Parish.[18]

Adjoining Killasser Castle was William Maxwell of Ardwell [19] at Ardwell House, Stoneykirk Parish, Wigtownshire.[20]

There was a Lord Maxwell who was imprisoned by James VI and released as long as he quit Scotland. In AD1588 Lord Maxwell was in Spain when the Armada was being prepared, and advised Philip that the Galloway ports should be used. The First-class Man of War "Philip & Mary" embedded on shingle not far from Port William, Parish of Mochrum near Sir William Maxwell's Myretoun Castle on the Monreith Estate.[21]

Archaeology

In Archaeological and Historical Collections relating to Ayrshire and Galloway. vol.V. p. 63, Rev. George Wilson lists forts in Stoneykirk - (a)One north of Drumbreddan Bay, not on O.S. map. (b) Doon Castle at Ardwell Point. (c) Kirlauchline, 5 miles north of Ardwell Point. (d) Kildonan, a double fort. (e) Knockdoon, the name indicates a fort north of Awhirk. Also Cairns at Doon Hill of Kildrochet.[22]

(b) Doon Castle, near High Ardwell are the remains of the best example of an Iron Age broch in Dumfries and Galloway.[23][24]

(c) Kirlauchline Promontory Fort, Camp Bay south.[25]

1) East Galdenoch fort (scheduled ancient monument) between East Galdenoch and Freugh airfield. A circular fort with a diam. of 110m. of later prehistoric date.[26]

2) East Galdenoch settlement (scheduled ancient monument) 100m southeast of East Galdenoch. A prehistoric palisade settlement 120m long by 60m.[27]

3) East Galdenoch settlement (scheduled ancient monument) 450m northeast of East Galdenoch. A prehistoric settlement 260m by 250m.

There are Promontory Forts either side of Float Bay [28] (click on photo below)

Dunaldboys Mote south Knockinaam, Iron Age promontory fort on the head of sea cliffs. There is also a standing stone by the side of the Portpatrick-Cairngarroch road.

Balgreggan Motte, Sandhead, stands above the A716. The Motte was the first in a line of early castles along the eastern shore of the Rhins. (click on photos below)[29][30] A 1782 map shows Balgreggan House of Hon. Sir Frederick Maitland.

Farm of Port Spittal, Stoneykirk, 2 miles south of Portpatrick. "Burial ground of the four Kings". A bronze age Cist and Urn were found in a grave covered with a whinstone slab.[31] The bones can be seen in the Stranraer Museum.[32][33]

Great Spanish Armada In AD1588 some vessels belonging to the Great Spanish Armada were wrecked off the western coast, not far from a bay which in commemoration of that circumstance, was named the bay of Float.[34] At Money Point (Money Head) [35] a considerable number of Spanish dubloons were subsequently discovered.[36][37] See Spanish Armada in Ireland in AD1588, and Spanish Armada wrecks on the western coast of Scotland in the Calendar of State Papers [38] Project Adair at [39]

However, in the book "The Scotch Irish" by Charles A. Hanna, p. 233, it states that in the parish at Stoneykirk are the farms and bay of Float, locally stated to have been so called from the wreck of one of the ships of the Spanish Armada ; and the headland close to, corrupted from the Gaelic word "monadh", the hill-head, to " Moneyhead," from money supposed to have been lost from the wreck. The name Float is from the Norse "flott", which means a plain.[40]

List of Listed Buildings

List of listed buildings in Stoneykirk, Dumfries and Galloway

Gallery. western-shore of the Rhins & Mid-Rhins, Stoneykirk

Gallery. eastern-shore of the Rhins, Stoneykirk

References

  1. ↑ A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Samuel Lewis
  2. ↑ http://www.dgcommunity.net/communitycouncil/default.aspx?id=74
  3. ↑ Bus Services
  4. ↑ http://www.culmorebridge.co.uk Culmore Bridge
  5. ↑ Caledonia. vol.III, by George Chalmers. p.439 https://archive.org/stream/caledoniaoraccou03chal#page/438/mode/2up
  6. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/domesday/dblock/GB-208000-552000/page/1
  7. ↑ Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae. New Edition. Vol.II. pp.352-355 https://archive.org/stream/fastiecclesiu02scotuoft#page/n363/mode/2up
  8. ↑ http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=10373
  9. ↑ http://www.heritageandhistory.com/contents1a/2010/09/kirkmadrine-stones/?doing_wp_cron=1350865257.0776569843292236328125
  10. ↑ Timothy Pont's map in Blaeu's Atlas. http://maps.nls.uk/atlas/blaeu/view/?id=95#id=95&zoom=5&lat=1930&lon=3949&layers=BT
  11. ↑ RCAHMS. "Monument No. 60553". Canmore. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  12. ↑ http://maps.nls.uk/counties/view/?id=685#id=685&zoom=5&lat=6904&lon=3691&layers=BT
  13. ↑ Kirkmadren, ref. RMS vol VIII, p.87, #255, Toskartoun, Toscartoun, and Staneykirk, Stoneykirk https://archive.org/stream/registrummagnisi08scot#page/1010/mode/1up
  14. ↑ An Index drawn up about the year 1629 of many Records of Charters granted by the different Sovereigns of Scotland between the years 1309 and 1413. https://archive.org/stream/indexdrawnupabou00grea
  15. ↑ Great Seal of Scotland. pp.744-745 no.2054 https://archive.org/stream/registrummagnisi07scot#page/744/mode/2up
  16. ↑ Cairnweil view from Kirkmadrin Church. http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3100163
  17. ↑ Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland. Volume Five. pp.308-309. https://archive.org/stream/castellateddomes05macguoft#page/308/mode/2up
  18. ↑ https://archive.org/stream/parishlistsofwig72scot#page/56/mode/2up
  19. ↑ The London Gazette 11–14 May 1782, notice about William Maxwell of Ardwell, Shire of Wigton
  20. ↑ http://maps.nls.uk/counties/view/?id=685#id=685&zoom=5&lat=4213&lon=4222.5&layers=BT
  21. ↑ The Hereditary Sheriffs of Galloway. Sir Andrew Agnew. pub.1893. p.214
  22. ↑ Archaeological and Historical Collections relating to Ayrshire and Galloway. vol.V. pp.62-73 https://archive.org/stream/cu31924092901606#page/n115/mode/2up
  23. ↑ Doon Castle (Broch) at the Megalithic Portal.
  24. ↑ Dumfries & Galloway: Summary of places of interest, CAST.
  25. ↑ RCAHMS. "Monument No. 60642". Canmore. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  26. ↑ http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/heritage/searchmonuments/scheduledmonumentsresults.htm?p_out=xml&p_sstr=&p_couname=0&p_cattext=0&submit=Search&start=2191
  27. ↑ http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/search_item/index.php?service=RCAHMS&id=61247
  28. ↑ http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/search_item/index.php?service=RCAHMS&id=60445
  29. ↑ RCAHMS. "Monument No. 60606". Canmore. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  30. ↑ http://mccubbinfamily.info/?page_id=1037
  31. ↑ Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Vol.X. Third Series. p.493 https://archive.org/stream/proceedingssoci02scotgoog#page/n523/mode/1up
  32. ↑ http://www.futuremuseum.co.uk/collections/people/lives-in-key-periods/archaeology/the-bronze-age/ritual/bronze-age-burial,-port-o-spittal.aspx
  33. ↑ RCAHMS. "Monument No. 60612". Canmore. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  34. ↑ The Hereditary Sheriffs of Galloway. Sir Andrew Agnew. pub.1893. p.214 p.420 https://archive.org/stream/hereditarysherif01agne#page/420/mode/1up
  35. ↑ http://canmoremapping.rcahms.gov.uk/index.php?action=do_advanced&idnumlink=60486
  36. ↑ The Hereditary Sheriffs of Galloway. Sir Andrew Agnew. pub.1893. "The Armada" pp.418-434
  37. ↑ RCAHMS. "Monument No. 60486". Canmore. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  38. ↑ https://archive.org/stream/calendarofstatep04greauoft/calendarofstatep04greauoft_djvu.txt
  39. ↑ http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/news/project-adair-enters-second-year
  40. ↑ http://etree15.archive.org/stream/thescotchirish01hannrich/thescotchirish01hannrich_djvu.txt
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