Dumfries
Dumfries
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|---|---|
| Population | Expression error: "37,846 (2001 Census)" must be numeric |
| OS grid reference | NX976762 |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Dumfries |
| Postcode district | DG1/2 |
| Dialling code | 01387 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
Dumfries ((IPA: [dʌm' friːs]) pronounced dum-freece, not dum-fries) (Dùn Phris or Druim Phris in Scottish Gaelic, meaning either fort or ridge of the thicket respectively) is a former royal burgh and town with a population of around 37,846. It sits close to the Solway Firth near the mouth of the River Nith in the south west of Scotland, and was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire.
Visiting Dumfries
Dumfries, gateway to Galloway (Kirkcudbrightshire - also known as the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, and Wigtownshire - including the Machars and the Rhins of Galloway), occupies a position in the South West of Scotland not far from the border with England (around 25 miles). It has many associations with Robert Burns who lived here in the 1790s. The Robert Burns Centre is situated in an 18th century watermill on the west bank of the River Nith. The two homes Burns lived in survive - one (Burns' House) is open to the public. A few miles to the N of the town a farm (Ellisland), the tenancy of which attracted Burns to the area, can also be visited.
Above the mill there is an 18th century windmill tower which houses Dumfries Museum and the Camera Obscura Observatory. The Museum has exhibits from prehistoric times, the wildlife of the Solway salt marshes, stone carvings of Scotland's early Christians, and many Victorian farm implements. The Camera Obscura, originally an astronomical instrument installed in 1836, has a table top screen on to which are projected panoramic views of Dumfries and the surrounding countryside.
Across the 15th century Devorgilla Bridge there is Old Bridge House, Dumfries' oldest house, dating from 1660 and built into the sandstone of the bridge itself. Dumfries has a large number of public houses, including, on the town's High Street, The Globe Inn, which Robert Burns himself frequented.
The town has one domestic rail link, Dumfries railway station.
Dumfries also promotes a sustainable transport infrastructure with prompt access to all main UK destinations via road, largely through the A74(M) motorway and A75, the latter of which has been criticised due to large amounts of traffic and prevailing safety concerns.
History
In 1186, Dumfries was officially given the rights of a royal burgh. Throughout the first 50 years of its foundation the town was at the forefront of the Scottish Borders until the consolidation of Galloway in 1234. A royal castle, which no longer exists, was built in the 13th century on the site of the present Castledykes Park, and before becoming King of Scots, Robert the Bruce slew the Red Comyn in the town in 1306. His uncertainty about the fatality of his stabbing caused one of his followers, Roger de Kirkpatrick, to utter the famous, "I mak siccar" and finish the Comyn off.
Famous people
Dumfries was the hometown of Robert Burns from 1759 until his death in 1796. The poet is now buried in St. Michael’s Churchyard in the Burns Mausoleum.
A number of well-known people were educated at Dumfries Academy, among them James Matthew Barrie, author of Peter Pan, John Laurie, actor (Private Frazer in Dad's Army), and Jane Haining, missionary. Dumfries is also the hometown of former F1 racer Allan McNish. Dumfries was the "hometown" of Burns while he lived there, but Burns was born in Ayrshire and spent many years there before moving to Dumfriesshire. Also Ray Wilson, lead singer of Stiltskin and later Genesis was born in Dumfries. Electronic DJ Calvin Harris also hails from Dumfries.
Local Economy
Growth
Dumfries has a long history as the county town of a rural backwater. The rich agricultural land between the hills and the sea has for many hundreds of years been carved up into huge estates controlled by hereditary ruling class interests. Since the arrival of the railways a strong middle class has grown in the town and county. The abandonment of the traditional rural economy over the past one hundred years has pulled the very disadvantaged poor from communities scattered across the countryside into local authority and other social housing schemes, and low grade commercial housing, generally in the towns. The displacement of the whole spectrum of the local rural population by the purchasing power of incomers is moving ever faster at the start of the 21st century. The overall effect of this process is to decrease the sustainability of Dumfries as an economic area, and to increase its dependence on a diesel-powered subsidiary relationship to the north of England and the Scottish central belt.
Decline
In recent years, there has been a significant decline in the strength and vitality of local economy. This decline is closely related to a vast change in regional demographics with a noticeable number of inhabitants, many of a young age, emigrating to other parts of the United Kingdom to seek professional employment [1] and further education.
Regeneration
In a bid to stimulate a development in Dumfries, both economically and in a social context, several strategies have been proposed by the controlling authorities. [2]
In January 2006, Dumfries & Galloway Council announced plans to build a £16.5m leisure facility situated at Hoods Loaning near the town centre, which is expected to open in autumn 2007. [3]
Local Authority
Dumfries hosts the headquarters of Dumfries and Galloway Council.
Civil Arrangements
Dumfries & Galloway Constabulary
Dumfries is centre to Scotland’s smallest police force [4]. Despite its size it is credited in its participation of one the largest criminal investigations in modern history when neighbouring town, Lockerbie, was devastated by the events that took place onboard Pan Am Flight 103 on December 21st, 1988.
Areas of Dumfries
Although serving a relatively small population, Dumfries is divided into several key districts. This segmentation lays basis for a strong community based culture.
Town Centre
Dumfries High Street hosts many of the historical, social and commercial centres of the town. During the 1990’s, these areas enjoyed various aesthetic recognitions from organisations including Scotland in Bloom. Unfortunately such awards are not an innate reality in 2006 owing to an increased degenerative appearance throughout many of the town centre's key areas.
Towards the end of 2005, the Bell Tower of the town's illustrious Midsteeple was dismantled conceding to safety concerns of its structural integrity. This event caused much controversy within the town on the council’s capability to maintain key features. The landmark is now in the early stages of reparation, the costs of which are estimated to be around £1.6m. [5]
Key Districts
Dumfries has several suburbs, including Georgetown, Larchfield, Calside, Lochside, Lincluden, Sandside, Heathhall, Locharbriggs, Marchmount. Maxwelltown to the west of the river Nith, was formerly a Burgh in its own right within The Stewartry of Kirkcudbright (also known as Kircudbrightshire) until its incorporation into Dumfries in 1928; Troqueer, a settlement situated to the south west of Dumfries was part of the Burgh of Maxwelltown.
Education
Dumfries has several primary schools, approximately 1 per key district, and 4 main secondary schools. All of these institutions are governed by the local council and the Scottish Executive. The secondary schools are:
- Dumfries Academy
- Dumfries High School
- Maxwelltown High School
- St. Joseph's College
In 1999 Scotland's first multi-institutional university campus was established in Dumfries. Located within the 85-acre Crichton estate, it is host to the University of Glasgow, the University of Paisley, Bell College and Dumfries & Galloway College. Still in its infancy, the campus offers a limited number of degree courses in Liberal Arts, Business Studies, Environmental Sustainability, Computing, Social Work and Nursing. [6] On January 16th 2007, The University of Glasgow announced that it was 'scaling' down its activities at the campus due to money problems, although there is a campaign to retain provision.
Sport
Dumfries' Palmerston Park is the home ground of Scottish First Division football team Queen of the South.
The town is also home to Solway Sharks ice hockey team who play at the Dumfries Ice Bowl.
Festivals
There are a number of festivals which take place throughout the year, mostly based on traditional values.
Guid Neighbours
Guid Neighbours (Guid Nychburris in Middle Scots) is the main festival of the year, a ceremony which is largely based on the theme of a positive community spirit.
Scottish communities granted Royal Burgh status by the monarch guarded the honour jealously and with vigour. And Riding the Marches maintains the tradition of an occasion that was, in it's day, of great importance. Dumfries has been a Royal Burgh since 1186 its charter being granted by King Robert III a move that insured the loyalty of its citizens to the Monarch.
Although far from the centre of power in Scotland, Dumfries had obvious strategic significance sitting as it does on the edge of Galloway and being the centre of control for the south west of Scotland.
With the River Nith on two sides and the Lochar Moss on another, Dumfries was a town with good natural defenses. Consequently it was never completely walled. But, a careful eye still had to be kept on the clearly defined boundaries of the burgh, a task that had to be taken each year by the Provost, Baillies, Burgesses and others within the town.
Neighbouring landowners might easily try to encroach on the town boundaries, or the Marches as they were known, Moving them back 100 yards or so to their own benefit. It had to be made clear to anyone thinking of or trying to encroach that they dare not do so.
Nowadays, of course, all matters relating to land and its ownership are clearly registered, But it was clearly different in days gone by. In return for the Royal statusof the town and the favour of the King, the Provost and his council, along with other worthies of the town had to be diligent in ensuring the boundaries were strictly observed. Although steeped in history, Scotland's burghs remained the foundation of the country's system of local government for centuries. Burgh status conferred on its citizens the right to elect their own town councils, run their own affairs and raise their own local taxes or rates.
In 1974 the burghs became part of larger districts and regions. Those boundaries, so jealously and vigorousl garded over so many years, lost the significance they were granted by Royal statute. Ancient titles Ancient titles like Provost and Bailie were discarded or retained only for ceremonial purposes. Robes and chains often found their way into museums as a reminder of the past.
Dumfries remains a centre of local government for a much bigger area than just the town itself. But its people, the Doonhamers still retain a pride in their town and distinctive identity. This is never more so than during the week long Guid Nychburris Festival and its highlight the Riding of the Marches which takes place on the third Saturday in June each year.
The ceremony on Guid Nychburris Day, follows a route and sequence of events laid down in the mists of time. Formal proceedings start at 7.30am with the gathering of up to 250 horses waiting for the courier to arrive and announce that the Pursuivant is on his way, and at 8.00am leave the Midsteeple and ride out to meet the Pursuivant. They then proceed to Ride the Marches and Stob and Nog (mark the boundary with posts and flags) before returning to the Midsteeple at 12.15pm to meet the Provost and then the Charter is proclaimed to the towns people of Dumfries. This is then followed by the crowning of the Queen of the South.
More information can be found at www.guidnychburris.co.uk
Dumfries and Galloway
The name Dumfries and Galloway is given to one of Scotland's 32 council areas comprising the former (1975-96) districts of Nithsdale, Annandale and Eskdale, the Stewartry of Kirkcudbrightshire and the Machars.
Dumfries Lieutenancy Area
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Dumfries also lends its name to a Lieutenancy Area, similar in boundaries to the former Dumfriesshire county.
Town twinning
See Also
- Abecediary An example from St Mary Grey Friars church.
References
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