Dalbeattie
Encyclopedia
Dalbeattie is a town in Dumfries and Galloway
(formerly Kirkcudbrightshire
), Scotland
.
Dalbeattie is situated in a wooded valley on the Urr Water
6 km (4 mi) east of Castle Douglas
and 19 km (12 mi) south west of Dumfries
. The town is famed for its granite industry and for being the home town of William McMaster Murdoch
First Officer of the RMS Titanic.
The formal beginnings of Dalbeattie originate in 1781 when George Maxwell of Munches and Alexander Copeland of Kingsgrange (or Colliston) decided to encourage the development of the town by feuing their property. The Maxwells owned the land on the North side of the burn
and the Copelands owned the land on the South side. Every feu consisted of a piece of land, fronting a street, large enough to build a house and grow vegetables and keep chickens and pigs. Each feu also had the right to cut turves
(peat) from Aucheninnes Moss. This was important as fuel was scarce in Galloway, coal was expensive and there were very few trees. The feu duties brought in an income for the landowners and gave security for the tenants.
The building of the bridge over the River Urr at Craignair in 1797 and the rapid expansion of the Granite Industry in Dalbeattie attracted more people to settle in the town. By 1810 work in the quarries was plentiful and over the next 30 years a lot of trades people settled and founded businesses in Dalbeattie. However the expanded population brought other problems, high incidents of sickness, including Cholera and Typhoid, and Law and Order issues.
The town today has a greatly reduced industry and most residents commute to the nearby town of Dumfries
for employment. The town is frequented by tourists as its position is well situated for access to the Solway coast.
Over the last twenty years, the town has also seen regular gatherings of Bob Dylan fans from all around the country including Newcastle, Liverpool, Milton Keynes & Glasgow. October 2011 saw the debut of Dylan tribute band `Odds & Ends' at the Pheasant Hotel, with Mike Kirkup (keyboards, electric & acoustic guitar & vocals), Ged Keilty (mandolin, acoustic guitar & vocals) and Steve Watson (acoustic guitar, vocals, harmonica & percussion). They played a blistering set including a `Folson Prison Blues/Outlaw Blues' medley, `Like a Rolling Stone' and songs by The Beatles, Tom Waits and The Rolling Stones.
council and is located in the Abbey ward. The town is in the Westminster
constituency of Dumfries and Galloway
and currently represent by Russell Brown. In the Scottish Parliament the town is within the Galloway and Upper Nithsdale
constituency and the South of Scotland
region and is represented by Alex Fergusson and Alasdair Morgan
respectively. Alasdair Morgans constituency office is located in the towns high street.
and passes by the west side of the town. The town has an abundance of distinctive grey granite.
Formerly granite
quarrying was an important part of the Dalbeattie economy. The most prominent of which is the characteristic Craignair quarry which is clearly visible to the west of the town. Dalbeattie Granite works was established in 1820 and was situated in Craignair Street, following a direct route from Craignair quarry. The industry died down locally around 1883 due to cheaper imports from Denmark. Many of the workers immigrated to other parts of the world in order to find work, a number immigrated to the USA to work at a sister quarry in Westerly, Rhode Island.Granite exported from Dalbeattie went into the Mersey Docks in Liverpool, the Thames Embankment in London, various British lighthouses, even as far as the lighthouse at the southern tip of Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Its most famous use was probably the Eddystone Lighthouse in southern England.
Dalbeattie is credited with developing the technique of polishing granite stone to form a shiny surface. This technique was exported throughout the world by the skilled workers of Dalbeattie as they travelled.
Most of the residents commute to nearby Dumfries
for employment.
; however, this was removed in the 1960s as it was deemed unprofitable.
Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland. It was one of the nine administrative 'regions' of mainland Scotland created in 1975 by the Local Government etc. Act 1973...
(formerly Kirkcudbrightshire
Kirkcudbrightshire
The Stewartry of Kirkcudbright or Kirkcudbrightshire was a county of south-western Scotland. It was also known as East Galloway, forming the larger Galloway region with Wigtownshire....
), Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Dalbeattie is situated in a wooded valley on the Urr Water
Urr Water
Urr Water or River Urr is a river in southwest Scotland.Entirely within Dumfries and Galloway, the Urr Water originates at Glenlair, and flows southwards for thirty miles from Loch Urr to its outflow into the Solway Firth at Rough Firth...
6 km (4 mi) east of Castle Douglas
Castle Douglas
Castle Douglas , a town in the south of Scotland in Dumfries and Galloway, lies in the eastern part of Galloway known as the Stewartry, between the towns of Dalbeattie and Gatehouse of Fleet.-History:...
and 19 km (12 mi) south west of Dumfries
Dumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
. The town is famed for its granite industry and for being the home town of William McMaster Murdoch
William McMaster Murdoch
Lieutenant William "Will" McMaster Murdoch RNR was a Scottish sailor who died on board the , where he was employed by the White Star Line, serving as First Officer...
First Officer of the RMS Titanic.
History
There are indications from Court Records that a settlement existed on the site as early as 1658 and it is further mentioned in 1747. There is also evidence from Presbytery Records which indicate there was a School Master in Dalbeattie in 1751.The formal beginnings of Dalbeattie originate in 1781 when George Maxwell of Munches and Alexander Copeland of Kingsgrange (or Colliston) decided to encourage the development of the town by feuing their property. The Maxwells owned the land on the North side of the burn
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
and the Copelands owned the land on the South side. Every feu consisted of a piece of land, fronting a street, large enough to build a house and grow vegetables and keep chickens and pigs. Each feu also had the right to cut turves
Peat
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world...
(peat) from Aucheninnes Moss. This was important as fuel was scarce in Galloway, coal was expensive and there were very few trees. The feu duties brought in an income for the landowners and gave security for the tenants.
The building of the bridge over the River Urr at Craignair in 1797 and the rapid expansion of the Granite Industry in Dalbeattie attracted more people to settle in the town. By 1810 work in the quarries was plentiful and over the next 30 years a lot of trades people settled and founded businesses in Dalbeattie. However the expanded population brought other problems, high incidents of sickness, including Cholera and Typhoid, and Law and Order issues.
The town today has a greatly reduced industry and most residents commute to the nearby town of Dumfries
Dumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
for employment. The town is frequented by tourists as its position is well situated for access to the Solway coast.
Over the last twenty years, the town has also seen regular gatherings of Bob Dylan fans from all around the country including Newcastle, Liverpool, Milton Keynes & Glasgow. October 2011 saw the debut of Dylan tribute band `Odds & Ends' at the Pheasant Hotel, with Mike Kirkup (keyboards, electric & acoustic guitar & vocals), Ged Keilty (mandolin, acoustic guitar & vocals) and Steve Watson (acoustic guitar, vocals, harmonica & percussion). They played a blistering set including a `Folson Prison Blues/Outlaw Blues' medley, `Like a Rolling Stone' and songs by The Beatles, Tom Waits and The Rolling Stones.
Notable people
- Murray GriersonMurray GriersonMurray Grierson, is a Scottish rally driver from Dalbeattie.Born in Balmaclellan in 1948, Murray began rallying a Mini in the early 1970s. He was a stalwart of the Scottish Rally Championship, winning it outright in 1987, using an Opel Kadett 400 and again in 1993, using an MG Metro 6R4...
is a retired rally driver who won the Scottish Rally ChampionshipScottish Rally ChampionshipThe Scottish Rally Championship is a rallying series run throughout Scotland over the course of a year, that comprises seven gravel rallies and one tarmac event . Points are awarded to the top placed drivers and the driver scoring the highest number of points over the season is declared Champion...
in 1987 using an Opel Kadett 400 and again in 1993 using a MG Metro 6R4. He also won numerous British National Championship rallies, finishing runner-up in the Championship in 1988 in an Opel Kadett 400 and again in 1997 and 1998, when he used a Subaru Impreza 555. Latterly, he was often seen on rounds of the World Rally ChampionshipWorld Rally ChampionshipThe World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
doing gravel notes for Colin McRaeColin McRaeColin Steele McRae, MBE was a Scottish rally driver born in Lanark.The son of five-time British Rally Champion Jimmy McRae and brother of rally driver Alister McRae, Colin McRae was the 1991 and 1992 British Rally Champion and, in 1995, became the first British person and the youngest to win the...
and Alister McRaeAlister McRaeAlister McRae is a Scottish rally driver, who competed in the World Rally Championship. He is the son of the five-time British Rally Champion Jimmy McRae and the younger brother of the late 1995 World Rally Champion, Colin McRae...
. - Jimmy McKinnellJimmy McKinnellJimmy McKinnell from Dalbeattie was a professional footballer who played for Dumfries club Queen of the South F.C. and Blackburn Rovers.Jimmy McKinnell moved from Queen of the South to Blackburn Rovers in 1920. He made seven appearances and scored three goals. McKinnell was one of the three players...
was a professional footballer who played for DumfriesDumfriesDumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
club Queen of the South F.C.Queen of the South F.C.Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
and Blackburn Rovers - William McMaster MurdochWilliam McMaster MurdochLieutenant William "Will" McMaster Murdoch RNR was a Scottish sailor who died on board the , where he was employed by the White Star Line, serving as First Officer...
was born and raised in the town and is by far the most well known former resident. He became the First Officer of the and died when the ship sank on its maiden voyage in 1912. A memorial to Murdoch's heroism is present on the wall of Dalbeattie Town Hall and a charitable prize has been established in his name. - John MaxwellJohn Maxwell (artist)John Maxwell was a Scottish painter of landscapes and imaginative subjects.Born in Dalbeattie in Kirkcudbrightshire, Maxwell studied at Edinburgh College of Art from 1921 to 1927 and then, with the aid of a travelling scholarship, from 1927 to 1928 at the Académie Moderne in Paris under Léger and...
an artist who was born in the town and later traveled around Europe, he exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy in 1935. - John Menzies StrainJohn Menzies StrainJohn Menzies Strain was a Roman Catholic clergyman who served as the first Archbishop of the Metropolitan see of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland.-Early life:...
was a priest in the town for twenty-three years before becoming the first Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh in 1878. - Ian SimpsonIan Simpson (motorcycle racer)Ian Simpson is a retired motorcycle road racer from Scotland, nicknamed the 'Dalbeattie Destroyer'.Simpson began racing at the age of 16, and entered the British Championship two years later...
a retired motorcycle racer who won the 1994 British Superbike Championship as well as 3 Isle of Man TTIsle of Man TTThe International Isle of Man TT Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man and was for many years the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world...
and 5 North West 200North West 200The North West 200 is a motorcycle race meeting held each May in Northern Ireland. The course, made up of public roads running between the towns of Portstewart, Coleraine and Portrush is one of the fastest in the world, with speeds in excess of . It is one of around fifteen events run on public...
races. - Jim SteelJim Steel (footballer)William James "Jim" Steel is a Scottish former professional association footballer. A big, aggressive player, his position was centre forward....
had a successful career as a footballer playing in England'd lower divisions with Oldham Athletic, Wigan Athletic, Wrexham A.F.C.Wrexham A.F.C.Wrexham Football Club are a professional football team based in Wrexham, north-east Wales, who play in the English football pyramid.Founded in 1872, they are one of the oldest surviving football clubs in Britain and the oldest professional club in Wales...
, Port ValePort Vale F.C.Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
and Tranmere Rovers.
Governance
The town is under the management of Dumfries and GallowayDumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland. It was one of the nine administrative 'regions' of mainland Scotland created in 1975 by the Local Government etc. Act 1973...
council and is located in the Abbey ward. The town is in the Westminster
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
constituency of Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway (UK Parliament constituency)
Dumfries and Galloway is a county constituency of in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was first used in the 2005 general election, and replaced Galloway and Upper Nithsdale and part of Dumfries, and it elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post...
and currently represent by Russell Brown. In the Scottish Parliament the town is within the Galloway and Upper Nithsdale
Galloway and Upper Nithsdale (Scottish Parliament constituency)
Galloway and Upper Nithsdale was a constituency of the Scottish Parliament . It elected one Member of the Scottish Parliament by the plurality method of election....
constituency and the South of Scotland
South of Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)
South of Scotland is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament which were created in 1999. Nine of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament...
region and is represented by Alex Fergusson and Alasdair Morgan
Alasdair Morgan
Alasdair Neil Morgan is a Scottish politician. He was a Scottish National Party Member of the Scottish Parliament for the South of Scotland region from 2003 to 2011, having previously been first MP from 1997 to 2001 and then MSP from 1999 to 2003 for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale...
respectively. Alasdair Morgans constituency office is located in the towns high street.
Geography
Dalbeattie is situated in the Urr valley of which most of the east side is covered by forest. The River Urr flows from the north southwards to the Solway FirthSolway Firth
The Solway Firth is a firth that forms part of the border between England and Scotland, between Cumbria and Dumfries and Galloway. It stretches from St Bees Head, just south of Whitehaven in Cumbria, to the Mull of Galloway, on the western end of Dumfries and Galloway. The Isle of Man is also very...
and passes by the west side of the town. The town has an abundance of distinctive grey granite.
Granite Quarrying
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
quarrying was an important part of the Dalbeattie economy. The most prominent of which is the characteristic Craignair quarry which is clearly visible to the west of the town. Dalbeattie Granite works was established in 1820 and was situated in Craignair Street, following a direct route from Craignair quarry. The industry died down locally around 1883 due to cheaper imports from Denmark. Many of the workers immigrated to other parts of the world in order to find work, a number immigrated to the USA to work at a sister quarry in Westerly, Rhode Island.Granite exported from Dalbeattie went into the Mersey Docks in Liverpool, the Thames Embankment in London, various British lighthouses, even as far as the lighthouse at the southern tip of Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Its most famous use was probably the Eddystone Lighthouse in southern England.
Dalbeattie is credited with developing the technique of polishing granite stone to form a shiny surface. This technique was exported throughout the world by the skilled workers of Dalbeattie as they travelled.
Modern Day
The town has a large sawmill "Howie Forest Products" which employs around 120 people. It is also home to a prospering souvenir factory Thistle Productshttp://www.thistleproducts.co.uk which distributes Scottish souvenirs across Scotland and beyond, most famously the "See You Jimmy Hat" and more recently the "Instakilt Beach Towel".Most of the residents commute to nearby Dumfries
Dumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
for employment.
Transport
The town is accessible by roads from Dumfries, Castle Douglas, and is on the Solway coastal road. A regular bus service based in Dumfries travels though Dalbeattie and Casle Douglas to the west of the region and back. The town also acts as a minor hub for bus routes across the Solway coast. The town previously had access to the rail networkRail transport in Great Britain
The railway system in Great Britain is the oldest in the world, with the world's first locomotive-hauled public railway opening in 1825. As of 2010, it consists of of standard gauge lines , of which are electrified. These lines range from single to double, triple, quadruple track and up to twelve...
; however, this was removed in the 1960s as it was deemed unprofitable.