Glasserton
Encyclopedia
‘’’Glasserton’’’ is a parish
in Dumfries and Galloway
, Scotland
. It is thought that the name derives from the Saxon for “bare hill”. It is located near Whithorn
and includes the village of Monrieth, the area called Kirkmaiden
and two mansions, namely Glasserton Park and Physgill, together with Woodfall Gardens. The Statistical Account remarks that the church "stands near to Glasserton-House, and is romantically embosomed in wood, which sheds around it a vernerable gloom, as if it were a druidical temple, or the sacred grove of some Syrian idol.". It is thought that the name derives from Saxon for “bare hill”.
Legend has it that Saint Ninian
, otherwise called Saint Ringan, the first Bishop of Galloway
lived for a while in a cave near Physgill by way of penitence. He was he founder of Whithorn Abbey.
Kirkmaiden Church, now a ruin, stood near Monrieth.
The house, park and gardens at Woodfall were built on the orders of Admiral Keith Stewart
, the second surviving son of Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway
who was given the 2000 acres (8.1 km²) Barony of Glasserton in 1767. The Statistical Account gives in 1795 a detailed description of his agricultural improvements, based on continued raising of the traditional black cattle. He died in 1795, and was succeeded by his son, Rt Hon James Alexander Stewart-Mackenzie
, but the house was let and the contents were sold. He sold the house and grounds in 1819 to Stair Hathorn-Stewart at the neighbouring Physgill estate. That which is now called "Woodfall Gardens" was a part of the Glasserton and Physgill estate which was sold some thirty years ago and are now on show to the public.
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
in Dumfries and Galloway
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...
, 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...
. It is thought that the name derives from the Saxon for “bare hill”. It is located near Whithorn
Whithorn
Whithorn is a former royal burgh in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, about ten miles south of Wigtown. The town was the location of the first recorded Christian church in Scotland, Candida Casa : the 'White [or 'Shining'] House', built by Saint Ninian about 397.-Eighth and twelfth centuries:A...
and includes the village of Monrieth, the area called Kirkmaiden
Kirkmaiden
Kirkmaiden is a civil parish in the Rinns of Galloway, the most southerly in Scotland; the present Church of Scotland parish has the same name as and is approximately coterminous with the original pre-Reformation parish....
and two mansions, namely Glasserton Park and Physgill, together with Woodfall Gardens. The Statistical Account remarks that the church "stands near to Glasserton-House, and is romantically embosomed in wood, which sheds around it a vernerable gloom, as if it were a druidical temple, or the sacred grove of some Syrian idol.". It is thought that the name derives from Saxon for “bare hill”.
Saint Ninian
Saint Ninian is a Christian saint first mentioned in the 8th century as being an early missionary among the Pictish peoples of what is now Scotland...
, otherwise called Saint Ringan, the first Bishop of Galloway
Galloway
Galloway is an area in southwestern Scotland. It usually refers to the former counties of Wigtownshire and Kirkcudbrightshire...
lived for a while in a cave near Physgill by way of penitence. He was he founder of Whithorn Abbey.
Kirkmaiden Church, now a ruin, stood near Monrieth.
The house, park and gardens at Woodfall were built on the orders of Admiral Keith Stewart
Keith Stewart
Keith Stewart of Glasserton was a ScottishAdmiral and MP in the British Parliament. He was the second surviving son of Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway.-Naval career:...
, the second surviving son of Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway
Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway
Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway was the son of James Stewart, 5th Earl of Galloway by Catherine, daughter of Alexander Montgomerie, 9th Earl of Eglinton ....
who was given the 2000 acres (8.1 km²) Barony of Glasserton in 1767. The Statistical Account gives in 1795 a detailed description of his agricultural improvements, based on continued raising of the traditional black cattle. He died in 1795, and was succeeded by his son, Rt Hon James Alexander Stewart-Mackenzie
James Alexander Stewart-Mackenzie
James Alexander Stewart-Mackenzie , was a Scottish politician and British colonial administrator.Born James Alexander Stewart, the son of Vice Admiral Keith Stewart , he assumed the surname Stewart-Mackenzie after his marriage on 21 May 1817 to Mary Elizabeth Frederica Mackenzie , daughter...
, but the house was let and the contents were sold. He sold the house and grounds in 1819 to Stair Hathorn-Stewart at the neighbouring Physgill estate. That which is now called "Woodfall Gardens" was a part of the Glasserton and Physgill estate which was sold some thirty years ago and are now on show to the public.