Kirkbean
Encyclopedia
Kirkbean is a small village and civil parish near the Solway Firth
in Dumfries and Galloway
, Scotland
.
Arbigland
, an estate in Kirkbean parish, was the birthplace of American naval
commander John Paul Jones
.
According to the 2001 Census, the Parish of Kirkbean - which comprises four small villages - has just 643 residents in total.
To help promote the area's rich historical heritage and famous sons and daughters, residents of the Parish established the Kirkbean Parish Heritage Society in 2009 and had a website built which can be viewed at http://www.kirkbeanheritagesociety.org.uk.
Among its most famous sons was John Paul Jones
, the founder of the United States Navy, who was born in Kirkbean on July 6, 1747. A memorial font exists in the church, by sculptor George Henry Paulin
. This illustrates both John Paul Jones and his flagship USS Bonhomme Richard
.
Kirkbean is also the birthplace of another great seafarer, John Campbell, who was born in 1720 and who went on to become a British naval officer, navigational expert and colonial governor of Newfoundland
in Canada.
The parish was also the departure point for thousands of Scots seeking a better life in the American and Australian colonies during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Convicts were also transported to Australia from here, making the parish a rich source of genealogical history with many hundreds of thousands of people worldwide having a connection to this beautiful part of Scotland.
Today, the local beaches and the bird-rich merse where millions of seabirds live or over-winter are part of the rich natural heritage of the parish. Visitors to the National Nature Reserve on the far side of the Nith
come by the coachload to watch birds on the Carsethorn foreshore, before continuing to the nature reserves at Southwick
and Mersehead.
Solway 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...
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...
.
Arbigland
Arbigland
Arbigland Estate is an estate in Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland. Arbigland lies on the Solway Firth coast to the south east of Kirkbean.The classically-styled Arbigland House was built in 1755 by improving laird and gentleman architect William Craik and a small dower house called The House on...
, an estate in Kirkbean parish, was the birthplace of American naval
Continental Navy
The Continental Navy was the navy of the United States during the American Revolutionary War, and was formed in 1775. Through the efforts of the Continental Navy's patron, John Adams and vigorous Congressional support in the face of stiff opposition, the fleet cumulatively became relatively...
commander John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones was a Scottish sailor and the United States' first well-known naval fighter in the American Revolutionary War. Although he made enemies among America's political elites, his actions in British waters during the Revolution earned him an international reputation which persists to...
.
According to the 2001 Census, the Parish of Kirkbean - which comprises four small villages - has just 643 residents in total.
To help promote the area's rich historical heritage and famous sons and daughters, residents of the Parish established the Kirkbean Parish Heritage Society in 2009 and had a website built which can be viewed at http://www.kirkbeanheritagesociety.org.uk.
Among its most famous sons was John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones was a Scottish sailor and the United States' first well-known naval fighter in the American Revolutionary War. Although he made enemies among America's political elites, his actions in British waters during the Revolution earned him an international reputation which persists to...
, the founder of the United States Navy, who was born in Kirkbean on July 6, 1747. A memorial font exists in the church, by sculptor George Henry Paulin
George Henry Paulin
George Henry Paulin, often called Harry Paulin, or 'GHP' was a Scottish sculptor and artist of great note in the early 20th century....
. This illustrates both John Paul Jones and his flagship USS Bonhomme Richard
USS Bonhomme Richard
Five ships of the United States Navy have borne the name Bonhomme Richard or Bon Homme Richard , the French language equivalent of "Goodman Richard"....
.
Kirkbean is also the birthplace of another great seafarer, John Campbell, who was born in 1720 and who went on to become a British naval officer, navigational expert and colonial governor of Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
in Canada.
The parish was also the departure point for thousands of Scots seeking a better life in the American and Australian colonies during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Convicts were also transported to Australia from here, making the parish a rich source of genealogical history with many hundreds of thousands of people worldwide having a connection to this beautiful part of Scotland.
Today, the local beaches and the bird-rich merse where millions of seabirds live or over-winter are part of the rich natural heritage of the parish. Visitors to the National Nature Reserve on the far side of the Nith
Nith
Nith may refer to:*River Nith *Nith River *Nīþ*Nithing pole*National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur*Norwegian School of Information Technology...
come by the coachload to watch birds on the Carsethorn foreshore, before continuing to the nature reserves at Southwick
Southwick
-Places:India* Southwick, Ooty, a suburb of Ooty town in the state of Tamil Nadu.England* Southwick, Hampshire , a village in the county of Hampshire* Southwick, Northamptonshire, a small village* Southwick, Somerset, a small village...
and Mersehead.