Civil parishes are small divisions used for statistical purposes and formerly for local government in Scotland .
50-493: Portpatrick is a village and civil parish in the historical county of Wigtownshire , Dumfries and Galloway , Scotland. It is located on the west coast of the Rhins of Galloway . The parish is about 4 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles (7 km) in length and 4 miles (6 km) in breadth, covering 9,300 acres (3,800 ha). Dating back some 700 years and built adjacent to the ruins of nearby Dunskey Castle , Portpatrick's position on
100-404: A door. Another aspect was "...we went by water to see the ruins of an old castle (Dunskey), under this house, in the rock, is a cave, which, they say, goes a considerable distance under ground...". This cave may be shown in a photo of Dunskey Castle on Geograph. There are other mentions of a piper "ghost" playing and pacing up and down perhaps in the cave. In AD 1520–1521 Ninian Adair had only
150-485: A firework display. There are bowls clubs, a golf club, many guesthouses and hotels, and rustic public houses. The village is also home to a mini putting course. By the inner harbour is the starting point of the Southern Upland Way , a long-distance walking route to Cockburnspath on the east coast. The Portpatrick Hotel, built in 1905 and extended in 1907, sits on the cliffs above this point. The village
200-470: A legal obligation to consult them. Dunskey Castle Dunskey Castle is a ruined, 12th-century tower house or castle, located 0.5 miles (0.80 km) south of the village of Portpatrick , Rhinns , Wigtownshire, on the south-west coast of Scotland . Dunskey Castle is a scheduled monument , a 'nationally important' archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorised change. The three-storey L-plan structure
250-408: A new deed ?) M. JACOBO BLAIR (Rev. James Blair) ministro Verbi Dei apud ecclesiam de Port-Montgomrie (minister of church at Port-Montgomery / Portpatrick Wigtownshire) ejus heredibus, successoribus et assignatis quibuscunque, irredimabiliter, – 4 mercatas terrarum de Meikle Portspittell, 3 mercatas de Litle Portspittell. On 19 October 1667 there was a marriage contract between John Blair, (son of
300-550: A sheer rock by the sea." Viscount Montgomery was heavily in mortgage after sustaining his troops for a long period, (as was Sir Robert McLellan), so Dunskey Castle passed to the Blair family who were or had been Ministers at Portmontgomery als Portpatrick. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, Vol. IX. AD1634-1651. p. 814 #2156 Apud Edinburgh, 10 January (1649) REX, – concessit et de novo dedit (KING Charles I – consents to
350-598: A short time to enjoy his new additions to Dunskey Castle as in AD1523 his son William was mentioned as his heir. In 1520–1521 (as Ninian Adair's heir, William, was under-age) the warde his lands (including Dunskey castle) were put into the hands of the Gilbert Kennedy, 2nd Earl of Cassilis and Lord Maxwell. c.1600 "in Ninian Adair's time and his sons" a browney "hanted" his house of Dunsky. On 5 April 1608
400-895: Is shown on Pont's map as "Karn Multibrugh" north of Lefnol (Leffnoll / Lesnoll / Lochnoll) and as "Cairn" on Ainslie's 1782 map of the County of Wigton, in the National Library of Scotland, digital library early maps In AD 1486 ADAIR (Adare), Rolland, deceased, father of William Adair (who must have been under-age) the ward of his lands of Kilhelt, Portre (Dunskey), Kildonane and Drummore, had been granted to an Alexander Bruce c.1468 who had had them in error for 18 years. p. 381 error of accounting for 18 years. In AD 1488 William Adair of Dunskey Castle & Kinhilt and McCulloch of nearby Ardwell , Stoneykirk , were attacked by sheriff Quentin Agnew of Lochnaw Castle and his band of men. Agnew
450-402: Is sited on a promontory, with a rock-cut ditch, 15 metres (49 ft) wide by 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) deep, defending the only access, from the north-east. The castle measures 30 by 14.3 metres (98 by 47 ft), with walls 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) thick, although the building is now a roofless shell. The north-east wing is of a later date, and the foundations of a south range are visible. Near
500-618: Is the base from which Navtex transmissions for the seas North and West of the UK are broadcast. For the purpose of extended Shipping forecasts , the Met Office uses Portpatrick as the name of the forecast area covering the sea between South-East Iceland and Lundy, including the waters around Ireland Civil parishes in Scotland Civil parishes gained legal functions in 1845 when parochial boards were established to administer
550-465: The Rhins of Galloway affords visitors views of the Northern Irish coast 21 miles (34 km) to the west, with cliff-top walks and beaches both north and south. The Gulf Stream , flowing in from the north, gives the coastline a pleasant climate, in which subtropical plant life can flourish. Portpatrick has a Community Council, and an annual Life Boat Week, featuring parades, activities, and
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#1732787808125600-556: The ecclesiastical parishes of the Church of Scotland . As parishes used for religious functions diverged from civil parishes, the former became known as quoad sacra parishes . Since 1975, Scotland has been divided into community council areas which are often similar to civil parishes in their boundaries. These community council are not equivalent to English parish councils and Welsh community councils and do not have legal powers of their own but in some cases local authorities have
650-466: The poor law . Their local government functions were abolished in 1930 with their powers transferred to county or burgh councils. Since 1975, they have been superseded as the smallest unit of local administration in Scotland by community councils . Civil parishes in Scotland can be dated from 1845, when parochial boards were established to administer the poor law . While they originally corresponded to
700-475: The 17th century, but the strong winds across the North Channel made this impractical. In 1770 John Smeaton constructed the town's first proper harbour. In 1821, John Rennie was appointed to create a new harbour defined by two new piers. The north pier collapsed in 1839, but the south remains standing. The harbour's inner basin was built between 1861 and 1863, but by then, the main goods route to Ireland
750-704: The 1952 film Hunted . The owner, Lady Amy McFall, restricts public access to the castle. In the 1290s, John Comyn, Earl of Buchan , had a licence from Edward I of England , reigned 1272–1307) to dig for lead in the Calf of Man (off the coast of the Isle of Man), to cover eight towers of the Cruggleton Castle / Crogiltoun Castle in Wigtownshire. Was Dunskey Castle built about this time ? and in AD1291
800-1153: The Earls of Darnly and Lennox) ; Maria, Queen of Mann and the Isles . c. AD1326 "Index of Charters, &c. by King Robert I." King Robert I Robert the Bruce (born 1274 reigned AD1306-1329 after the Interregnum AD1296-1306). p. 27 "In the Roll of Robert the First, marked on the back with this mark, X. 1. Carta to Thomas Edzear (probably Adair) of the lands of Kildonan, in the Rynes, Wigtoun". Another version of Adair / Odeir / Edzear of Dunskey Castle in Portry / Portrie / Port-N-Rye, is : c. AD1326 "Index A. From old vol. XXII Fol. 25 verso – Ane Littill small skine quahirin ar conteinet certane complaintis of deforcementis and of haldingis of landis quhilkis ar decydit be
850-648: The Parish of Montgomorie. The name of the parish however was changed after only two or three years to that of Portpatrick. Portpatrick railway station was completed in 1861. It was the original terminus of the Portpatrick Railway , in order to serve new steam packet services across the North Channel. After a new harbour was built in Stranraer, Portpatrick declined again as a cross-channel port, and
900-562: The University of Saint Andrews, now spouse of Joan Montgrumie alias Mackmath, for his interest, for payment of 2,000 pounds Scots. AD1654 From Timothy Pont 's map "Two castles stronger than the rest may be seen in the Rinns, Kennedy on Loch Isle of the Earl of Cassillis, and Scaeodunum (called in the vernacular Dunskey), (Scot dun / castle ? ) founded by the ancestors of Robert Adair on
950-406: The castle are the remains of a watchtower, 7 metres (23 ft) square, built on the cliff edge. Timothy Pont 's map drawn c. 1580 – 1590 shows Dunskay Castle with 2 watchtowers on the cliff edge fronting the sea. Francis Grose 's drawing dated show of 10 May 1790s the ruins of the foundations and sea-wall on the south, and what looks to be the large entrance door in the southern corner from where
1000-477: The castle, tower and fortalice of Dunskey situate thereupon" to which lands had pertained to Hew Montgomery now Viscount of Airds, his father (John Shaw's father-in-law?), and were apprised from him on 1 August 1650 at the instance of Joane Montgrumie alias Mackmath relict of the deceased Hew Montgrumie sometime of Balharie in the country of Doune, Gentleman (Balhenry ? co Down, Ireland), and of Maister Samuell Rutherfuird Samuel Rutherford professor of divinity in
1050-704: The early 1500s Dunskey Castle was repaired by the Adairs of Kinhilt (the Hall of Dunskey was rebuilt and was 36feet by 17feet). The Adairs built the Castle of St. John in nearby Stranraer Wigtownshire about 1510. 29 August 1496 "Anent the complaynt made be Wilzeam Adaire of Kilhelt and Archibald Makculloch of Ardwell apoun Schir Alexander McCulloch of Mertoune, knicht Clan McCulloch , Owchtre McDowell of Gerthloy (Uchtred McDowell of Garthland) Clan Macdowall , and thare complicis, that quhair thai war dylatit of art and part of
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#17327878081251100-552: The estate. Four years later Ninian had a renewal of the tack which had been granted to his father in AD1512. It is said that Ninian Adair rebuilt the castle of Dunskey on a more magnificent scale than ever, and to put an end to the feud with the MacDowells he espoused Janet McDowell, a daughter of the house of Garthland Garthland Castle . The ground floor plan of Dunskey appears to show this new enlarged section (three cellars facing
1150-454: The inside staircase may have led straight up to the new "Hall" built c.1520. Grose's drawing shows Ireland (approx. Island Magee / Larne area) in the background across the sea. In virtue of a tradition preserved in the Book of Leinster , W. J. Watson identifies the place named in it as Port Rig (Portrie, Portree) with the later Portpatrick , connecting 'Rig' with Reregonium, which he regards as
1200-506: The land-side of Dunskey Castle with the "new" hall with a huge fireplace on the next floor). The arched entrance appeared to be approximately at the south-eastern bottom corner room with circular steps leading up to the new hall. The archway to the entrance can be seen in Francis Grose's drawing, but only the top portion of the archway can now be seen. One peculiar aspect was that one of the new cellars or vaults appeared not to have had
1250-604: The lands of Guilielmus (William) Adair heir of Niniani Adair de Kinhilt, included 10 lib. terranium de Portrie cum castro de Dunskey in parochie de Inche Inch, Wigtownshire . William Adair marriage contract 18 April 1580 to Rosina MacClellan of Galston whose brother, Sir Robert McClellan (McLellan) of MacLellan's Castle Kirkcudbright Clan MacLellan married 1614 Mary Montgomery, eldest daughter of Sir Hugh Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Ards, county Down, Ireland. In February 1620, "10 librat of antiqui extentus de Portry" including "3 mercatas de Marok cum castro de Doneskey"
1300-788: The local authorities created by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and they continue to be used for census purposes. They are used as part of the coding system for agricultural holdings under the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) used to administer schemes within the Common Agricultural Policy . According to the website of the General Register Office for Scotland , there are now 871 civil parishes. Civil parish boundaries originally corresponded with
1350-913: The minister of Portpatrick, Wigtownshire, Scotland) and Jean Agnew, dau of Patrick Agnew, Laird of Sheuchan. A witness was George Stewart of Tonderghie and of Barcly, Wigtownshire, (son of Sir Robert Stewart Governor of Culmore, Londonderry, and a descendant of the Castle Stewart of Penninghame family), who had married Elizabeth, daughter of James Blair of Dunskey Castle. George Stewart's sister, Agnes Stewart married William Houston of Cutreoch, Whithorn , Wigtownshire. Three other witnesses were James & Hew Blair, brothers of above John Blair, and Patrick Kennedy, Provost of Stranraer . Agnes Blair's (née Agnew) sister m. Alexander Adair, son of Robert Adair whose father, William Adair had previously owned Dunskey Castle. John Blair had acted as agent for Viscount Montgomery of Airds who had owned Dunskey Castle. The Viscount
1400-527: The nearby Wigtown Castle was in the hands of the same Edward I who committed it to the charge of Walter de Currie or Cory / Corry / Coree (laird of Dunskey). King Edward I ultimately conferred Wigtown Castle (and Dunskey Castle ?) on John Balliol the Scottish King (reigned AD1292-1296 after which Scotland was without a monarch for 10 years and Sir William Wallace fought the English in 1297, but
1450-440: The north a 2.1-metre (6 ft 11 in) road passed diagonally through the defences from the north-west. From the south-east a natural hollow ran out from the fort, flanked on the west by a face of outcropping rock. At the head of it on the west side within the inner rampart were foundations of a small circular structure measuring internally about 2.1 metres (6 ft 11 in) and overall 3.7 metres (12 ft). Portpatrick
1500-431: The parishes of the Church of Scotland , the number and boundaries of parishes soon diverged. Where a parish contained a burgh , the area of the parish outside the burgh was termed the landward area. Until 1891 some parishes lay in more than one county . In that year, under the terms of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 , the boundaries of most of the civil parishes and counties were realigned so that each parish
1550-664: The parliament. Carta Thomas Odeir de terris de Kildonan Dromin Porthie" [ Portrie = Dunsky & Kinhilt ]. c.1600 Kildonan Castle appeared to be a large castle just east of Dunskey Castle, shown on Timothy Pont 's map in Blaeu's Atlas. On 10 November 1426 Nigello Adare de Portar (Portrie – Dunskey) was a witness to the restoration of the lands of Lochnaw Lochnaw Castle , by Willelmi de Douglas, dom. de Leswalt to Andree Agnew. This Nigello Adare may have died prior AD1456. In AD 1456 Gilbert Kennedy, 1st Lord Kennedy of Dunure obtained
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1600-491: The required period of residence. It's believed that happy couples could disembark, complete the ceremony, and be back on board within an hour. The graveyard around the church contains memorials to many victims of shipwrecks in nearby waters. Joined to the original chapel was a district by the name of the Black Quarter of Inch. When the church was rebuilt in 1629, the Black Quarter was disjoined from Inch and erected as
1650-536: The royal town of the Novantae and places in this region. He would thus carry Portpatrick 's history back to the first century of our era, while he dates a rather later reference to about AD 250. Portpatrick was known as the port of Castle Dunskey. Dunskey is undoubtedly romantic. It was a location for the 1951 film Kidnapped of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel, Double X: The Name of the Game (1992), as well as for
1700-423: The sade Archbald McCulloch and his pure folkis insicht gudis of househald to the availe of xxx li., togidder with ix of ky and oxin, xviij of schepe, xvj horses and meris, tane be the sade Schir Alexander and his complicis as was inlikewise allegiit." After September 1513 Ninian Adair of Kinhilt, as son and heir of William Adair who was killed at Flodden with McDowell, had Sasine (delivery of feudal property) of
1750-413: The said Wilzeam in househald geire tharethrou, extending to the soume of xl li., throw the quhilk fyre rasing thai birnt ane box pertenyng to Elyse McCulloch quhilk thai had in keping and in it j li. and the skaith of the birnyng of the sade Wilzeam house extending to xx li., and als that thai tuke and spulzeit fra the sade Wilzeam foure horses with a part of barkit hydis, as was rychtsa allegiit, and als fra
1800-404: The slauchter of umquhile DYONYSE of Hammyltoun, quilkis was slane on Mydsummer evin that last was, in the toune of Wigtoun, thai bean innocent thareof, and was redy al tymes to underly our soverane Lordis lawis tharefore as was allegiit, quharefore the persons forsaid with thare complicis assegit the place of DUNSKAY pertenyng to the sade Wilzeam Adair and rasit fyre and byrnt the sammyn and skaithit
1850-547: The station closed on 6 February 1950. Portpatrick would likely be the eastern terminus of the proposed road and rail Irish Sea Bridge . 1 ⁄ 2 mile (800 m) south of the village is Dunskey Castle , reached via a steep trail incorporating steps and a narrow bridge. The site has seen at least two castles, though the present ruins date from the 16th century . A large fort or walled settlement enclosed an area of 1.2 hectares (3.0 acres), about 137 by 125 metres (449 ft × 410 ft), within two walls, covered on
1900-821: The ward of Kynhilt (with Dunskey Castle) as shown in Exchequer Rolls of Scotland , Kennedy – Gilbert of DUNURE "OBTAINS ward of Kynhilt" (Dunskey) see 208 & 347. It is interesting that R.M.S. vol. II index on p. 1134 BALLIVUS de Carrick, lists p. 94 no.414, 13 February 1450 Gilbert Kennedy of Dunure "REX confirmavit Gilberto Kenedy de Dunure consang. suo, – quod ipse Gilbertus et heredes sui masculi essent caput totius progeniei sue tam in calumpniis quam in aliis articulis et negotiis ad KENKYNOLL pertinere valentibus; unaetum officio ballivi comitatus de Carric et hominum ipsius dectione et cum armorum ostensione in omnibus, sub comite de Carric qui pro tempore fuerit ; – que idem Gilb. personaliter resignavit." iv. 182. –
1950-444: The west by two ramparts set about 5.5 metres (18 ft) and 9.5 metres (31 ft) apart, with external ditches. A third rampart 2.1 metres (6 ft 11 in) thick by 0.3 metres (1 ft 0 in) high was on the southern approach, outside of which was a low bank about 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) wide. On the west-north-west arc of the second wall there was an entrance gap about 1.2 metres (3 ft 11 in) wide. On
2000-607: Was a widow and Dunskey apparently was resigned by Gilbert Kennedy then shown as of Quhiltis which may have been "White Hills" next to/or Kilhilt / Kinhilt, to William Earl of Douglas who in turn must have assigned it over to Rolland Adair when he came of age. In AD 1457 the Exchequer Rolls, Vigtoun (Wigtownshire) listed "Libri Responsionum" notes that Rolandi Adair t. Gilhelt (Kilhelt) had sasine of Crecach, Dunnone, Pennyanach, Kildonan (Dunskey, o'wise Portree see p. 688), Carny, and Lochbeg (Laughbeg or Middle Laigh). Carny
2050-774: Was acquired by Hugh Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery who extended the castle by building the "Gallery" leading off from the "Hall" and vaults under the "Gallery". On 24 August 1632 Sara Maxwell, Viscountess Montgomerie, wrote a letter to her husband, Hugh Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery (Montgomerie of Airds) "It seameth ye ar causing your workmen goe on both in your building and theikine of your Gallerie att Dunskay. They ar necessarie thingis to be outride, seeing ye have put theme so far agait. Bot I am suire they ar greit chargeis vnto yow quhilk now can noght be helpeit ; bot your lordship most compleit thame, as ye haue done many greater turne." On 28 July 1646 Visc. Hugh Montgomery (Hugu Vicecomes De Airdis) of Ards, co Down, Ireland,
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2100-586: Was an important ferry port for passengers, postal mail and freight between Ireland and Scotland, the village was described as the Gretna Green for Ireland. There was a daily packet boat from Donaghadee , and marriages for couples from Ireland were conducted by the Church of Scotland minister in Portpatrick, although according to Brack (1997) he often overlooked the rules about the publication of banns or
2150-1000: Was defeated at Falkirk in 1298). By 10 October 1303 Walter de Corry was dead and his lands were taken into the King's hands (King Edward I of England). On 28 August 1296 the Ragman Rolls for Wigtownshire had been compiled at Berwick-on-Tweed, which time and place King Edward I of England also convened a Parliament of those Scottish nobles summoned by him to attend at the border city. The Wigtownshire roll contained 26 names, and some who were later associated with Dunskey Castle were Thomas de KITHEHILT (Adair of Kinhilt / Kilhelt) ; Fergus MakDowylt (MacDowell) ; Thomas MacUlagh (MacCullough / McCullagh) ; Andrew (McDowell) de Logan ; Dougal MacDowly (MacDowell / McDowell) ; Gilbert de Hanneth (Hannay) ; William MacUlagh (MacCullough / McCullagh) ; Michel MacUlagh (MacCullough) ; Johan Seneschal (Stewart, from whom descended
2200-539: Was he a bailie & Kenkynol, as Exchequer Roll AD1455 shows Gilberti Kenedy, BALLIVI comitatus de carric had ward of Kylnnahelt (Dunskey). Gilbert Kennedy of Dunure, bailie of Carrick, did not enjoy Dunskey Castle for long as in AD 1455 Exchequer Rolls of Scotland records that he was compensated for NOT having the ward of Adair. If he was the same Gilbert, he married Christian Adair and her son, apparently Rolland Adair, must have come of age about AD1456. Christian Adair Kennedy
2250-640: Was in financial difficulties due to the upkeep of his troops, and had borrowed largely from his agent who foreclosed on a mortgage and became possessed of the whole of the Montgomery property in Galloway. In AD 1657 John Blair of Dunskey, valuation 946 pounds 13sh 4p.. Valuations of the Shire of Wigtown, 1667. On 11 September 1672 There was a ratification to John Blair of Dunskey and his wife Jean Agnew of their lands to be called "barony of Dunskey" and by 1684
2300-593: Was pursued before the Lords of Council and in 1489 Agnew had to pay for the goods taken, but was entitled to a rebate if he returned them in good order. About AD 1489 Dunskey / Dunsky Tower House [ otherwise Castle ] was partially burnt by Sir Alexander (Sandy) M'Culloch of Myrtoun Clan McCulloch . – 3 March 1499, pardon for McCulloch, along with respites for burning the Place of Dunskay granted to Duncane Makke, litil Gilbert Makke, Johne Clerk Makee & Andro Akersane. In
2350-461: Was retoured heir to his father Hugh Montgomery, 2nd Viscount Montgomery , lands listed included castro de Dunskei. On 15 June 1653 "Johne Shaw of Grenocke" was granted Dunskey by Andrew Wardlaw. The deed was a little unclear. "Joane Montgrumie alias Mackmath, relict of the "deceased" Hew Montgrumie sometime of Balharie in the Country of Doune, (Ireland), gentleman" "the 3 merk land of Marrock, with
2400-474: Was used as one of the locations for the 1952 film Hunted , starring Dirk Bogarde and directed by Charles Crichton . It also featured in the BBC drama Two Thousand Acres of Sky as a stand-in for Portree . Portpatrick village was founded on fishing, operating from the sandy, crescent-shaped harbour that remains the focal point of the village. It was the principal port for goods and mail traffic to Ireland from
2450-440: Was via Stranraer , and services went into decline. This ruined church, dating from 1629, may itself stand on the ruins of an earlier church, known as St Patrick's Chapel. The circular tower may date from the 1520s, and originally stood on its own. Its unusual shape (for Scotland) may mean that it was either a lighthouse for the harbour, or heavily influenced by Irish architecture. In the 18th and 19th centuries, when Portpatrick
2500-413: Was wholly within a single county. In 1894 the parochial boards were replaced by more democratically elected parish councils. Parish councils were in turn abolished in 1930, under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1929 , with powers being transferred to county councils in landward areas of counties and burgh councils where they were within a burgh. Their boundaries continued to be used to define some of
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