Kirkmabreck Explained

Country:Scotland
Official Name:Kirkmabreck
Gaelic Name:[Church of] Magh Breac[1]
Population:1,000
Population Ref:(2011)
Os Grid Reference:NX495542
Os Grid Reference Note: (Carsluith)
Coordinates:54.9°N -4.378°W
Unitary Scotland:Dumfries and Galloway
Lieutenancy Scotland:Wigtown
Constituency Westminster:Dumfries and Galloway
Constituency Scottish Parliament:Galloway and West Dumfries
Post Town:Newton Stewart
Postcode District:DG8
Postcode Area:DG
Dial Code:01671
Static Image:Kilmabreck Church - geograph.org.uk - 313079.jpg
Static Image Caption:Kirkmabreck Church

Kirkmabreck is a civil parish in the historic county of Kirkcudbrightshire in the Dumfries and Galloway council area, Scotland.

Situated in the historic Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, and centred on the small town of Creetown on the east bank of the River Cree, it stretches north to the parishes of Minnigaff and Girthon, and west to Anwoth. Kirkmabreck also includes the small settlement of Carsluith, dominated by the eponymous castle which is in the care of Historic Scotland. It covers approximately 25,000 acres.[2] Kirkmabreck was one of two parishes from Kirkcudbrightshire which were included in the Wigtown District which existed from 1975 to 1996, and as such forms part of the Wigtown lieutenancy area rather than the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright lieutenancy.[3] [4]

Apart from Carsluith Castle, the other antiquities of note in the parish are at Cairnholy, also managed by Historic Scotland, the stone circle at Glenquicken and cup and ring marked stones[5] [6] and castle at Barholm.

Thomas Brown, the metaphysician (1778–1820), was born in the parish and was buried here.

Military road

Heading west from Creetown and connecting with the Corse of Slakes road is an old military track built in the mid 18th century over an existing drove road[7] to serve as a troop access route to and from Ireland.[8]

Notes and References

  1. The Parish of Kirkmabreck (1979) Creetown: A.S. Murray
  2. Groome, Francis H. (1901) Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland Edinburgh: T.C. and E.C. Jack
  3. act. Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. 1973. 65. 22 November 2022.
  4. si. The Lord-Lieutenants (Scotland) Order 1996. 1996. 731. 25 November 2022.
  5. Web site: Cup and Ring Marked Stones : Site Name Barholm: Classification Cup And Ring Marked Stone (Prehistoric). Canmore.org. 24 July 2019.
  6. Web site: Barholm Cup and Ring Marks / Rock Art. Themodernantiquarian.com. 24 July 2019.
  7. Haldane, A.R.B. (1952) The Drove Roads of Scotland, pp. 161–2. Edinburgh: Thomas Nelson
  8. Web site: Corse of Slakes. Heritagepaths.co.uk. 24 July 2019. 9 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200209075811/http://www.heritagepaths.co.uk/pathdetails.php?path=281. dead.