Glenaldor House

Guid Nychburris or Good Neighbours is the main festival of the year in Dumfries. The week long festivities culminate this year with a whole day of events on Saturday 19th June.

Guid Nychburris or Good Neighbours website

Many people have their own favourite event or part of the day, however, one of the most spectacular must be the sight of 250 to 300 horses gathering at the Midsteeple in the centre of town at 07.30 in the morning. Following a route and sequence laid down in the mists of time they proceed to “Ride the Marches” and Stob and Nog (Mark the Burgh’s boundaries with flags and posts) before returning to the Midsteeple at 12.15 to meet the Provost of Dumfries and read the “Towns Charter”.

From 10am to 5pm there are various displays and street shows to entertain everyone and at 11.30am the Charter and Crowning Ceremony for the 2010 “Queen of the South” will begin.

At 3pm there will be a children’s fancy dress parade in the “Friars Vennel” and then the townsfolk and visitors will be eagerly awaiting the “Big Parade” which sets off along the Whitesands between 6.30pm and 6.45pm.

The Grand Finale and not to be missed is the massed Pipe Bands as they “Beat Retreat” to mark the end of the “Guid Week”. This will take place on the Whitesands at approx 7.30pm. If you are in or around Dumfries – Don’t miss it!!!!!

www.dgartsfestival.org.uk

 

Since 1979 Dumfries and Galloway have staged a very impressive Arts Festival and 2010 will be no different as the 9 day extravaganza runs from May 21st to May 30th.

 

The festival was started with the initial aim of bringing high quality performers from all over the globe to a region with a scattered rural community, giving people the opportunity to experience some unusual and exceptional talent.

 

The event is organised and run entirely by volunteers and brings comedy, music, drama, kids activities and much more to a variety of venues across Dumfries and Galloway.

 

Previous years have welcomed such artists as comedian Phil Kay, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the Malawian poet Jack Mapanje and the Russian singing quartet The Konevets.

 

2010 will be no exception with various headline acts including the humorous “Fascinating Aida” at the Theatre Royal, Lucy Porters solo show “Fool’s Gold” at the DG1 Centre and an evening of opera with 3 Italian tenors and the Parma Brass Quintet playing at St Georges Church. There will be something for everyone over the 9 days and this year it may be a non human form that steals the show when the 8 metre high giant puppet “Big Man Walking” comes to town. This is by all accounts a spectacular street event that kids and adults can all enjoy and get involved in as the “Big Man” walks through Dumfries, waves to the crowd, shakes peoples hands and blinks his big eyes in your direction. The Scotsman newspaper describes it as “Jaw Dropping”

 

He is in town on the 29th May, try and come along and join in the fun.

 

For all other news and a full listing of the events visit www.dgartsfestival.org.uk

If you are thinking of visiting Dumfries and Galloway to research you Ancestry, the local Dumfries and Galloway Council have fantastic information and archives to assist you in your research.

 

The council keeps archived material including Parish Registers, Plans and Maps and many other historical documents. This information is kept at the Archive Centre on Burns Street, Dumfries, however they can also be accessed online or if you visit any library in Dumfries the staff will be pleased to assist you. I am sure that most of the fun is finding out the information for yourself but if you preferred or if you were short of time the council also have a team of qualified and experienced staff who will do your research for you at a relatively small cost.

 

On my return back to my birthplace of Dumfries I decided to look into the family name “Irving” and it has been  very interesting.

 

For all you “Irving’s” out there our illustrious surname was first used in the Scottish Borderlands and it was the name for someone who lived in the parish of Irving in this very county of Dumfriesshire!

 

The name of Irvine and Irving have became indistinguishable over the years. Going by earliest records one of the first listings is William De Irwin who was an armour bearer for Robert the Bruce in the early 1300s.

 

Our sense of adventure was very evident in the early days and many “Irving’s” headed to North America and were amongst the many Scots who fought with vigour in the American war of Independence. Our forefathers arrived in the mid to late 1600s and over the next 200 years the Irving name was to settle mainly in the state of Pennsylvania.

 

The family name has it’s own clan badge with the Motto “Sub Sole Sub Umbra Virens” which translates to “ Flourish in both Sunshine and Shade” – what a fantastic motto!!

 

I will finish with a few famous Irving’s you may have heard of :

 

• Rear Admiral Sir Edmund George Irving K.B.E., C.B. (1910-1990) – British Naval Hydrographer.

 

• Washington Irving (1783-1859) – American author – The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle.

 

• Sir Henry Irving (1883-1905) – famous English actor and first to be knighted in the acting profession in 1895.

 

Enjoy your searching and feel free to contact me – info@glenaldorhouse.co.uk if I can be of assistance.

Marriage in the Movies Exhibition.

Dumfries and Galloway has always had a great reputation for providing fantastic wedding venues including of course Gretna Green with the Famous Blacksmiths Anvil and the surrounding hotels etc who provide 1st class wedding packages.

If all you ladies are unsure what to wear the National Museum of Costume at New Abbey 5 miles south of Dumfries is the place to visit. There is a great exhibition on until October 31st 2010 which will take you through two centuries of bridal fashion from the 1740s to the 1930s. These dresses were worn by some of the top stars in well known movies – for example you can see the dresses worn by Keira Knightley in “The Duchess”, Helena Bonham Carter in “Elizabeth” and also the dress worn by Joely Richardson as Wallis Simpson.

Also on display will be a selection of the museums own bridal collection and photographs of brides from the Stewart family who are the owners of Shambellie House where the museum is situated. This collection helps to tell the story of wedding customs in Scotland over the years.

As a special incentive entry to the “Marriage in the Movies” exhibition is FREE to brides past and present. The catch?? – you have to arrive wearing your wedding dress!!!!!!

A Gem of a Garden – A Hidden Secret in Dumfries.

 

It’s interesting, it’s unusual, it’s one of a kind there’s nothing else like it in the world, it’s thought provoking and it’s only open one day a year!

 

The Garden of Cosmic Speculation which is situated in the grounds of Portrack House 6 miles North of Dumfries is the private garden and creation of the renowned Architect and Landscaper Charles Jencks and his late wife Maggie Keswick.

 

Started in 1989 the spectacular gardens have been inspired by questions of modern science and issues concerning the laws of nature. The themes explored include DNA, the senses, and the concepts of space and time, represented by the extensive and impressive manipulation of the landscape and siting of individual sculptures and forms. The entire 30 acre site itself is a deliberate, considered, sculpture demonstrating mans’ interaction with the environment.

 

Situated on Charles Jencks’ private estate, and described as probably the most important modern garden in Europe, it is only open to the public on one day a year, as you can imagine the interest amongst gardeners to attend on this elusive day is immense.

 

The proceeds of the open day are donated to the “Maggies Cancer Care Centres” which were set up in memory of Maggie Keswick.

 

Don’t forget if you cannot make it to the yearly open day there are many other beautiful gardens in Dumfries and Galloway that are well worth a visit.

If you have a day to spend in Dumfries why not use some of the time to stroll around the historic landmarks and tributes to commemorate “Rabbie’s” life and times whilst living in Dumfries.

 

First a bit of history, Robert Burns moved to Ellisland Farm 6 miles north east of Dumfries with his wife Jean Armour in 1788, unfortunately the unworkable and infertile land at the farm turned out to be a heavy burden for Burns and even though he changed from arable to dairy farming he could not make a living from his tireless efforts, therefore 3 years later in 1791 Burns left the farm with his wife and family and moved the 6 miles to the town of Dumfries. On arrival in Dumfries he concentrated on his other career as an excise officer.

 

There are many ways to take in the sights Dumfries has to offer, here is one where you can take a leisurely stroll and depending how long you stop off at some of the attractions it can be completed anywhere between 90 minutes to half a day.

 

Start in the middle of town at the famous “Robert Burns Statue”(1) – The starting point can be located on the attached map. The statue was designed by Amelia Hill, carved in Italy and erected in 1882 as a tribute to Burns from the townsfolk of Dumfries.

 

 

From the statue take a walk down the medieval and narrow “Friars Vennel” (2). Continue down the vennel until you reach the Whitesands Promenade on the River Nith. Carefully cross the busy “Sands” main road (there is a pedestrian crossing approx 50 metres to your right).

 

On crossing the road you will arrive at the Devorgilla Bridge (3) built in 1431. At the other side of the bridge is the “Old Bridge House” (4) built in the 17th century and now a museum, although it has no direct contact to Burns, it’s on your route, it’s free admission and it’s well worth the visit.

 

If you prefer to keep going turn left and in less than 5 minutes you will arrive at the “Robert Burns Centre” (5). The centre is packed with memorabilia and you will find the staff very helpful and informative. There is also a nice café and restaurant housed within the building.

 

On leaving Burns House, continue along the pathway beside the river until you reach the metal suspension bridge (6) erected in 1875. Cross the bridge and turn left to the pedestrian crossing. Cross the road and walk up the hill keeping the Loreburn Shopping Centre on your left. After a couple of minutes you will reach the British Heart Foundation shop. Turn left, heading towards the town centre. After approx 300 metres you will arrive at Rabbie’s favourite “Howff” (favourite haunt of place to visit), the Globe Inn (7) on the right.

 

The Globe Inn was established in 1610 and still operates as a popular pub today. Why not stop and have a beer and snack where Rabbie enjoyed spending much of his time. The pub is steeped in the history of Burns and well worth the visit.

 

Now that you are refreshed and raring to go, turn left out of the Globe and go back down to the bottom of the hill towards the Heart Foundation shop and turn left. You will see a signpost for Robert Burns House, cross the road and walk down the hill towards the car park. Follow the road around the car park and walk up a short incline. On the left you will find Burns House (8). This is a must on the visit, as it was here that the poet and his family lived from May 1793 until his death on July 21st 1796. There is a lot to see in the house and be sure to look for his name scratched on an upstairs window pane.

 

On leaving the house turn left along Burns Street until you arrive at Brooms Road traffic lights, on the left take a minute to see the statue of Burns wife Jean Armour with whom he had 9 children. The statue was erected in 2004 by “The Burns Howff Club”.

 

Cross the Brooms Road at the lights and enter St Michael’s Kirk Yard (9). Burns was originally buried here in a modest grave in the North East corner of the graveyard. Following a visit to the graveyard by William Wordsworth and his wife in 1803, when they expressed concern at their difficulty in locating the resting place of Burns he was moved to a more fitting and striking location. The Grecian style renowned mausoleum in which Burns, his wife Jean and 5 of their family lie is easily found by following the pathway around the graveyard.

 

Well that’s it!! and hopefully you will have had an enjoyable walk and possibly learned a bit more about Scotland’s National Bard and his impact on the town of Dumfries.

 

If you have enjoyed yourself and still feel energetic why not head back to the Devorgilla Bridge (3) on the Whitesands and take a stroll along the “Burns Walk”. This walk which takes you from the town centre along the banks of the River Nith and through the countryside is lovely and peaceful and was Rabbie’s favourite walk.

 

The route is very well signposted and you can walk between 3 to 4 miles dependant on which route you follow. Boots or stout shoes are recommended for the walk – enjoy!

Lochmaben Castle is a castle (ruins) in  Lochmaben Town, Dumfries & Galloway. It was built by Edward I in the 13th & 14th centuries, & was later rebuilt during the reign of James IV of Scotland. An earlier motte-and-bailey castle was built by the Bruce family south of the current castle around 1160.

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The former Girvan Cycle Race and widely regarded as one of the most prestigious events on the British Cycle Calendar has been relocated to Dumfries for 2010. The 3 day race will be run as the “Tour Doon Hame” and all the details for the event can be found at www.wallacehillevents.info

The race is being staged over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, Sat 3^rd to Mon 5^th April with a stage starting each of the 3 days at the Dock Park Dumfries. The cyclists will cover distances of between 75 and 100 miles on each day which will take them on some scenic routes throughout Dumfries and Galloway taking in some small towns and villages which will allow spectators to get a great view of some of Britain and Europe’s top riders.

The race has attracted over 120 top riders from as far afield as Poland and Holland and includes some exciting teams such as Global Cycling, Endura Racing and many more.

If you are in or around Dumfries over the Easter break it is certainly worth seeing.

Since moving back to Dumfries and purchasing Glenaldor House Bed and Breakfast,  I was surprised to discover that the famous author of Peter Pan J.M. Barrie lived next door at number 6 during his years at Dumfries Academy. I was even further intrigued to discover that it was during his time here that the Peter Pan stories were vividly played out in J M Barrie’s young imagination whilst playing in a location that is now under threat of disappearing.

 

James Matthew Barrie was born on May 9^th 1860 in Kirriemuir Scotland. He began writing many stories at an early age which he called “thrums” and throughout his life until he died on 19^th May 1937 he wrote numerous highly acclaimed novels and plays, however his most famous work Peter Pan (1904) will ensure his place in history.

 

His story of a boy who refused to grow up, forever avoiding the world of adulthood is famous across the globe and is synonymous with stars such as Micheal Jackson and Sir Cliff Richards.

 

James lived at 6 Victoria Terrace, Dumfries with his older brother Alexander whilst he attended Dumfries Academy from the age of 13 until he was 18. There is an inscription cut into the sandstone façade of the house which reads :

Sir James Matthew Barrie 1860 – 1937. J M Barrie lived in this house, the home of his brother while a scholar at Dumfries Academy from 1873 to 1878. He regarded his stay in Dumfries as amongst his happiest days. His works include: Dear Brutus, The Little Minister, Quality Street, Peter Pan, The Admirable Crichton, Mary Rose. In 1924 Sir James was made a Freeman of Dumfries the town where Peter Pan was born

click image to enlarge

 

 

On his first day at the academy he befriended the son of a local solicitor whose family lived at Moat Brae House near the school. One of the sons Stuart Gordon shared James’s vivid imagination for pirates and fairies and together with their imaginary pirate crew the large garden at the rear of the house shaped and inspired the Peter Pan story.

 

Moat Brae and the gardens latterly became a nursing home until it ceased in 1997 when it was sold to a private investor. From this date until April 2008 when it was sold to the Loreburn Housing Association little attention was paid to the fabric and condition of the building and unfortunately it has fallen in to a very sad state of repair, which culminated in 2009 reports that the house may be demolished.

 

Thankfully the Peter Pan action group are now in the process of establishing the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust to attempt to save the building and gardens in order that they can remain as a lasting reminder of the authors time in Dumfries and especially to preserve the place where the wonderful story of Peter Pan was born.

 

With 2010 being the 150^th anniversary of J M Barrie’s birth and March 2010 hosting “Peter Pan Week” lets hope that this historical Georgian House and Gardens can survive and be a significant landmark in the Peter Pan story.

David Irving

Castles to Visit in the Dumfries Area.

When you travel to Dumfries and the beautiful surrounding areas why not take some time out to visit some of the fantastic castles we have in the area.

We are fortunate to have various castles in all shapes and sizes and in many different states of repair from complete ruins such as “Lochmaben Castle” where it is claimed the revered “King Robert the Bruce” was born in 1247 to the fabulous Comlongon Castle near Gretna which is a beautifully restored 15^th century medieval castle that is now a luxurious wedding venue.

The common thread that you find with all these castles in the Dumfries area is that over the centuries many of them have changed hands several times during warring “Auld Enemies” as they regularly locked horns in various battles.

Not to be missed is Caerlaverock Castle – The only triangular castle in Great Britain. Building of the castle began in 1277 and was practically complete by 1300 when Edward 1 (“The Hammer of the Scots”) arrived with his knights and 3000 men and took the castle. It’s strategic position looking over the Solway Firth and surrounded by sea and deep marshes ensured it was always a most sought after stronghold by the warring nations. The castle is definitely worth a visit as many of the features still remain today including the magnificent Nithsdale Lodgings with fantastic ornamental stonework which were added to the castle in the mid 1600s. For an added bonus look out for the South wall on the Gatehouse where Dumfries’s most famous son “Robert Burns” carved his initials and the date of his visit in 1776.

Drumlanrig Castle is now the magnificent home of the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch  and Queensberry. This fine example of late 17^th century renaissance architecture in Scotland is open to the public and houses some of the finest artwork in the world including Rembrandts “The Old Women Reading”. To ensure your day is full you can also look around the Gift Shop, the Cycle Museum, the Gardens and the fantastic Country Estate.

If you have more time to spend in the area take the opportunity to visit Threave Castle, Auchen Castle and if you get the chance pay a visit to sweetheart Abbey to see the substantial remains of this historical building where Lady Devorgilla founded the Abbey in 1273 in loving memory of her husband John Balliol who died in 1268.