| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| Facilitator: | |
| When: | Monthly on Thursdays 3rd Thursday in the month alternating with Saturdays |
| Venue: | Out and about |
Page last updated:
It's unlikely that we'll ever run out of places to visit or talk about as we live in an area that is full of places of interest from the historical and archaeological point of view. If you have any suggestions, please let us know by using the link on the right or at one of the meetings.
Next meeting
Saturday 7th November 2:00pm - Tour of Sorbie Tower, clan headquarters of Clan Hannay. Steve Hannay will give us a talk about the history and we can explore the tower. Refreshments and toilets. Donation to the restoration fund appreciated.
Thursday 19th November 2:00pm - Monreith Hall for a talk by Jock McMaster about the Maxwell Family and the Monreith Estate. Optional walk into the estate and view Monreith House. Refreshments. Small contribution towards the hire of the hall.
Thursday 10th December 3:00pm (please note the change of time) - An informal get together in the Wigtown Ploughman to put our ideas forward for activities for 2027. Food and drinks are available in the Ploughman.
Invitation A while ago Elaine Barton invited any member of our Local History Group to attend their winter meetings. I understand that there is a meeting at 10am on 1st Tuesday of each month in St Johns Hall in Stranraer. I believe it is above or next to the Library on South Strand Street. It will cost you a £1 to join in. Elaine Barton is a font of knowledge about the area, and has given us several talks and a guided walk around historic Stranraer.
Some of the places we have visited
Recent meetings
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June - Woodfall Gardens and Glasserton Church
In torrential rain the Local History Group were privileged to be shown the interior and history of former Presbyterian Glasserton Church, by the owner Julia Muir-Watt. After this we had a real treat learning about the history of Woodfall walled gardens. And had a guided walk around this beautiful garden in the pouring rain. The…
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July 2026 - Leadmine at Wanlockhead
The Local History Group ventured on a guided tour into the dark of a former leadmine in Wanlockhead. The museum, miners library and miners cottages added to the experience. The adjoining cafe provided snacks and refreshments. An educational and enjoyable afternoon. Click on a photo to view at full size Copyright Notice - all images contained…
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May - Polmaddy mediaeval village and St Johns Dalry
Local history group explored Polmaddy deserted mediaeval village and adjourn ed to St Johns Dalry for refreshments. The rain held off for the afternoon.
Previous meetings
- October - Threave Castle, near Castle Douglas
- October - around Port William; prehistoric sites up to 20th century monuments.
- September - Great Tapestry of Scotland in Galashiels
- September - Whithorn Priory and museum
- August - Culzean Castle and Country Park
- August - Whithorn Iron Age Roundhouse and Museum
- July - Leadhills Mining Museum
- July - Historic Portpatrick's Old Graveyard and Dunskey Castle
- June - Woodfall Gardens and Glasserton Church (Category A listed building dating from 1722)
- May - Walking History tour of Stranraer.
- May - Visit to Polmaddy deserted medieval village and St John Town of Dalry
- April - Closeburn Castle
- March - Stoneykirk Aviation Museum
- February - Barholm Castle
- January 2026 - regrettably the speaker was delayed by traffic but members used the time to agree on future meetings.
- December - planning meeting at the Wigtown Ploughman.
- November - RAF Corsewall - Training RAF 'Webfoots' talk by Ian Badie.
- September - Castle of St John in Stranraer.
- August - Dumfries House and Gardens (joint meeting with the Gardening group).
- August - Orchardton Tower near Palnackie and Threave House and Gardens
- July/August - Tongland HEP plant
- July - Broughton House and Gardens at Kirkcudbright (joint visit with the Art Appreciation Group).
- May - A talk on the the history of Loch Ryan
- April - A visit to Dundrennan Abbey
- March - author Mick McLeod gave a talk on Creetown industrial history.
- February - An illustrated talk by Kirsty Robertson of Newton Stewart Museum. Subject - Past and Present landowners in Machars, their castles and houses.
- January 2025 - A talk by Bree from New Chapter Books. Subject: Local characters who are buried in Wigtown Cemetery.
- November - A joint meeting with the Family History Group for an illustrated talk by Lynn W and Fred giving an Outline of the History of the Machars, briefly covering Iron Age, Picts, St Ninian, Bernicia, Vikings, and Lords of Galloway.
- October - Commonwealth War Graves (see link above for report and pictures)
- September - Old Place of Mochrum (see link above for report and pictures)
- August - former RAF Chain Radar Station, North Cairn (see link above for report and pictures)
- July - Stoneykirk Aviation Museum (see link above for report and pictures)
- June - Stranraer, (Romans, Vikings, Herring fishing, and WW2) and John Paul Jones cottage and museum, and Arbigland House
- May - Tour of the former site of the RAF Chain Home Radar station
- 25th April - Guided tour of Newton Stewart Museum.
- 6th April - Sorbie Tower for a tour of the tower and surroundings.
- February - Talk by Jayne Baldwin about the wrecking of the MV Orion just off Portpatrick in 1850 when over two hundred people were saved by local fishermen but 50 drowned. Also about Elsie Mackay, daughter of Lord Inchcape of Glenapp who, aged 27, disappeared in an attempted to fly her airplane across the Atlantic from West to East in 1928. Also the sad story of Mary Timney from near St Johns Town of Dalry who was publicly hanged in Dumfries for the 'murder' of a neighbour. She was the last woman to be hanged in public in Scotland.
- January 2024 - Talk on the history of the Isle of Whithorn
- November 2023 - Local historian, Donna Brewster talked about her book “The House that Sugar Built”. The story encompasses the sugar trade, slavery, and life for a mixed-race woman in Victorian rural Scotland.
- October - Andrew Nicholson, archaeologist with Dumfries & Galloway Council talking about around eight thousand years of archaeology in the region.
- August - guided tour of Creetown Heritage Museum.
- July - Kirkcudbright; thanks to Don Cowell. Kirkyard Tours by Kirkcudbright History Society are run weekly. What do wine, Madras, porridge and scallops have in common? No, it’s not the menu for the Social Eating group but rather some of the topics on our interesting guided walk of Kirkcudbright’s ancient centre, from the harbour through the L-shaped streets. Wine was brought in from France (probably for the monks at Dundrennan); the sinking of the ship Madras, the prison tower and the current harvesting of scallops keeping the harbour busy.
- June 2023 - Tom gave a talk about the history of Galloway House in Garlieston.