Kirkmahoe News would like to wish all our readers a
Happy New Year
Tuesday, 31 December 2013
Monday, 30 December 2013
Flooding Roads closed
Due to the severe storms there is a lot of flooding in this area. Roads are closed. If you want to get into Dumfries - suggest you use the back road to Locharbriggs which is usually OK.
Here is the link to the Tide Table where you can check when flooding is likely to be at its worst due to the incoming tide.
Here is the link to SEPA Flood alert where you can check areas where flooding is likely and can also find out what to do in the event of flooding in your area.There is much useful information on this site.
Here is the link to the Tide Table where you can check when flooding is likely to be at its worst due to the incoming tide.
Here is the link to SEPA Flood alert where you can check areas where flooding is likely and can also find out what to do in the event of flooding in your area.There is much useful information on this site.
Tuesday, 24 December 2013
Dustbin Days over the Festive period.
If your bin is normally emptied on a Wednesday , this will be changed to the Saturday after Christmas, and New Year. namely
Sat 28th Dec and Sat 4th Jan.
Those whose bin day is a Friday will be unaffected.
Saturday, 21 December 2013
BT1312
Where was this found?
Extra pat on the back if you know who found it!
When does it date back to?
BT 1311 Answer
This is a Whetstone used by the Romans to sharpen knives and weapons.It was found at Carzield.
Click on this link for further information.Roman Whetstone
Tuesday, 17 December 2013
Friday, 13 December 2013
Tuesday, 10 December 2013
Carol Singing Sunday 22nd Dec. Meet at pump Kirkton
This is just a reminder that there will be carol singing in Kirkton on Sunday 22nd December - meeting at 6.30pm at the pump. We go around the whole village which takes about 2 hours and then retire to Kirkton Hall to get warm and have some refreshment which is kindly supplied by members of the Hall committee and other generous folk.
The collection this year will be for a cancer charity in memory of Fiona Meikle Latta.
I hope some of you will be able to come and join us.
Please contact me if you wish to know more. 01387 710216
Regards
Jean Muir
Thursday, 28 November 2013
Kirkton Stores Closed
Thursday, 21 November 2013
BT1311
2. Where is it located
3. Any interesting information about it.......
This month we are presenting something
a little bit different.
We ask :-
a little bit different.
We ask :-
What is this?
Where was it found?
What was it used for?
There are no prizes, other than satisfaction of being right!
Your replies will help us to build up an interesting and useful resource of information about the featured places.
Everyone who accurately identifies the location will have their name published, unless they request otherwise.
Wednesday, 20 November 2013
Answers to BT1310
"These pictures were taken from the footpath beside the Nith. It can be
accessed from The Booglie near Carzield, from Carnsalloch and from a path at
Wellington Bridge. The path goes along the flood defences which were built in
the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It is also probable that the first
track from Dumfries into Nithsdale followed this route.
The footpath is a core path. It is not, unfortunately, suitable for wheelchairs or people with severe mobility difficulties, but well worth strolling along. Let us know if you see any interesting birds, butterflies or plants as you walk."
Tuesday, 19 November 2013
War Memorial Has Been Refurbished
Thanks to the efforts of Gordon Bissett, our War Memorial has undergone a face lift. Rusty railings have been replaced and painted, gravel has been placed around it, there is a new sign post showing the way to the Memorial, and no less than 10,000 daffodil bulbs have been planted. Many volunteers helped with this mighty task. We are all looking forward to the Spring when we will see a great show of colour around the War Memorial as befits those who gave so much in order that Future Generations might live in Freedom.
Friday, 15 November 2013
Turnips, lanterns, names and the Kirkmahoe Connection
Did anyone make a Turnip Lantern for Halloween? Nowadays Pumpkin Lanterns are more fashionable, but children used to make turnip lanterns. Turnips are notoriously hard to work with. Cutting the top off the turnip would usually be done by father or mother, and many a blister was gained whilst trying to scoop out the flesh of the turnip with an old spoon and a knife. Care had to be take when cutting the eyes nose and mouth in case fingers were cut instead. Next attaching the top to the bottom with string would test your knowledge of knots.
Lastly, was the task of finding a candle, of just the right size, to put in the bottom to give the light. Then the joy of having your lantern glow in the darkness of a Halloween night, with the evil looking face you had carved, peering at you like some terrible ghoul. Off you would go out guising, dressed in a sheet, or something equally fearsome, to pester the locals for treats in exchange for a song, dance, poem or joke, accompanied by the unforgettable odour of burning turnip.
Turnips are known by a number of names.. here in Scotland....neeps, tumshies and more widely, swedes, rutabagas, brassica.
They are extremely hardy root vegetables able to withstand snow and ice, and were used to feed animals. They were also somewhat derided as a poor person's food, but they are full of nourishment none the less.
The turnip's root is high in vitamin C. The green leaves of the turnip top ("turnip greens") are a good source of vitamin A, folate, vitamin C, vitamin K and calcium. Turnip greens are high in lutein (8.5 mg / 100 g).One medium raw turnip (122 g) contains the following nutritional information according to the USDA:[2]
- Calories : 34
- Fat: 0.12
- Carbohydrates: 7.84
- Fibers: 2.2
- Protein: 1.10
- Cholesterol: 0
They are also used in soups, stews, casseroles and can be mashed with potatoes or on their own. If anyone has a good turnip recipe we would love to put it on our Blog!
How many of you are aware that there is a major connection between the turnip and Kirkmahoe?
Patrick Miller
Botanists on a visit to Sweden discovered turnips growing wild there. Patrick Miller of Dalswinton got to know about this and in 1781 requested turnip seed be sent to him here. Having previously designed a cannon, and given designs for a steam boat to the King of Sweden, the King was happy to oblige, and sent seeds to Miller in a casket. These seeds were duly planted at Dalswinton and from the resulting crop seeds were subsequently distributed throughout Scotland and England. The majority of turnips in UK nowadays are as a result of this crop!
This also explains the name Swede being used for turnips.
Tuesday, 12 November 2013
Castles & Towers of Scotland Friday 15th Nov Kirkton Hall
Kirkmahoe Heritage Group Presents
A Talk by Graham Roberts
on
Castles & Towers of Scotland
Friday 15th November at 7.30
Kirkton Hall
Teas & Coffees
Donation box
Thursday, 31 October 2013
Warning Thief about!
You are asked to keep a lookout for this piece of equipment.
It is always important to take note of any strangers who appear in the village...they could be sizing things up and seeing what people own.
If you have any information which could help with this please contact the police.
Picture example of a rotavator
Saturday, 26 October 2013
BT1309 answers
These dates are all to be found within a few yards of each other in the centre of Kirkton village.The weighbridge (1867) was made in the Palmerston Foundry, on Terregles Street. At that time it was the largest in Dumfries.
The map below, from about 1855 shows the village as it was at that time, with the school and smithy in Barrasgate.
One of the early rules was “No spitting allowed except in spittoons provided”. The reading room was open every evening and several newspapers were available. Also dominoes, draughts and chess. It cost 1d per week to belong to the 'Kirkmahoe Hall Library and Institute',
Tuesday, 22 October 2013
Monday, 21 October 2013
AGM KCC Kirkton Hall Wed 30th Oct 7.,30 pm
AGENDA
The Annual General Meeting of
Kirkmahoe Community Council will be held in Kirkton Village Hall on Wednesday
30th October 2013 at 7.30pm
BUSINESS
BT1310
Where is this? How do you get there?
2. Where is it located
3. Any interesting information about it.......
There are no prizes, other than satisfaction of being right!
Your replies will help us to build up an interesting and useful resource of information about the featured places.
Everyone who accurately identifies the location will have their name published, unless they request otherwise.
NB There has been a problem getting the answer to BT1309 on to the blog please be patient until the problem is fixed.
Sunday, 13 October 2013
Corncrake seen and heard in Kirkton area
Listen to its call on this link http://bit.ly/19HzDzO
Corncrakes are related to moorhens, coots and rails but differ from most members of the family in that they live on dry land. They are very secretive, spending most of their time hidden in tall vegetation, their presence only betrayed by their rasping call. In flight their bright chestnut wings and trailing legs are unmistakable. They are summer visitors and migrate to Africa for the winter.Did you see or hear this rare bird?
Have you seen or heard any other unusual bird species in our area?
If so let us know on kirkmahoe@gmail.com
Breeding northern summer visitor
Visitor in northern winter
Visitor in northern winter
Friday, 11 October 2013
Friday, 27 September 2013
Wednesday, 25 September 2013
Prize Bingo Kirkton Hall 27th September
Friday 27th Sept 2013 doors open 6.30 pm
FREE Irish Bingo game for under 18's
Other hall dates for your diary :-
24/09 Coffee Morning
25/10 Prize Bingo
23/11 Race Night
Tuesday, 24 September 2013
Macmillan Coffee Morning
The Coffee Morning was well attended and a great success. The Tweedie family excelled themselves with their wonderful home baking plus countless items for raffle and tombola. Nearly everyone in the hall won a prize.
Jordan entertained us all with his lovely music. This is the first time most of us have heard him play his euphonium to accompanied music, and it certainly showed us the versatility of Jordan's musical skills.
Janet wishes to Thank everyone for attending and for their generous donations.
The event made £387.72 for Macmillan Cancer Research.
Anyone who could not make it on the day and who wishes to add to the total, can pop your donations in to Janet at 7 Barrasgate.
Jordan entertained us all with his lovely music. This is the first time most of us have heard him play his euphonium to accompanied music, and it certainly showed us the versatility of Jordan's musical skills.
Janet wishes to Thank everyone for attending and for their generous donations.
The event made £387.72 for Macmillan Cancer Research.
Anyone who could not make it on the day and who wishes to add to the total, can pop your donations in to Janet at 7 Barrasgate.
Sunday, 22 September 2013
BT1309
This month's question is
Where would you find these dates?
On the 21st of every month, a different place in Kirkmahoe will be featured and you are invited to contact the blog on kirkmahoe@googlemail.com to tell us:-
1. What the place is called2. Where is it located
3. Any interesting information about it.......
There are no prizes, other than satisfaction of being right!
Your replies will help us to build up an interesting and useful resource of information about the featured places.
Everyone who accurately identifies the location will have their name published, unless they request otherwise.
Friday, 20 September 2013
Answer to BT1308
The place photographed is 'The Belt' near Hightownhead,
Dalswinton and is what remains of a hillfort. The fort and the trees are
shown on the 1861 25” map (Dumfries Sheet XLI.9). The fort at this time was thought to be
'Danish' i.e. Viking but this does not seem to be correct.
Promontory forts are frequently found on the coast where
there are cliffs which jut out into the sea,
In this case, the topography with its very steep ascent from the Nith
Valley creates a similarly good defensive site.
On the other side of the road from the fort is a spring
which has three ancient alder trees around it.
They were mature trees at the time of the 1861 map. It is probable that this spring provided
water for the inhabitants of the fort.
Alder wood does not rot in wet conditions. For this reason it was used to build the
supporting frames for crannogs.
Our photos show the remains of a fort in this area. Crannogs have been found at Lochrutton and Loch Arthur.
Our photos show the remains of a fort in this area. Crannogs have been found at Lochrutton and Loch Arthur.
(A crannog[[ˈkɾˠan̪ˠoːɡ]; Scottish Gaelic: crannag) is typically a partially or entirely artificial island, usually built in lakes, rivers and estuarine waters of Scotland and Ireland. Unlike the prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps which were built on the shores and were only inundated later on, crannogs were built in the water, thus forming artificial islands.)
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