Auction Sale Kirkton 5th October

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

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.

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 called
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.

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.

 

It is an Early Iron Age (600-400 BC) promontory fort and unusual because its defensive walls are built of stone rather than being earth banks. The fort occupies the edge of a high terrace and measures internally 50.0m E-W by 30.0m. There is a double rampart round the fort and an entrance way at the South-East.  It is now very overgrown with substantial old trees and brackens.  No artefacts are recorded as having been discovered near the fort.

 

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.

 

 Above are 2 examples of what a hillfort/promontory fort might look like

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.

 

(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.)

 



Example of a Crannog on River Tay
not the same as our fort! but shown here to illustrate how alder trees were used.

 

 

 

Huggy Bear dance at Kirkton Village Hall

On Saturday 31^st August over 60 people enjoyed listening and dancing to popular local live band Huggy Bear.

The licensed bar was much appreciated and everyone agreed that they had a great time.

 

It is hoped to get Huggy Bear back to Kirkton next year.

 A quiet moment for Bar Staff.  

KCC Minutes Aug13 Agenda Sept13

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bxfe_y-OfXLzOXFhUk1VUTZCb1U/edit?usp=sharing

The next meeting of Kirkmahoe Community Council will be held in Dalswinton Village Hall on Wednesday 18th September 2013 at 7.30pm

Agenda

1.    Apologies for absence

2.    Minutes of the last meeting

3.    Matters arising

4.    Police Report

5.    Treasurer’s report

6.    Councillors’ report

7.    Planning report

8.    Events

9.    Correspondence

10. Any other competent business

11. Date, time and place of next meeting

Useful Tip - opening a poly bag

How many of us have struggled to open a poly bag at the checkout? You lick your fingers and try to open it by rubbing the sides together....it sometimes works! You try other methods and still it will not open, the queue behind you is getting longer, and you have not even begun to pack your shopping. It is frustrating for everyone!

Here is the answer! Take hold of the handles and pull them outwards. It works everytime.

If you have any useful tips to help us all with everyday annoyances please send them to kirkmahoe@gmail.com

Kirkmahoe Concerts Robin Williamson 20th Sept Dalswinton Hall

Kirkmahoe Concerts- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kirkmahoe-Concerts/140910459339947

Robin Williamson Friday 20 September, 7.30pm Dalswinton Village Hall

PART OF ENVRONMENTAL ARTS FESTIVAL SCOTLAND Scottish born Robin Williamson is renowned worldwide for his work as a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, poet and founder member of the Incredible String Band. He played at Woodstock, is admired by Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant and host of other musicians, has recorded dozens of CDs and continues to perform in a variety of venues, large and small.

This will be his fourth appearance in Kirkmahoe, where he has a dedicated and loyal fan base. Don’t miss a chance to see this remarkable performer, now in his 70th year – unplugged in the intimate atmosphere of Dalswinton Village Hall. A Nithsdale evening to delight Robin’s many followers, old and new.

Price: £10 All tickets from:The Midsteeple, Dumfries; Thomas Tosh, Thornhill; the venue on the day; or call David Clark on 01387 740045.

Coffee Morning Kirkton Sat 21st Sept

Kirkton Village Hall

Saturday 21^st Sept 2013

 

10.00 am – 12.30 pm

Teas, Coffees,

Home Baking, Raffle, Tombola,  Live Music,

Entry £2.00 adults .  

50p Children

Sponsored by Janet Tweedie