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Dumfries (pronounced dum-freece, not dum-fries) (Dùn Phris in Scottish Gaelic) is a Royal Burgh and town with a population of around 31,146 (37,846 including the Locharbriggs and Cargenbridge areas). It sits close to the Solway Firth near the mouth of the the River Nith in the south west of Scotland, and was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire.
Visiting Dumfries
Dumfries, gateway to Galloway and the Machars, occupies a position in the South West of Scotland not far from the border with England (around 25 miles). It has many associations with Robert Burns who lived here in the 1790s. The Robert Burns Centre is situated in an 18th century watermill on the west bank of the River Nith. It tells the story of Burns' last years in the town, shows films, and has a cafe and restaurant.
Above the mill there is an 18th century windmill tower which houses Dumfries Museum and the Camera Obscura Observatory. The Museum has exhibits from prehistoric times, the wildlife of the Solway saltmarshes, stone carvings of Scotland's early Christians, and many Victorian farm implements. The Camera Obscura, originally an astronomical instrument installed in 1836, has a table top screen on to which are projected panoramic views of Dumfries and the surrounding countryside.
Across the 15th century Devorgilla Bridge there is Old Bridge House, Dumfries' oldest house, dating from 1660 and built into the sandstone of the bridge itself. Dumfries has a large number of public houses, including, on the town's High Street, The Globe Inn, which Robert Burns himself frequented.
The town has one domestic rail link, Dumfries railway station.
Dumfries also promotes a sustainable transport infrastructure with prompt access to all main UK destinations via road, largely through the A74(M) motorway and A75, the latter of which has been criticised due to large amounts of traffic and prevailing safety concerns.
History
In 1186, Dumfries was officially given the rights of a royal burgh. Throughout the first 50 years of its foundation the town was at the forefront of the Scottish Borders until the consolidation of Galloway in 1234. A royal castle, which no longer exists, was built in the 13th century on the site of the present Castledykes Park, and before becoming King of Scots, Robert the Bruce slew the Red Comyn in the town in 1306. His uncertainty about the fatality of his stabbing caused one of his followers, Roger de Kirkpatrick, to utter the famous, "I mak siccar" and finish the Comyn off.
Robert Burns
Dumfries was the hometown of Robert Burns from 1759 until his death in 1796. The poet is now buried in St. Michael’s Churchyard in the Burns Mausoleum.Celebrity
A number of well-known people were educated at Dumfries Academy, among them James Matthew Barrie, author of Peter Pan, John Laurie, actor (Private Frazer in Dad's Army), and Jane Haining, missionary. Dumfries is also the hometown of former F1 racer Allan McNish. Dumfries was the "hometown" of Burns while he lived there, but Burns was born in Ayrshire and spent many years there before moving to Dumfriesshire.Local Economy
Growth
Dumfries has a long history as the county town of a rural backwater. The rich agricultural land between the hills and the sea has for many hundreds of years been carved up into huge estates controlled by hereditary ruling class interests. Since the arrival of the railways a strong middle class has grown in the town and county. The abandonment of the traditional rural economy over the past one hundred years has pulled the very disadvantaged poor from communities scattered across the countryside into local authority and other social housing schemes, and low grade commercial housing, generally in the towns. The displacement of the whole spectrum of the local rural population by the purchasing power of incomers is moving ever faster at the start of the 21st century. The overall effect of this process is to decrease the sustainability of Dumfries as an ecomomic area, and to increase its dependence on a diesel-powered subsidiary relationship to the north of England and the Scottish central belt.Decline
In recent years, there has been a significant decline in the strength and vitality of local economy. This decline is closely related to a vast change in regional demographics with a noticeable number of inhabitants, many of a young age, emigrating to other parts of the United Kingdom to seek professional employment * and further education.Regeneration
In a bid to stimulate a development in Dumfries, both economically and in a social context, several strategies have been proposed by the controlling authorities. *In January 2006, Dumfries & Galloway Council announced plans to build a £16.5m leisure facility situated at Hoods Loaning near the town centre, which is expected to open in Autumn 2007. *
Local Authority
Dumfries hosts the headquarters of Dumfries and Galloway Council.
Civil Arrangements
Dumfries & Galloway Constabulary
Dumfries is centre to Scotland’s smallest police force *. Despite its size it is credited in its participation of one the largest criminal investigations in modern history when neighbouring town, Lockerbie, was devastated by the events that took place onboard Pan Am Flight 103 on December 21st, 1988.Areas of Dumfries
Although serving a relatively small population, Dumfries is divided into several key districts. This segmentation lays basis for a strong community based culture.
Town Centre
Dumfries High Street hosts many of the historical, social and commercial centres of the town. During the 1990’s, these areas enjoyed various aesthetic recognitions from organisations including Scotland in Bloom. Unfortunately such awards are not an innate reality in 2006 owing to an increased degenerative appearance throughout many of the town centre's key areas.Towards the end of 2005, the town's illustrious Midsteeple was dismantled conceding to safety concerns of its structural integrity. This event caused much controversy within the town on the council’s capability to maintain key features. The landmark is now in the early stages of reparation, the costs of which are estimated to be around £1.6m. *
Key Districts
Dumfries has several suburbs, including Georgetown, Larchfield, Calside, Lochside, Lincluden, Sandside, Heathhall, Locharbriggs, Marchmount, and Maxwelltown, formerly a burgh in its own right until 1928. Troqueer, historically a separate town situated on the south west side of the river Nith was incorporated into the town in (unknown date).
Education
Dumfries has several primary schools, approximately 1 per key district, and 4 main secondary schools. All of these institutions are governed by the local council and the Scottish Executive. The secondary schools are:
- Dumfries Academy
- Dumfries High School
- Maxwelltown High School
- St. Joseph's College
In 1999 Scotland's first multi-institutional university campus was established in Dumfries. Located within the award-winning 85-acre Crichton estate, it is host to the University of Glasgow, the University of Paisley, Bell College and Dumfries & Galloway College. The campus offers a variety of degree courses, such as in Liberal Arts, Business Studies, Computing, Social Work and Nursing. *
Festivals
There are a number of festivals which take place throughout the year, mostly based on traditional values.
Guid Neighbours
Guid Neighbours (Guid Nychburris in Scots) is the main festival of the year, a ceremony which is largely based on the theme of a positive community spirit.Dumfries and Galloway
The name Dumfries and Galloway is given to one of Scotland's 32 council areas comprising the former (1975-96) districts of Nithsdale, Annandale and Eskdale, the Stewartry of Kirkcudbrightshire and the Machars.
Dumfries Lieutenancy Area
Dumfries also lends its name to a Lieutenancy Area, similar in boundaries to the former Dumfriesshire county.
Town twinning
External links
Towns in Dumfries and Galloway | Lieutenancy areas of Scotland | Scottish county towns | Large burghs
"Dumfries"