Some folk might remember Mrs McNish as an elderly lady who lived at The Dhoon House during the 50’s. Jenny Roberts, a Museum Volunteer has written a blog describing the finding of information regarding a shipwreck involving her husband when he was a second Mate. Unfortunately the Museum have no photographs or memorabilia known to be linked to him but would be grateful if some could be found.
James McNish got his Masters Certificate in 1903 and died in 1950. He and his wife are buried in Kirkandrews Kirkyard, Borgue.
Jimmy’s love of doggerel was well known. Maybe that is why he enjoyed participating in the Gilbert and Sullivan productions staged by the Choral Society? We can’t let him go without including some of his rhymes usually devised to mark an important event. For this reason Jack has decided to include some of his work in the final instalment of his coverage of Jimmy’s life. We hope you enjoy them. Jimmy Gordon’s Doggerel
The Auchencairn History Society was founded in 2000, and during its lifetime has had meetings, excursions to places of local interest, and exhibitions. Their main aim, however, has been to amass material about the village and its surrounding area, and to make this accessible to all. They have accumulated a large archive of unique material, much of it obtained from local people who remembered life in earlier times, and who generously donated items of interest. Until recently, this was all held in storage, unseen, until with the reorganisation of the village hall they were allocated a spacious cupboard in the anteroom. Then began a happy period of sorting and cataloguing our 20 years plus collection. They open it fortnightly for people to come and browse the material. Their website is http://auchencairn-history-society.org.uk/
Contents of the archive:
— 37 editions of the biannual Newsletter, which published original articles of research (see Index of articles)
–hundreds of photographs ranging from Victorian to the present day
–10 published monographs: James K Scott; Louisa Robertson; Joseph Heughan; Churches of Rerrick; Orchardton House; Heston Island; Bengairn; Auchencairn & District (Trotter); Tales from Auchencairn (Trotter)
–recorded interviews with local people
–book collection
–minute & account books of various village societies
–printed material relevant to the area
And other miscellaneous items of interest
How the Archive is used:
The archive is kept in the anteroom of the Murray Hall. We open it fortnightly for people to come and browse the material. Often we learn new things as visitors’ memories are jogged by looking at old photos or reading our local memories and interviews. We are always happy to open it at other times if anyone wishes to visit outside regular hours. An exhibition of photos etc is shown on the notice board.
Current Projects of the Society
Our main projects at present are:
1/ continuation of oral and transcribed interviews with local people
2/inclusion of our archive material on the new Scottish Archive, making it accessible to anyone to use for research
Tomorrow’s weather is an indicator of what it will be like for the remainder of winter.
The 2nd of February is Candlemas Day. This ancient Festival marks the midpoint of winter; halfway between the shortest day and the spring equinox and is well known through the ages as a turning point in the year, especially in the weather as this saying from The Country Almanack for 1676 under February
“Foul weather is no news; hail, rain and snow,
Are now expected, and esteem’d no woe;
Nay, ‘tis an omen bad the yeomen say,
If Phoebus shews his face the second day”
There were similar sayings elsewhere for example this story was taken by early German pioneers to America becoming Groundhog Day.
“The badger peeps out of the hole on Candlemas Day and when he finds the snow walks about, but if he sees the sun shining he draws back into his hole”.
An old English song went as follows:
“If Candlemas be fair and bright, / Come, Winter, have another flight. / If Candlemas brings clouds and rain, / Go, Winter, and come not again.”
Among the many holy feasts in the Christian calendar, the Feast of the Presentation, or the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary, on Candlemas Day is one of the oldest, celebrated since the 4th century A.D. in Jerusalem.
In Kirkcudbright the Candlemas Ball is the highlight of the School year. Its history is described in this article.
Unfortunately we have come to the end of Jimmy’s life with a very moving account of his final illness and the family’s memories of him. The report is here Final days
The following is an article from 1972, which was posted recently on Facebook by Jim Bell.
Mary McKinnel was a well known figure in town especially with her regular entry in local pageants with “Billie Marshall’s Gypsies”. Her memories of Old Kirkcudbright were always popular.
This is the original article (sic) transcribed and enhanced by the addition of photographs of the period.
“The Town of Kirkcudbright is of great antiquity and has a wealth of historical interest and events, the town having existed before the invasion of the Romans.
The old part of the town is practically unchanged, High Street with its Georgian houses, old closes with the gardens running down to the Castledykes, and the ancient 16th Century Tolbooth is much the same as it was in my young days a warm, sunny, charming street full of happy children playing games and getting into mischief.
Down at the harbour the boats and the fishermans gear were a big attraction, there always seemed to be someone repairing or painting boats, making creels or mending nets.
Bob Clacherty, a deep sea sailor who had been to far off ports used to regale and enchant us with his stories of adventure.
As a matter of fact, me and my buddy, Kelly, were packed off to the “Auld Castle” school at the tender age of barely four years because “Hubby” prophesised we would fall off the dock into the Dee. School was very pleasant and I remember with great affection my two teachers, “Miss Polly” and “Miss Babs” who taught me my three Rs.
The cobblestones have long gone from the brae at the harbour and now there is a fine smooth surface all along the High Street, it used to be very rough and dusty during the summer, requiring frequent applications from Sammy McNeilie’s watering cart, a great ploy for the children, we used to race after it on our bare feet, kicking her legs in the cascading water, getting a skelp from our mothers for getting wet.
A volunteer led project “Building Biographies” project was undertaken, with volunteers researching some of Galloways large country houses. Led by Claire Williamson of the Can You Dig it community project, part of the Galloway Glens Landscape Initiative, the results are now published. Four of the volunteers presented their findings to our October meeting. The houses that are presented are Argrennan, Senwick, Barwhinnock and Fludha. This was our first meeting using some new equipment so there were some glitches. The meeting has now been posted on Youtube. With the help of Ron McHugh we have rescued what was missing and the resulting film can now be accessed here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YF27oTYi1Ag