Troqueer

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Troqueer
Kirkcudbrightshire

Troqueer Parish Church
Location
Grid reference: NX976762
Location: 55°3’30"N, 3°36’22"W
Data
Post town: Dumfries
Postcode: DG1/2
Dialling code: 01387
Local Government
Council: Dumfries and Galloway
Parliamentary
constituency: 		Dumfries and Galloway

Troqueer is a former village and a parish in Kirkcudbrightshire which forms a suburb of Dumfries. It lies adjacent to the border with Dumfriesshire on the west side of the River Nith which here forms the county border.[1] The eastern-side was merged with Dumfries to the east in 1929, and, today, eastern Troqueer is a suburb of Dumfries.

Location

The parish has an area of 11,675 acres including the ancient burgh of Maxwelltown in the north-eastern portion.[2] It is about 7½ miles from north to south and 4½ miles from east to west, and is bordered on the east by the Nith.

An 1846 account said the parish included some woodland and plantations, but was mainly arable, meadow, and pasture. It went on: "The surface is intersected by three nearly equidistant and parallel ranges of heights, the first of which, rising gradually from the river, has been long in a high state of cultivation, and contains several nursery grounds and gardens of great fertility. The valley between it and the second ridge is also fruitful, and is watered by the Cargen, which flows into the Nith. The second ridge, of greater elevation, produces excellent crops of turnips and potatoes, with wheat, barley, and oats; and the interval between it and the third ridge is partly good meadow land, but chiefly moss, which might at a moderate expense be brought into tillage. The third ridge, and the highest, extends through the whole length of the parish; it is arable on the acclivities nearly to the summit, and though less fertile than the others, yields remunerating crops. The Nith, of which the water is beautifully limpid, abounds with salmon, grilse, and herlings, even beyond what is necessary for the supply of the surrounding district. The plantations consist of oak, ash, elm, and other foresttrees, with fir and larch; they are carefully managed, and in a flourishing condition".[3]

History

The name Troqueer is of Cumbric origin. The first element is treβ 'farmstead'.[4] The second is likely *wejr 'a bend, something curved or twisted', referring to the bend in the Nith, beneath Troqueer Motte.[5] Andrew Breeze proposes the meaning ‘farmstead on the (river-)bend’.[4]

In the 12th century Alan filius Roland, constable of Scotland, built an earthwork motte and bailey fortress, the Mote of Troqueer, against the banks of the Nith. In the early 13th century the fortress was held by Durand filius Christin. Part of the flat-topped motte survives, but some of the motte is now covered by the suburbs, and the position of the bailey has been lost.[6]

John Blackadder, the eminent Covenanter, was ordained minister of the Troqueer parish on 7 June 1653 during the time of the Commonwealth. Blackadder was expelled from his parish in 1662 after the restoration of Charles II because he refused to comply with the Episcopacy, which the government had introduced in Scotland.[7]

The community around the Troqueer parish church was made a separate burgh of Maxwelltown in 1810, with its own council and court.[8] In 1846 the parish contained 4,351 inhabitants, of whom 3,230 were in the burgh.[3] As of 1887 the parish had a population of 5,524.[2] During the 19th century Maxwelltown grew steadily as it acquired tanneries, a brewery, iron foundries, weaving shops, a brick and tile works, saw mills and the Troqueer and Rosefield Mills.

Today

Troqueer has a primary school with 230 pupils as of 2011.[9] The present building has ten classrooms. It was built at a cost of £5.1 million, and opened in October 2009.[10] The Troqueer Community Centre is home to the Over 50's Club. It is used for bingo, events and parties. The centre provides a base for various community activities.[11] The Troqueer Parish Church overlooks the River Nith. The church is home to a number of community groups who meet there weekly.[12]

Gallery

  • Kirkpatrick Macmillan Footbridge (2006): Southernmost Nith bridge connects Troqueer with Castledykes Park, Crichton complex and the Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary
    Kirkpatrick Macmillan Footbridge (2006): Southernmost Nith bridge connects Troqueer with Castledykes Park, Crichton complex and the Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary
  • Troqueer Cemetery (South) View from the upper path of Troqueer Cemetery (S) across the River Nith
    Troqueer Cemetery (South) View from the upper path of Troqueer Cemetery (S) across the River Nith
  • Footbridge over the River Nith Walkway linking Castledykes and Troqueer
    Footbridge over the River Nith Walkway linking Castledykes and Troqueer

References

  1. ↑ "Welcome to the website of Troqueer Parish Church". Troqueer Parish Church. http://www.troqueerparishchurch.com/index.htm. Retrieved 2012-02-13. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Troqueer Kirkcudbrightshire". University of Portsmouth. http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/place_page.jsp?p_id=16633. Retrieved 2012-02-13. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Samuel Lewis (1846). "A TOPOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF SCOTLAND, Published in 2 vols". London. http://www.kirkcudbright.co/troqueer.asp. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Breeze, Andrew (2000). "Four Brittonic Place-Names from South-West Scotland: Tradunnock, Trailflat, Troqueer and Troax". Transactions and Journal of Proceedings of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society. Third Series LXXIV: 58. http://www.dgnhas.org.uk/transonline/SerIII-Vol74.pdf#page=63. 
  5. ↑ James, Alan G. (2014). The Brittonic Language in the Old North: A Guide to the Place-Name Evidence. Volume 2: Guide to the Elements. pp. 381. http://www.spns.org.uk/bliton/BLITON2014ii_elements.pdf. 
  6. ↑ "Mote of Troqueer". CastleUK. http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_scotland/84/dumfries.html. Retrieved 2012-02-13. 
  7. ↑ Howie, John (1853). "John Blackadder". The Scots worthies. W.R. M'Phun. http://books.google.ca/books?id=aK1CAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA582. 
  8. ↑ "Troqueer Kirk Session Minutes". Dumfries and Galloway Community. Dumfries & Galloway Council. http://www.dgcommunity.net/historicalindexes/trqkirksession.aspx. Retrieved 2012-02-13. 
  9. ↑ "Troqueer Primary School". Dumfries and Galloway Council. http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4325. Retrieved 2012-02-01. 
  10. ↑ "Featured Architectural Design Projects". Dumfries and Galloway Council. http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=3897#Troqueer. Retrieved 2012-02-01. 
  11. ↑ "Troqueer Community Centre". Dumfries and Galloway Council. http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=3549. Retrieved 2012-02-13. 
  12. ↑ "TROQUEER PARISH CHURCH, DUMFRIES – 12 February 2012". Troqueer Parish Church. http://www.troqueerparishchurch.com/Intimation%20sheets/12February12wwwint%5B1%5D.pdf. Retrieved 2012-02-13. 
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