Glenlochar
Glenlochar is a small hamlet on the western bank of the River Dee in the parish of Balmaghie, Kirkcudbrightshire. Glenlochar is located one and a half miles south of Balmaghie Kirk and three miles north of Castle Douglas. Its name is from the Gaelic Gleann Lochair.
The Glenlochar Barrage on the River Dee is part of the Galloway Hydro Electric Scheme.
The buried remains of a large Roman fort exist on the eastern bank of the River Dee, opposite Glenlochar. The fort was built in AD 81 by the Governor Gnaeus Julius Agricola and enclosed an area of roughly seven acres.[1]
There was an abbey constructed in Glenlochar in the early 10th century, but did not exist for a long as far as can be ascertained. The Abbey was burnt down not many years after it was built. Possibly at the time of a battle which took place nearby between the Danes and the Gallovidians. It is believed that many of the stones from the ruin of this abbey were used in construction of Threave Castle in the 14th century.
During World War II Glenlochar was used as a training camp for the construction of Bailey bridges. The concrete slab foundations of the camp are still visible. An unexploded bomb shell was found at the site and a controlled explosion was conducted in 2002.
Glenlochar has a small community centre and a car park that used to be a local school.
References
- Location map: 54°57’32"N, 3°58’59"W
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