Gatehouse of Fleet
| Gatehouse of Fleet | |
| Kirkcudbrightshire | |
|---|---|
 Ann Street | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NX59955648 |
| Location: | 54°52’60"N, 4°10’60"W |
| Data | |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Dumfries & Galloway |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Dumfries & Galloway |
Gatehouse of Fleet is a town in Kirkcudbrightshire. It has existed only since the mid-18th century, although the area has been inhabited since much earlier. Much of its development was attributable to the entrepreneur James Murray's decision to build his summer home, Cally (now a hotel), there in 1765.
Over the next hundred years, the town developed into a centre for industry, particularly cotton mills. The western approach to the town is dominated by the imposing Cardoness Castle. Gatehouse of Fleet is the birthplace of Victorian artist John Faed. The renowned inventor of clockwork mechanisms, Robert Williamson was also known to have set up a workshop in the town in 1778, which burned to the ground (and claimed his life) in 1794.
The town takes its name from its location near the mouth of the river called the Water of Fleet which empties into Wigtown Bay at Fleet Bay, and its former role as the Gait House or "the House on the Road on the River Fleet" or toll booth of the late 18th century stagecoach route from Dumfries to Stranraer, now the A75 road. It was a safe haven along this route, and travellers would often stop in the area rather than furthering the journey at night due to the high numbers of bandits and highwaymen at the time.
The settlement of Anwoth is a mile to the east of Gatehouse of Fleet. It is the place where Samuel Rutherford was minister from 1627 to 1636.
Gatehouse has the second oldest average population of towns in Scotland.
Sights about the town
Garries Park is famous about the town and there is a restored mill next to the River Fleet called The Mill on the Fleet.
Along the road there is a beautiful castle, Cardoness Castle.
Near the town are fine beaches at Carrick and Sandgreen, and the Cream o' Galloway visitor attraction. There is good rock climbing at the Clints of Dromore near the old Gatehouse of Fleet railway station.
In Literature
Dorothy L. Sayers stayed in the Anwoth Hotel in Gatehouse of Fleet in 1928, and her 1931 novel The Five Red Herrings, taking place between a fictionalised version of the town, and the county seat of Kirkcudbright, was dedicated to Joe Dignam, the hotel's then owner.[1]
