Parton

The village of Parton

Parton is a village and parish in central Kirkcudbrightshire, seven miles north-west of Castle Douglas. The village is situated on the banks of the River Dee to the south of the parish. It takes its name from a Gaelic term signifying "The Hill Top". On the east is the River Urr, which separates it from the parish of Kirkpatrick Durham, on the north-west, the River Ken and on the south-west, the River Dee.

Prominent mathematical physicist James Clerk Maxwell lived at the nearby Glenlair House. He was famous for developing formulae governing electricity and magnetism as well as the Maxwell distribution in the kinetic theory of gases. Maxwell is buried under the family gravestone in the churchyard of Parton Kirk and is commemorated by a monument beside the Parton war memorial in front of the church.

Also buried in the kirkyard is Elma Yerburgh (1864–1946) of the Thwaites Brewery family from Blackburn, who lived at nearby Barwhillanty.

Red kites have been introduced to the area and can be seen at Parton viewing station.

Parton railway station was part of the Portpatrick line, but closed in 1965.

• James Clerk Maxwell
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  Gravestone of James Clerk Maxwell, his parents and his wife. It lies within the ruins of the Old Kirk in the burial ground of Parton Kirk.

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  Clerk Maxwell family gravestone in detail.

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  Memorial stone, on the right is Sam Callander (1922 - 2012) of Parton, who devoted much of his life to promoting the memory of Maxwell.

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  Detail of memorial stone to James Clerk Maxwell in front of Parton Church.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Parton)

• Location map: 55°0’29"N, 4°2’31"W
• Transcriptions and photographs of Gravestones in Parton Churchyard

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