Maxwelltown

Maxwelltown
Kirkcudbrightshire
Location
Grid reference:	NX965759
Location:	55°3’59"N, 3°37’55"W
Data
Post town:	Dumfries
Postcode:	DG2
Dialling code:	01387
Local Government
Council:	Dumfries & Galloway
Parliamentary constituency:	Dumfries & Galloway

Maxwelltown is a town of Kirkcudbrightshire standing on the west bank of the River Nith, which forms the border with neighbouring Dumfriesshire. It stands opposite Dumfries, the two joined by a bridge, and is effectively part of the latter's area. Maxwelltown was granted the status of a burgh of barony before its civic merger with Dumfries in 1929.

Maxwelltown was until 1801 a mere hamlet known as Bridgend, in which year it was erected into a burgh of barony by the name of Maxwelltown. Now Maxwelltown is big enough itself to have several suburbs, including Summerhill, Troqueer, Janefield, Lochside, Lincluden, Sandside, and Summerville.

The oldest remaining building on the Maxwelltown side of the Nith, is Lincluden Abbey.

Other buildings of note are :

• the former Dumfries Mill, now the Robert Burns Centre Museum, that in the evenings becomes a film theatre;
• the Dumfries Museum and observatory up on the hill;
• the Sinclair Memorial;
• the former Dominican Convent of Saint Benedict;
• Dumfries Prison; and
• the former Maxwelltown Court House.

Transport

Maxwelltown Railway Path

Maxwelltown railway station in the Summerhill area on the Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway closed in 1965 along with the direct line to Stranraer via Castle Douglas as part of the Beeching Axe in 1965. Part of the disused railway track in Dumfries was later converted to a cycle path. The nearest station now is Dumfries.

From Maxwelltown westwards runs the A75 road on to the ferry port of Stranraer; to the west it enters Dumfriesshire and reaches out to the M6 motorway.

Sport

• Football: Queen of the South FC have their ground on the Maxwelltown side of the Nith.

Old Mortality and his pony: the Sinclair Memorial

Outside links

• The Robert Burns Centre Film Theatre
• Maxwelltown in the Gazetteer for Scotland
• Maxwelltown Information Centre