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Gatehouse of Fleet town is in Galloway
southwest Scotland, 30 miles east of Stranraer, 54
miles southwest of Dumfries, just off the main A75
road.
Gatehouse of Fleet attracts visitors for its
Old Mill visitor centre with diner, Cally
Palace for golf and restaurant, walk to the
Rutherford Monument, visits to Cardoness
Castle, and Inns and Hotels for drinks and
meals. The town was also used for The Wicker Man
horror film with Britt Eckland, Christopher
Lee, and Edward Woodward, Old Anwoth Church 1
mile west was also used in the film.
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The image top is looking up Fleet Street
towards the town centre with the Fleet Gallery
and the Ship Inn on the left.
The Ship Inn has a restaurant and rooms.
St Mary's Church is
also on the left , just past the Ship Inn, with
a scenic seating area next to the Church. This
Church was built in 1840.
The image right is from the main parking
area in the Town centre looking at the entrance
to the Mill on the
Fleet visitor centre with a shop and
diner.
This was a Cotton Mill built in 1788 with a
water wheel on the gable end of the building
driving the machinery to spin the cotton. The
Mill closed in the 1930s. It was restored by
the local council in 1980 then opened to the
public in 1981.
The Church at the gates here seems to be
used for small local businesses selling local
hand made craft.
The image right is looking up the High
Street towards the Clock Tower. The Bank of Fleet Hotel is in the
middle of the High Street. The Hotel offers
rooms, drinks, meals and has a beer garden.
The Murry Arms
Hotel is at the top of the High Street next
to the Clock Tower. The Hotel has a selection
of rooms and a restaurant.
The Clock Tower was completed in 1871 of
local whinstone with granite trim from
Dalbeattie Quarry.
The Masonic Arms is
on Ann Street by the Clock Tower with a
contemporary dining room, conservatory, beer
garden, and bar.
The Cally Palace
Hotel and Golf Resort is to the south of the
Town in a country estate. The hotel is also a
popular place for lunch or afternoon tea. This
former Country Mansion was converted to a Hotel
in 1934. Wiki History
Page.
The less expensive Gatehouse Golf Club is
on the northeast side of the town.
The 55ft high Rutherford Monument is a
popular walk from the village, about 3 and a
half miles round trip. The monument is in
honour of a Minister from from this area who
became Professor of Divinity at St Andrews
University. Walk Information
with Images.
Cardoness Castle is 1
mile west of Gatehouse of Fleet, next to the
main road with a visitor centre and great views
from the top. This is a late 1400s tower house
built for the MacCulloch's, a family known for
deadly feuds with their neighbour's.
Gatehouse of Fleet History
1470s - Cardoness Castle is built on the
west side of the Water of Fleet for the
MacCulloch's.
1610 - the wooden Fleet Bridge is built over
the Water of Fleet for the increasing numbers
of people traveling to the port town of
Portpatrick for trade with
Ireland.
The Murray's owned the land on the east side
of the river, so built a Gait House / Inn by
the bridge to make money out of the passing
trade. This is where the towns name originated
- Gatehouse of Fleet.
1721 - the Wooden Bridge is washed away in a
storm.
1729 - the first Stone Bridge is built.
1760s - Kings Head Inn is built, later named
the Murry Arms.
1765 - James Murray has Cally country
Mansion built on the east side of the
village.
1778 - Robert Williamson, inventor of
clockwork mechanisms set up a workshop in the
town.
1794 - Robert Williamson died in a fire at
the workshop.
1790 - Lower Birtwhistle Mill is built, now
the Mill on the Fleet.
1790s - the town had four Cotton Mills,
Copper Mine, a Brass Foundry, Brewery,
Brickworks, Soap Factory, and Tanneries.
1794 - the Ship Inn is built.
1819 - the artist John Faed is
born in the area.
1824 - Alexander Murray had the Fleet Canal
built from the Water of Fleet to the towns
small harbour named Port Macadam, a short
distance south of the town. The harbour had
around 150 ships visit per year, it is now used
by small pleasure craft.
1840 - St Mary's Church is built.
1840s - the Copper Mine is closed.
1861 - Big Water Viaduct is built for the
railway about 6 miles north with a stop for the
town.
1871 - Clock Tower is built in the town
centre.
1921 - Gatehouse Golf Course is opened and
War Memorial built.
1934 - Cally House is converted to a Hotel
and Golf Course.
1968 - the Railway closed. The Big Water
Viaduct area is now a National Park for
walking and cycling.
1986 - A75 bypass is completed reducing
traffic through the town.
1919 - Lower Mill is restored to serve as a
visitor attraction named Mill on the Fleet.
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