The image top is of the Thornhill Inn
looking north along Drumlanrig Street. The Town
seen today was laid out in 1714 with wide
streets to serve the many Coaches traveling on
the new road between Dumfries and Glasgow.
The image second top is of the Hotel next to
the Mercat Cross on Drumlanrig Street named the
Beccleuch Hotel.
The view north along Drumlanrig Street shows
how this wide street looks good and works well
today with many car parking spaces and Shops
and Hotels down each side.
The Mercat Cross / Market Cross is in the
middle of Drumlanrig Street with East Morton
Street and West Morton Street running off.
There is a Church at the end of each of these
streets. The Cross was erected in 1714.
The Joseph Thomson Statue is along East
Morton Street. Thomson was born at Penpont near
Thornhill. He was a Geologist and Explorer
helping the British Government secure Mining
Rights in Africa from the 1880s.
Morton Parish Church is at the end of East
Morton Street. This Church was built in
1841.
Virginhall Church? is at the end of West
Morton Street. Little information can be found
about this Church.
The Nith Bridge Cross can be found by taking
the road right at this Church and go down hill
and over the Nith Bridge, only about half of a
mile. The car park for the Cross is a short
distance over the Bridge.
This Cross is said to have been created in
the 800s or early 900s of Anglian and Celtic
design.
The Covenanters
Graves are in Dalgarnock Graveyard 2 miles
southwest of Thornhill, down the road to the
left at the Church. The final section of road
to the Graveyard is rough and goes through a
Farm. There is a spot you can Walk from to save
driving through the Farm.
Postcode for the Graveyard is DG3 5AB. The Monument in the
Graveyard commemorates the Covenanter Martyrs
associated with Nithsdale, with 57 Names on the
Monument.
Drumlanrig Castle is 3 miles north of
Thornhill, home to the the Duke and Duchess of
Buccleuch and Queensberry with the Grounds and
Cafe open to the Public Most of the Year, and
Tours of the Castle available at times.
Castle Information and Large
Images.
Morton Castle is 4 miles north of
Thornhill, also on the Buccleuch and
Queensberry Estate. This Castle ruin, in a
remote and scenic spot, is free to visit all
year round.
Thornhill History
100s - the Romans built a Road through the
Area as they tried to take control of
Scotland.
800s? - the Nith Bridge Cross is erected by
the River Nith. This may have been the site of
a Settlement and River Crossing.
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