Gatelawbridge
Encyclopedia
Gatelawbridge is a hamlet in the region of Dumfries and Galloway
, Scotland
, two and a half miles east of Thornhill
and near the gorge Crichope Linn
. The origin of the name is unknown though in the past the locals called it Gateley Bridge, so perhaps it takes its name from a type of bridge over the Cample River in the centre of the settlement. The river divides the parishes, with all those east of the river being in Closeburn
Parish, and those west of the river being in Morton Parish.
The African explorer Joseph Thomson
lived in Gatelawbridge from the age of 10 until leaving for Edinburgh
. He attended the secondary school Morton Academy in Thornhill (now Wallace Hall Academy
), making the journey each day on his pony called Donald. His father was the quarry master and presumably that is where his interest in rocks began. He studied geology at Edinburgh University. After graduating he was engaged on several explorations in East and North Africa. He discovered the Thomson's Falls in Kenya and the Thomson's gazelle is named after him. He was known to be a kind and very fair man, who refused to beat his bearers in Africa when they did wrong, preferring to dock their wages instead. This however was quite unpopular at the time with the bearers who at one point went on strike and left him. Sadly he became ill due to infections picked up on his travels and died a young man.
His friends erected a fine monument to him which stands next to the school in Thornhill.
Gatelawbridge is the site of several Red Sandstone quarries opened in the 19th century. They are now largely disused. The sandstone derived from a huge sand dune which extended from Gatelawbridge through Locharbriggs
to Annan
. This sandstone is the building material of much of Dumfriesshire, and was exported to America where it was used to build the famous 'brownstones' of New York.
The hamlet has seen a lot of growth recently with several new houses being constructed.
Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland. It was one of the nine administrative 'regions' of mainland Scotland created in 1975 by the Local Government etc. Act 1973...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, two and a half miles east of Thornhill
Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway
Thornhill is a town in the Mid Nithsdale area of Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, south of Sanquhar and north of Dumfries.A monument to the explorer Joseph Thomson , who lived in neighbouring Penpont and Gatelawbridge, can be found close to the school...
and near the gorge Crichope Linn
Crichope Linn
Crichope Linn is a gorge and waterfall near Gatelawbridge in Dumfries and Galloway, southern Scotland. Linn is the Scots language word for waterfall....
. The origin of the name is unknown though in the past the locals called it Gateley Bridge, so perhaps it takes its name from a type of bridge over the Cample River in the centre of the settlement. The river divides the parishes, with all those east of the river being in Closeburn
Closeburn, Dumfries and Galloway
Closeburn is a village and civil parish in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The village is on the A76 road south of Thornhill. In the 2001 census, Closeburn had a population of 1,119,...
Parish, and those west of the river being in Morton Parish.
The African explorer Joseph Thomson
Joseph Thomson (explorer)
Joseph Thomson was a Scottish geologist and explorer who played an important part in the Scramble for Africa. Thomson's Gazelle is named for him. Excelling as an explorer rather than an exact scientist, he avoided confrontations among his porters or with indigenous peoples, neither killing any...
lived in Gatelawbridge from the age of 10 until leaving for Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. He attended the secondary school Morton Academy in Thornhill (now Wallace Hall Academy
Wallace Hall Academy
Wallace Hall Academy is a secondary school located in Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway in the southwest of Scotland, currently with a roll of over 600 pupils aged from 11 to 65. In 2005 it was awarded the Schools of Ambition award...
), making the journey each day on his pony called Donald. His father was the quarry master and presumably that is where his interest in rocks began. He studied geology at Edinburgh University. After graduating he was engaged on several explorations in East and North Africa. He discovered the Thomson's Falls in Kenya and the Thomson's gazelle is named after him. He was known to be a kind and very fair man, who refused to beat his bearers in Africa when they did wrong, preferring to dock their wages instead. This however was quite unpopular at the time with the bearers who at one point went on strike and left him. Sadly he became ill due to infections picked up on his travels and died a young man.
His friends erected a fine monument to him which stands next to the school in Thornhill.
Gatelawbridge is the site of several Red Sandstone quarries opened in the 19th century. They are now largely disused. The sandstone derived from a huge sand dune which extended from Gatelawbridge through Locharbriggs
Locharbriggs
Locharbriggs is a former village which has expanded greatly to become a major suburb of Dumfries. Its population in the 2001 census was 5,530 and it has further expanded since then...
to Annan
Annan, Dumfries and Galloway
The royal burgh of Annan is a well-built town, red sandstone being the material mainly used. Each year in July, Annan celebrates the Royal Charter and the boundaries of the Royal Burgh are confirmed when a mounted cavalcade undertakes the Riding of the Marches. Entertainment includes a...
. This sandstone is the building material of much of Dumfriesshire, and was exported to America where it was used to build the famous 'brownstones' of New York.
The hamlet has seen a lot of growth recently with several new houses being constructed.