Torthorwald
Encyclopedia
Torthorwald is a village in Dumfries and Galloway
, south-west Scotland. It is located 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) east of Dumfries
on the A709 road to Lochmaben
.
The area was the property of the de Torthorwald family until the end of the 13th century, when the estate passed by marriage to the Kirkpatrick
s. In 1418, William de Carleil married the Kirkpatrick heiress. He may have been the builder of Torthorwald Castle
, which was erected around this time, possibly on top of an earlier a motte
. Torthorwald was erected as a burgh of barony
in 1473. Torthorwald Castle was occupied until 1715; only two of its walls still stand, to a height of around 18 metres (59.1 ft).
The pre-Reformation church at Torthorwald belonged to the Trinitarian Friars
of Fail
in Ayrshire. The present parish church was erected in 1782 on the site of this earlier foundation. Torthorwald is now within the united Parish of Kirkmichael, Tinwald
and Torthorwald, which was created in 1981. The 19th-century missionary John Gibson Paton
(1824–1907) grew up in Torthorwald. His evangelical work in the New Hebrides
is commemorated in the church gate piers.
Another building of interest is a 19th-century cruck
-framed and thatched cottage. Restored in the 1990s, the cottage is protected as a category A listed building, and is maintained by a local heritage association. The village has a hotel, a village hall, and formerly had a primary school which closed in 2010. An annual Scarecrow Fun Day involves villagers erecting scarecrows in their front gardens.
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...
, south-west Scotland. It is located 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) east of Dumfries
Dumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
on the A709 road to Lochmaben
Lochmaben
Lochmaben is a small town in Scotland, and site of a once-important castle. It lies four miles west of Lockerbie, in Dumfries and Galloway.-Notable people:*Angus Douglas - Scottish internationalist footballer...
.
The area was the property of the de Torthorwald family until the end of the 13th century, when the estate passed by marriage to the Kirkpatrick
Clan Kirkpatrick
Clan Kirkpatrick is a Lowland armigerous Scottish clan. There are several variations of the Kirkpatrick name; Kilpatric, Kilpatrick, and Gilpatrick. The names Kilpatrick and Kirkpatrick may have been interchangeable at one time. The clan is recognised by the Court of the Lord Lyon, however the clan...
s. In 1418, William de Carleil married the Kirkpatrick heiress. He may have been the builder of Torthorwald Castle
Torthorwald Castle
Torthorwald Castle is a large ruined rectangular tower at the center of the village of Torthorwald just outside Dumfries and Galloway in south west Scotland. The first castle on the site was an earthwork motte-and-bailey built in the 12th century...
, which was erected around this time, possibly on top of an earlier a motte
Motte
Motte may be:*Motte-and-bailey, a type of construction used in castles*Isaac Motte, an 18th century American statesman*La Motte , various places with this name-See also:* Mote * Mott...
. Torthorwald was erected as a burgh of barony
Burgh of barony
A burgh of barony is a type of Scottish town .They were distinct from royal burghs as the title was granted to a tenant-in-chief, a landowner who held his estates directly from the crown....
in 1473. Torthorwald Castle was occupied until 1715; only two of its walls still stand, to a height of around 18 metres (59.1 ft).
The pre-Reformation church at Torthorwald belonged to the Trinitarian Friars
Trinitarian Order
The Order of the Holy Trinity is a Catholic religious order that was founded in the area of Cerfroid, some 80 km northeast of Paris, at the end of the twelfth century. The founder was St. John de Matha, whose feast day is celebrated on 17 December...
of Fail
Fail Monastery
Fail Monstery, occasionally known as Failford Abbey, had a dedication to 'Saint Mary', and was located at Fail on the bank of the Water of Fail, Parish of Tarbolton near the town of Tarbolton, South Ayrshire...
in Ayrshire. The present parish church was erected in 1782 on the site of this earlier foundation. Torthorwald is now within the united Parish of Kirkmichael, Tinwald
Tinwald, Scotland
Tinwald is a village in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, lying a little north of Locharbriggs outside Dumfries.Tinwald was the birthplace of William Paterson, who helped to found the Bank of England....
and Torthorwald, which was created in 1981. The 19th-century missionary John Gibson Paton
John Gibson Paton
Rev. Dr. John Gibson Paton , born in Scotland, was a Protestant missionary to the New Hebrides Islands of the South Pacific. Paton undertook a tremendous work which would yield little fruit for decades, convinced of the absolute sovereignty of God to build his church...
(1824–1907) grew up in Torthorwald. His evangelical work in the New Hebrides
New Hebrides
New Hebrides was the colonial name for an island group in the South Pacific that now forms the nation of Vanuatu. The New Hebrides were colonized by both the British and French in the 18th century shortly after Captain James Cook visited the islands...
is commemorated in the church gate piers.
Another building of interest is a 19th-century cruck
Cruck
A cruck or crook frame is a curved timber, one of a pair, which supports the roof of a building, used particularly in England. This type of timber framing consists of long, generally bent, timber beams that lean inwards and form the ridge of the roof. These posts are then generally secured by a...
-framed and thatched cottage. Restored in the 1990s, the cottage is protected as a category A listed building, and is maintained by a local heritage association. The village has a hotel, a village hall, and formerly had a primary school which closed in 2010. An annual Scarecrow Fun Day involves villagers erecting scarecrows in their front gardens.