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Creetown

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Creetown is situated in Galloway southwest Scotland, 30 miles east of Stranraer, 41 miles west of Dumfries, just off the A75 road.

The main attractions at Creetown today are the Heritage Museum, and the Gem Rock Museum with its popular Cafe / Diner.

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The image top is looking north along the main street / St John Street towards Adamson Square.

Creetown Heritage Museum was opened in 1997, on St John Street giving information on the village history and local wildlife, with images and large screen TVs. Museum Website.

The Ellangowan Hotel is on St John Street, next to the Square. The Hotel was built in 1898 of the local granite stone.

The Ellangowan Hotel was used in the filming of the 1973 horror movie The Wicker Man with Britt Eckland, Christopher Lee, and Edward Woodward. Most of the film was shot in Galloway.

Adamson Square at the Clocktower was remodeled in 2005 using local granite, also with a 9 feet diameter granite Sphere. The Japanese sculpture Hideo Furuta produced the Sphere, and carried out much of the work on the Square. Furuta had settled in the Creetown area in the late 1990s, and died in 2007, aged 57.

The War Memorial is about 50 yards north of the Square, with the kids play area past the Memorial.

The Gem Rock Museum is on the south side of the village on Chain Road, a few hundred yards walk uphill from the Square, or you can drive up.

This is a popular attraction giving information of Gems found around the world, has a Shop with a wide range of Jewelry for sale, and a popular Cafe /Diner.

St Joseph's Church is close to the Gem Rock Museum on Hill Street. This Church was built in 1876 of local granite. Planning permission was given in 2013 for the Church to be converted to a Music Centre. The Town has an annual Music Festival.

Castle Cary Holiday Park is about 1 mile south of Creetown. The Park offers holiday caravans, pitches for tents, and spots for touring vans. The Park also has the Lairds Inn with a Restaurant.

Glenquicken Farm Trout Fishery is 3 miles south.

Creetown History

1500s - the Town evolved at the mouth of the River Cree where it flows into Wigtown Bay.

The Town was originally known as the Ferrytown of Cree, as it was where you could take a Ferry across the River Cree to the Whithorn Peninsular.

The Ferry was popular with Pilgrims traveling to the Shrine of St Ninian at Whithorn.

1760s - the Military Road between England and Portpatrick and Stranraer passed through the Town. These port towns were used for trade with Ireland.

1785 - the Town was renamed Creetown by local landowner, James McCullogh of Barholm Estate. He also re-developed the Town, laying out the main streets.

The Town grew around industries such as the excavation of sea shells for fertilizer, cotton mill, lead mine, and a number of granite quarries. Much of Liverpool Docks were built with this granite.

1861 - the Railway reaches the area with a station about 1 mile outside the Town.

1876 - St Joseph's Church is completed with local granite.

1895 - the local football team is formed known as The Ferrytoun.

1897 - the Clocktower is built of local granite.

1898 - the Ellangowan Hotel is completed with local granite.

1965 - the Railway is closed.

1971 - the Gem Rock Museum was opened.

1973 - the Horror Film The Wicker Man is shot in the area and in Creetown.

1997 - the Creetown Heritage Museum is opened.

2005 - Adamson Square is redeveloped with local granite.

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