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Thornhill is a Town in south Scotland, 16
miles north of Dumfries on the A76 road.
The Town is popular for stopovers, meals,
coffee /tee, and for visiting a number of
attractions in the area such as Drumlanrig
Castle, Morton Castle, Nith Bridge Cross and
Covenanters Graves.
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Camping & Touring Parks in
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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.
1200s - Morton Castle is built 4 miles north
of Thornhill for Thomas Randolph, friend of
King Robert the Bruce.
1300s - the first Castle at Drumlanrig 3
miles north of Thornhill was built for the
Douglas, friends of King Robert the Bruce.
1400s - a Wooden Bridge was built over the
River Nith. This Bridge was lost in a
flood.
1600s - a Settlement grew in the Area.
1675 - the new Drumlanrig
Castle is built 3 miles north for the Duke
of Buccleuch and Queensberry of the Douglas
family.
1680s - a number of Covenanters in the Area
were Executed.
1714 - a New Road was built between Dumfries
and Glasgow leading to Trade with the many
Coaches passing through and the Town being used
as a stopover.
1714 - the Mercat Cross / Market Cross was
erected.
1773 - 6 people were Drowned by an accident
on the Ferry crossing the River Nith.
1777 - a New Bridge was built across the
River Nith.
1855 - the Beccleuch Hotel was built. The
George Hotel was built around that time as
well, now named the Thornhill Inn.
1800s mid - a Brewery was built with over
ten Pubs opened in the Town.
1841 - Morton Parish Church was completed on
the east side of the Town.
1850 - the Glasgow and Southwest Railway
opened a Station in Thornhill.
1893 - Thornhill Golf Club was opened as a
nine hole course.
1929 - a Memorial was erected at Dalgarnock
Graveyard 2 miles southwest of Thornhill in
memory of 57 Covenanters from the Area Executed
in the 1680s.
1965 - the Railway closed.
1979 - Thornhill Golf Course was extended to
18 holes.
Today - Thornhill serves the Farming
Community and is a popular place for Tourists
to Stop when traveling the Area visiting the
Attractions.
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