Peningham

**Peningham** (English: **Penninghame**) is a ceevil pairish in the historical coonty o Wigtounshire in Dumfries an Gallowa, Scotland. It is 8 mile nor'wast fae Wigtoun. The aurie is aboot 16 mile lang and fae 5-6 mile wide, boondit on the north an east bi the River Cree, an on the wast bi the River Blaidnoch, comprisin narley 38,000 acre, o that 12,000 acre wis arable, 600 acre wis wuidland and plantations, 1,600 acre wis meidaes, an the lave wis hill pastur, muirland, moss, etc.

The pairish o Peningham is boondit on the sooth bi the ceevil pairish o Wigtoun an on the wast bi Kirkcowan an on the north bi the ceevil pairish o Cowmonell an on the east bi the civil pairish o Minnigaff.

There is a thrang o naitur trails nearby, managed on behauf o the state bi Scottish Forestry.

## Etymology

Peningham (spelt sicweys in 1287 in Bagimonds Roll) his been argied tae be ane o the earliest Anglo-Saxon placenames in soothwast Scotland.  Hough his propone't that it is derived aither fae Auld English **pening-hām* "ferm that a penny tax wis peyable on" or **pen-ingahām*, the seicont element o that meanin "fermtoun o the follaers o ..." or "fermtoun o the sattlers at ...". She argies again a derivation fae *-ingahām* steidit on the geographical isolation o Peningham fae the ither *-ingahām* names in soothren Scotland (Cowdinham, Tyninham, Whittingeham); the lack o the medial  in the early spellins o the name, and the obscur first element 'Pen'.

James propones that the first element is Brittonic *penn* "heid, tap, summit, end" incorporatit intil an Auld English *ing + ham* name. It wad mean "laundhaudin name't (efter) Penn". He suggests that **Penn* refers to the end o the rig on Baur Hill. James notes that Hough's etymology o a name "beirin monetary assessment o a laundhaudin" in the 8t centry wad be exceptional.

## The Clachan o Peningham

The Clachan o Penninham wis a sattlement that existit afore Newtoun Stewart wis built an is tharefore o some antiquity as the first wheen o hooses in Newtoun Stewart wis built in 1677 bi William Stewart. Newtoun Stewart wis a planned veelage an hinderly it supersedit the clachan. Atween 1875 an 1885 the clachan an its destrict wis served bi a stap name't Mains of Penninghame Platform railwey station on the line tae Whithorn fae Newtoun Stewart with mercat days trains anely.

## The Toun o Newtoun Stewart

The Dumfries an Gallowa Cooncil Administration Office for the Machars aurie o Wigtounshire is in the toun o Newtoun Stewart, that lies on the soothren edge o the Gallowa Forest Pairk in the ceevil pairish o Peningham.

## The Primary Schuil

Thare his been a schuil in the Peningham aurie for ower 100 year. Merton Haw an aw his been considerable stendit an altert ower the years, umwhile being occupee'd as a schuil.

## Peningham Kirk

The kirk o Peningham belangt o auld til the bishops o Gallowa, that wis the awners o Peningham and hid thair chief dwallin at Clary, umwhile cried Clachary, less no ae mile fae the kirk.

The recordit history o Peningham Pairsh begins wi the medieval Bishops o Gallowa. The buirial grund wis uised until 1777 whan the kirk wis closed an teh new Peningham Kirk wis built in Newtoun Stewart.

Peningham Auld Kirk an Manse (in ruination) at the Clachan o Peningham is shawn on Ainslie's 1782 map. The biggin shawin the back o the photae o the Clachan o Peninham kirkyaird is said tae be an auld inn. In 1877, a guide reports that the ruins o the kirk wis barelins visible.

In the new kirkyaird a heidstane commemorates the Rev. Robert Rowan, meenister o the pairish, a freend an correspondent o the historian Robert Wodrow. Haein studied at Glesga College, he obteent the licence tae preach in July 1695, in the follaein year he wis ordeent as the meenistor of Peningham (ten year efter the herryin o Margaret Wilson. Takkin deep concern in the affairs o the Kirk, he communicatit tae Wodrow meenit accoonts o the herryins inflictit on his pairishioners an ither durin the latter Stuart harryins. He deed on 9 August 1714, in his 55t year, an the 18t o his meenistry.

## Barony o Merton or Myrtoun alias Frethrid

In 1477 King James III o Scotland grantit a chairter o Merton Haw tae John Kennedy o Blairquahan.

On 1 Mairch 1504 or 1505: **The terras et baroniam de Myretoun, cum turre, fortalicio (etc.) vic. (sheriffidom of) Wigtoun'' was wrate in Registrum magni sigilli regum Scotorum AD1424-1513 (RMS) Vol.II, deed no.2829 p.&nbsp;601. In the same volume an aw wis deeds anent the barony o Myretoun, while shawn as "Baronium de Frethird or Frethrid, vic. (shirradom o) Wigtoun:, pp 236-7 no. 1162; pp. 272-3 nos 1336 an 1377 (!0 Dec 1477) an no. 1654.

On 27 Februar 1506: the Register o the Great Seal o Scotland recoreds a chairter p. 624 no 2943, Gawino Kennedy de Blarequhan hid terres et Baronium de Frethird.

On 20 Juin 1508, p.693 no.3245, John Kennedy de Blairquhan re **Capella S. Ninian** in baronia sue de Myrtoun alies Frethrid vic. Wigtoun. Ths [[Saunt Ringan}|St Ninian]]'s chaipel is juist til the sooth o Glenhapple, Peningham, near Cruise o Cree and Peningham Hoose.

10 Januar 1541: **Barony o Martyn-Kennedy alias Frethrid vic. (shirradom o) Wigtoun** Gilbert Kennedy an his guidwife Margaret Cunninghame hid thirl ands, recordit in RMS vol.III p.592 deed 2576

''[[Viscount Boyd of Merton]], of Merton-in-Penninghame in the County of Wigtown'', is a title in the [[Peerage o the Unitit Kinrick]]. It wis creautit in 1960 for the [[Conservative Pairty (UK)|UK Conservative Pairty]] politeecian an unwhile Secretar o State for the Colonies, [[Alan Lennox-Boyd, 1t Viscount Boyd o Merton]]. As o 2010 the title is haudit bi his auldest son, the seicont Viscount, that succeedit in 1983.

A bronze axe, noo in the Stranraer Museum, wis fund in boggy grund at Merton Haw, aboot 2 mile wast o Newton Stewart. Merton Haw is a Category B leetit biggin.

==History==

On 1 Juin 1557, the launds o Clarie/Clarie an Ower Baur hid umwhile been mailt for 19 year by Bishop Andrew Durie tae Walter Stewart o Barcly, as recorded in the beuk "Wigtouwnshire Charters" (Scottish Records Society, p.&nbsp;248 no.347). In this beuk an aw, Peningham wis the uisual dwallin o the Bishops o Gallowa, Bishop Alexander Gordon o Clary dee'd here in 1576. The 10 merkland o Grange o Peningham, 5 merkland o Claire, 5 Merkland o Ower Baur, 5 merkland o Barchelauchlyne (possibly Barcly, in 1189 thare wis a Walter de Berchelay, chaumerlain), 5 merkland o Barquharrane, aw lyin in the Merse o Cree, wis grantit bi Bishop Alexander Gordon tae Alexander Stewart o Garlies an Katherine Stewart, marraes, an the 5 merkland o Carnestik an Polchullie (Polwillie ?) wis feued tae Mr. John Steward an Egidia Gordon, marraes.

[[Castle Stewart]] is north o Newtoun Stewart, an Peningham. **Scots Peerage, vol.IV''' recoreds that Sir Alexander Stewart o Garlies an his third guidwife, Catherine Stewart (dochter o Walter Stewart o Barclye/Barcly, abuin) hid a son, Anthony Stewart, that was the parson o Peningham an ancestor o Colonel William Stewart that purchased the launds o Castle Stewart, umwhile style't Kilcreuchie.

Colonel William Stewart bocht the launds umwhile kent as Calcruchie an built Castle Stewart. The reference for the plain o this castle is in "The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland bi David MacGibbon and Thomas Ross, pub. 1892 pp.&nbsp;246–8.

All Saints Episcopal Kirk, Challoch, wis built as a preevat chaipel for Edward James Stopford-Blair o Peninghame Hoose and consecratit in 1872. It wis designt by the airchitects W G Haberson & Pite.

## Moniment o National Importance

Near Peningham is Skaith Mote, the site o a smaw timmer castle o medieval date.

## Archaeology

The National Gailerie o Scotland - Museum o Antiquities o Scotland his bronze implements (Sir Herbert Eustance Maxell, 1885) leets (item 48) 8 x 21 inch an (item 49) 2 x 21 inch bronze axes fae Peningham.

There wis atween 1,200 and 1,500 auncient English cuinyies fund in the field in the pairish o Peningham, shawin the heids o King Edward, Keen Alexander, etc. Some mintit in Briston micht hae been aboot 1280 AD (CE).

Some places in north Peningham that are o interest til archaelogists, airtists, an walkers on the Soothren Upland Wey is:

* Castle Stewart (on launds o Kilcreuchie or Calcruchie), north o Newtoun Stewart
* Skaithe Motte an Bailey
* Castle Loch (Black Loch, that souks intil Ochiltree Loch) wi Mickle Castle atween baith lochs
* Ochiltree Loch wi Little o Mickle Castle on the north shore
* Ochiltree, north o Ochilltree Hill
* Loch Maberry wi a castle on the eastren shore
* The Machars

## Namely residenters

* Alexander Gordon (c. 1516-1575) - Airchbishop o Glesga, Bishop o the Isles, an Bishop o Gallowa, born in Peningham
* Caiptain Sir Murray Maxwell (1775-1831) - Ryal Navy officer that served durin the French Revolutionary an Napoleonic Wars, born in Peningham
* Edward Black (1793-1845) - meenister an teacher in Canadae associatit wi the Kirk o Scotland, born in Peningham
* James Blair (c. 1788-1841) - Irish-born sklave-awner an Tory MP. He bocht the Peningham estate in 1825.

## Gailerie

File:St. Ninian's chapel ruin, Penninghame.jpg|St. Ninian's chaipel ruin.
File:Clachan of Penninghame Cemetery - geograph.org.uk - 852695.jpg|Clachan o Peningham Seemetry.
File:Penninghame Home Farm.jpg|PeninghamHame Ferm.  View across the fields til the sooth o the ferm taewart the remeens o Castle Stewart
File:Glasnick Smithy Croft.jpg|Glasnick Smiddy Craft. View fae near the craft alang the line of the auld militar road taewart Cairn Wuid centre o photae an Barskeoch Ferm on richt.
File:Welcome to Dumfries and Galloway.jpg|The B7027 road tae Challoch, near Loch Dornal, north Peningham aurie.
File:Challoch Church in Winter - geograph.org.uk - 663332.jpg|Challoch Kirk in Winter.
File:Road to Skaith - geograph.org.uk - 216321.jpg|near Skaith Motte an Bailey.
File:Loch Ochiltree - geograph.org.uk - 633272.jpg|Loch Ochiltree.
File:Loch Dornal - geograph.org.uk - 476128.jpg|Loch Dornal.
File:Loch Maberry - geograph.org.uk - 476123.jpg|Loch Maberry near Loch Dornal.
File:Penninghame Pond.jpg|Peningham Pownd in Cruives Wuid.  


## Leetit biggins in Peningham

* Baltersan Steading With Silo
* Challoch, All Saints Church Manse With Retaining Walls And Gatepiers
* Mochrum Park Lodge With Gates Gatepiers And Quadrant Walls
* Penninghame Open Prison (Formerly Penninghame House) With Stables And Walled Garden
* Baltersan Farmhouse
* Penninghame Clachan
* Challoch, Lingree Bridge
* Castle Stewart
* Merton Hall
* Challoch, All Saints Episcopal Church With Boundary Walls And Gatepiers
* Mochrum Park
* Challoch Farmhouse And Steadings
* Clauchaneasy Bridge
* Killiemore (Formerly Kirkchrist House)

## References

## External links
* Map o Leetit Biggins in Peningham
* Video footage o the kirk an seemetry