Kirkcoam

**Kirkcoam** (English: **Kirkcolm**)  is a veelage an ceevil pairish on the northren tip o the Rhins o Gallowa peninsula, in the historical coonty o Wigtounshire, in Dumfries an Gallowa, Scotland. The pairish is boondit on the north an wast bi the sea, an on the east bi the bay o Loch Ryan, an on the sooth bi Leswalt pairish.

## History

The name Kirkcoam means the kirk o Saunt Columba. The pairish his a wall kent as the Crosswall, or Saunt Columba's Wall. Kirkcoam historical  his seen human acteevity syne auncient times. Sheltert fae the rochle seas o the Sheuch an the North Atlantic, Loch Ryan his lang been an important sauf herbour for boats. An Airn Age fort is locatit at Dunskirkloch on the north coast.

In the ware o 1307, at the beginnin o Robert the Bruce's campaign in the Wars o Scots Unthirldom, he sent twa forces tae attempt tae win control o soothwast Scotland. Ane force, led bi his twa brithers an conseestin o 18 galleys, laundit in Loch Ryan. Thay wis immediate owerwhalmit bi local forces, led by Dougal MacDougal o Clan MacDowall, a uphauder o the Comyns.

The barony o Corsewall wis haudit bi Alexander Stewart, Laird o Garlies fae 1622.

## Featurs o interest

### Kilmorie Stane

An Early Medieval cross-leck is locatit in Kirkcoam kirkyaird. The cross wis removed fae the site o Kilmorie Chaipel, that wis neist tae St Mary's Wall, in the 16t century and built intae Kirkcoam kirk. It wis laer muived til the grunds o Corsewall Hoose, bit re-upset in the Kirkcoam kirkyaird in the 1980s. The desgins on the cross-leck combine Christian an Norse eemagery, reflectin Gallowas Viking an Celtic past. Ane face o the stane his a perqueer cairved cross abuin a design o intertwine't snake-like ainimals. On the hintside is a representation o the Crucifixion. Ablow is a feegur o a man wi a pair o tongs an a bird on his shouder; this micht represent Odin or Sigurd. It is thocht the cairvins on the Kilmorie Stane shaw the trumphin o Christianity ower pauganism.

### Ervie-Kirkcoam kirk

The auld pairish kirk o Kirkcoam that wis in the grunds o Corsewall Hoose, wis demolisht in 1821 an a new kirk wis built in Kirkcoam, up the hill fae the auld kirk. In 1950 Kirkcoam Kirk o Scotland wis unitit wi Ervie Free Kirk, an in 1985 the kirk was linkit wi Leswalt Pairish Kirk. The kirk session, haudit in the coort o the pairish, wis made up o the meenister and the lairds an business men o the pairish, an dealt wi moral maiters, minor creeminal cases, maiters o the puir fowk and o eddication, maiters o discipleen, an the general concerns o the pairish.

### Marian Tour

Marian Tour is a 19t century moniment on Craigengerroch Hill, aboot 1.9 mile wast o Kirkcoam veelage. The're panoramic views ower the Firth o Clyde fae this location.

### Corsewall Lichthoose

Corsewall Lichthoose staunds on the nor'wast coast o the Rhins, an merks the approach tae Loch Ryan. Appent in 1817, the licht wis automatit in 1994 an the lave o the biggin noo operates as a hottle. The lichthoose wis built bi Robert Stevenson, the ingineer grandfaither o Robert Louis Stevenson, an is a Category A leetit biggin.

### Corsewall Castle

Corsewall Castle is ruint 15t century tour hoose til the sootheast o the lichthoose. It wis awnt bi Alexander Campbell, a son o Sir Duncan Campbell o Loudoun, whase aulder brither Andrew wis the shirra o Ayr. The oblong keep aince ris tae three storeys an lay on a mund that wis pertectit bi a ditch. Noo aw that remeens is the stumps o the fower waws, that dinna rise ayont a tunnel-vautit dunnie. The waw yet conteens the lawer section o a turnpike stair. A smaw cannon wis diskivert here in 1791, while a pose o gowd cuinyies, siller-plate, an jewellery wis unkivert in 1802. The castle wis forsaken in fauvour o Corsewall Hoose, near tae Kirkcoam veelage, bi the 18t century. A leegend recordit in the 19t century states that the castle hid a wall o sic pouer that, bi liftin its lid, the awners coud at pleisur fluid the moat an approaches til the castle.

## Namely fowk

* Admiral John Ross (1777-1856) - Arctic explorer, builder o North West Castle in Stranrawer, wis born in Kirkcoam. Admiral Sir James Clark Ross (1800-1862) jyned his uncle on Arctic expedeetions, an he becam the first explorer tae reak the North Magnetic Pole in 1831.

## References