Enterkinfoot is a small village or hamlet which lies north of
Thornhill on the A76 on the route to
Sanquhar
Sanquhar ( sco, Sanchar, gd, Seanchair) is a village on the River Nith in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, north of Thornhill and west of Moffat. It is a former Royal Burgh.
It is notable for its tiny post office, established in 1712 and con ...
, in
Dumfriesshire
Dumfriesshire or the County of Dumfries or Shire of Dumfries (''Siorrachd Dhùn Phris'' in Gaelic) is a historic county and registration county in southern Scotland. The Dumfries lieutenancy area covers a similar area to the historic county.
I ...
, Durisdeer Parish, in
Dumfries and Galloway, south-west
Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...
. Its original nucleus was the old mill with associated buildings, the school and the famous Enterkin Pass and path that followed the course of the Enterkin Glen to
Wanlockhead
Wanlockhead is a village in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, nestling in the Lowther Hills and south of Leadhills at the head of the Mennock Pass, which forms part of the Southern Uplands. It is Scotland's highest village, at an elevation of ar ...
and from there to
Edinburgh
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of t ...
. The site features the A76 that runs through the centre of Enterkinfoot, the
River Nith
The River Nith ( gd, Abhainn Nid; Common Brittonic: ''Nowios'') is a river in south-west Scotland. The Nith rises in the Carsphairn hills of East Ayrshire, more precisely between Prickeny Hill and Enoch Hill, east of Dalmellington. For the ...
and the Enterkin Burn that once powered the mill before joining the Nith. The area is famous for its association with the
Covenanters.
History
The village is now consistently known as 'Enterkinfoot' and the stream recorded as the 'Enterkin Burn' with its source away on the western slope of Lowther Hill. The burn has its confluence here with the
River Nith
The River Nith ( gd, Abhainn Nid; Common Brittonic: ''Nowios'') is a river in south-west Scotland. The Nith rises in the Carsphairn hills of East Ayrshire, more precisely between Prickeny Hill and Enoch Hill, east of Dalmellington. For the ...
. The area is famous for its association with the
Covenanters and the events of the so-called 'Killing Times' that occurred during the reigns of
Charles II and
James VII and II
James VII and II (14 October 1633 16 September 1701) was King of England and King of Ireland as James II, and King of Scotland as James VII from the death of his elder brother, Charles II, on 6 February 1685. He was deposed in the Glorious Re ...
and eventually led to the establishment of the
Presbyterian
Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...
Church of Scotland. A number of small cottages, many owned by the Duke of Buccleuch, made up the original village, some of which are still occupied. A public house stood next to the Enterkin Burn on the southern side.
Enterkinfoot School and schoolhouse was situated near the cottages at Auchenbraith. A holy well is shown at the 'Holywell Cleuch' above Hapland Farm (with no recorded history) with a branch of the Enterkin Path running up the glen on the eastern side. A ford crossed the Nith at Auchenbraith.
Enterkinfoot Mill and Burn
Timothy Pont
Rev Timothy Pont (c. 1560–c.1627) was a Scottish minister, cartographer and topographer. He was the first to produce a detailed map of Scotland. Pont's maps are among the earliest surviving to show a European country in minute detail, from an ...
's map of circa 1583-96 shows 'Interk (?) Mill' at the same position (NS 857042) as the later mill. The 1654
Joan Blaeu
Joan Blaeu (; 23 September 1596 – 21 December 1673) was a Dutch cartographer born in Alkmaar, the son of cartographer Willem Blaeu.
Life
In 1620, Blaeu became a doctor of law but he joined the work of his father. In 1635, they publish ...
map also records a 'Mill of Inter'. The burn is recorded as 'Interkyn' in 1745. Roy's map records 'Entrikin Foot', 'Water of Entrican' and the 'Entriken Path'. In 1776 Entrakinfoot is the spelling used. Enterkine Foot is marked on Crawford's 1804 map. By 1898 the more recent two storey mill is marked as a meal mill rather than a corn mill. The mill no longer survives. The miller's house is of a red sandstone construction and the lean-to extensions at each gable end once housed a smithy and a shop respectively. An older mill stands alongside, with various outbuildings, a cobbled courtyard, small walled garden and an old pig sty. The lade ran down as a wooden trough carrying the water from a sluice near the railway viaduct, splitting into a spillway and the lade to the wheel on the other side of the road.
Coshogle Castle
![Coshogle Farm - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Coshogle_Farm_-_geograph.org.uk_-_870877.jpg)
Coshogle Castle once overlooked Enterkinfoot, held by the clan Douglas, it stood near Old Coshogle Farm however nothing now remains at the site although some features from it are incorporated into nearby cottages, namely a doorway with an arch and moulded jambs, and secondly a
marriage stone
A marriage stone, nuptial stone or lintel stone is usually a stone, rarely wood, lintel carved with the initials, coat of arms, etc. of a newly married couple, usually displaying the date of the marriage. They were very popular until Victorian time ...
with two coat of arms, the date 1576, initials RD and NJ for Robert Douglas and his wife Nicola Johnston. Sections of the castle walls stood 6 foot high and 6 foot thick survived at least until 1825.
Morton Castle
Morton Morton may refer to:
People
* Morton (surname)
* Morton (given name)
Fictional
* Morton Koopa, Jr., a character and boss in ''Super Mario Bros. 3''
* A character in the ''Charlie and Lola'' franchise
* A character in the 2008 film '' Horton H ...
is first recorded as being held in the 12th century by Dunegal, Lord of Strathnith (Nithsdale) and then by Thomas Randolph,
Earl of Moray. The location of the surviving ruins stand on an elevated and highly defendable promontory surrounded on three sides by an artificial loch, originally only a marshland. The 1357 Treaty of Berwick in 1357 required the Scots to destroy
Morton Morton may refer to:
People
* Morton (surname)
* Morton (given name)
Fictional
* Morton Koopa, Jr., a character and boss in ''Super Mario Bros. 3''
* A character in the ''Charlie and Lola'' franchise
* A character in the 2008 film '' Horton H ...
and thirteen other castles in Nithsdale. The
Earl of March
Earl of March is a title that has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland and the Peerage of England. The title derived from the "marches" or borderlands between England and either Wales ( Welsh Marches) or Scotland (Scottish Mar ...
probably built much of the existing castle in the early 15th century, however, James Douglas of Dalkeith,
Earl of Morton
The title Earl of Morton was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1458 for James Douglas of Dalkeith. Along with it, the title Lord Aberdour was granted. This latter title is the courtesy title for the eldest son and heir to the Earl of Morto ...
. In 1608 the castle was sold to William Douglas of Coshogle, William Douglas of Drumlanrig then buying it ten years later. The castle may have served as a hunting lodge until around 1714. Morton is still the property of the Duke of Buccleuch in the care of
Historic Environment Scotland
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) ( gd, Àrainneachd Eachdraidheil Alba) is an executive non-departmental public body responsible for investigating, caring for and promoting Scotland's historic environment. HES was formed in 2015 from the mer ...
.
Kirkbride Church
The ruins of this church and cemetery stand in a remote location above Enterkinfoot. In the 13th-century Holyrood Abbey held
Kirkbride Church. In 1732 the parish was divided and annexed to the parishes of
Durisdeer
Durisdeer is a small village in Dumfries and Galloway, south-west Scotland, and in the historic county of Dumfries-shire. It lies north of Thornhill, above the Carron Water, a tributary of the Nith.
History
A Roman road once passed through th ...
and
Sanquhar
Sanquhar ( sco, Sanchar, gd, Seanchair) is a village on the River Nith in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, north of Thornhill and west of Moffat. It is a former Royal Burgh.
It is notable for its tiny post office, established in 1712 and con ...
. The remains on site today date from the early 16th century and a sacristy projects from the north wall. Kirkbride is said to be only the second reformed church built in Scotland. The church bell was stolen after its abandonment was and was traced to Glasgow where it had been recognised by the sound of it when rung it was brought back and re-hung in the small belfry on the gable end.
Enoch Castle
Enoch castle was the caput of the barony of that name, however, nothing remains at the site due to robbing the lay of the land shows it to have been a place of considerable strength. It was seized by the Douglas's of Morton Castle and attached to the clans land holdings.
Transport
Enterkinfoot lies in Nithsdale, a natural communication corridor that has resulted in the main A76 road passing through it and railway the cutting through it a higher level with the Drumlanrig Tunnel near by. The Dumfries to Ayr road runs through on its way to
Sanquhar
Sanquhar ( sco, Sanchar, gd, Seanchair) is a village on the River Nith in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, north of Thornhill and west of Moffat. It is a former Royal Burgh.
It is notable for its tiny post office, established in 1712 and con ...
from Carronbridge. The
Duke of Queensberry
The title Duke of Queensberry was created in the Peerage of Scotland on 3 February 1684 along with the subsidiary title Marquess of Dumfriesshire for the 1st Marquess of Queensberry. The Dukedom was held along with the Marquessate of Queensbe ...
constructed around of new road and in addition a road (the B797) through the Mennock Pass to the county boundary and onward to Edinburgh. The village never had a passenger station the nearest today being
Sanquhar
Sanquhar ( sco, Sanchar, gd, Seanchair) is a village on the River Nith in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, north of Thornhill and west of Moffat. It is a former Royal Burgh.
It is notable for its tiny post office, established in 1712 and con ...
and previously a station was present at
Carron Bridge.
The Enterkin Pass and Path
The Enterkin Pass was one of the old routes, a bridle-path, running north from Nithsdale into Clydesdale, together with the nearby Mennock, Well and Dalveen Passes, crossing the Lowthers and then onwards to
Edinburgh
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of t ...
or
Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
. Its origins may be a medieval travellers route or 16th century, made to facilitate the transport of lead from the mines by pack horses with panniers to
Dumfries.
![Footpath to Enterkin Pass - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/Footpath_to_Enterkin_Pass_-_geograph.org.uk_-_417062.jpg)
In 1726
Daniel Defoe writing in "''A Tour Thro' the Whole Island of Great Britain" (1726) described the pass: "Enterkin, the frightfullest pass, and most dangerous that I met with, between that and Penmenmuir in North Wales''".
Another author wrote that "''A few steps and you are on its edge, looking down giddy and amazed into its sudden and immense depths. ... but we know nothing more noticeable, more unlike any other place, more impressive, than this short, deep, narrow, and sudden glen.''"
The original path and lane ran from near the school and was cut off by the railway, but it used to directly run from Enterkinfoot with another route from the south branching off from the Dalveen Pass road. The present-day path, going east from
Wanlockhead
Wanlockhead is a village in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, nestling in the Lowther Hills and south of Leadhills at the head of the Mennock Pass, which forms part of the Southern Uplands. It is Scotland's highest village, at an elevation of ar ...
passes around the west side of Stake Hill and joins the road to the radar station, leaving again to run south to the Enterkin Pass between Lowther Hill and East Mount Lowther. The path down is on the west bank of the Enterkin Burn for around 3 km until it reaches Glenvalentine from where it ascends in a southerly direction from the burn to the ridge above. Descending south from the ridge, there are views of Enterkin Glen. A metalled road is present near Inglestone and a public road runs via Muiryhill, turning west to the A76 Nithsdale road and thence to Enterkinfoot.
The rescue of the Covenanters
![Dalgarnock burial ground, Thornhill, Dumfries & Galloway](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/Dalgarnock_burial_ground%2C_Thornhill%2C_Dumfries_%26_Galloway.jpg)
On 29 July 1684, the Enterkin Pass was the scene of a dramatic rescue, the 'Enterkin Raid' by twelve
Covenanters of five of their colleagues and a minister who were under escort by soldiers taking them from
Dumfries via
Thornhill to Edinburgh. The leaders of the group were James and Thomas Harkness and the ambush was set at Glenvalentine confluence resulting in the officer commanding being shot through the head and the troops firing a single volley before surrendering their prisoners. It is reported that there were casualties on both sides. Five of the Covenanters, including Thomas Harkness, involved were caught soon after and executed at Edinburgh's Grassmarket, however
James Harkness escaped to
Ulster
Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kin ...
in Northern Ireland and his grave and story is still to be seen at
Dalgarnock near
Thornhill where his memorial read :-
Drumlanrig Tunnel and retaining wall
The
Duke of Buccleuch
Duke of Buccleuch (pronounced ), formerly also spelt Duke of Buccleugh, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland created twice on 20 April 1663, first for James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth and second suo jure for his wife Anne Scott, 4th Cou ...
insisted that the railway be hidden from his seat at
Drumlanrig Castle
Drumlanrig Castle is situated on the Queensberry Estate in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The category A listed castle is the Dumfriesshire home of the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry. It is open to the public at set times.
Co ...
and this necessitated a 1,397-yard-long tunnel built by a workforce of 600 and requiring seven million bricks. The original contractor found the project too onerous. The tunnel opens at the south in the vicinity of the old
Carronbridge railway station
Carronbridge railway station was a railway station in Dumfries and Galloway north of Dumfries, serving the village of Carronbridge and district. The station lay a significant distance from the village of Carronbridge, however it also served a ...
at NS880012.
Enterkin Viaduct
The -high Enterkin Viaduct with its four arches runs above Enterkinfoot and a substantial retaining wall lies just to the north. The long viaduct, built of red
ashlar by
John Miller, has had a
Category B listing since 26 June 1986.
Enterkinfoot retaining wall
The impressively engineered Enterkinfoot retaining wall (NS 8527 0482) is said to be a benchmark of its type, built by German engineers in around 1848 for the
Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Railway that opened in 1850 and became the
Glasgow and South Western Railway. The design of this massive wall guarantees the stability of the double track railway above and in addition it prevents erosion of the embankment.
Etymology
The Enterkin Burn's name, with variants such as 'Inter' may originate in the Scots Gaelic 'eanach t'uircein' meaning 'sow's' or 't'arcoin' meaning 'mastiff's or blood hounds marsh'. 'Coshochel' is said to be of Brythonic rather than Gaelic origin, translating as the 'red height'. Hapland Farm may derive from the Scots language for the Curlew (Numenius arquata).
Micro-history
In British usage Enterkinfoot is technically a hamlet rather than a village as it has always lacked a formal dedicated church of its own.
See also
*
Mennock Lye Goods Depot
Mennock Lye Goods Depot or Mennock Siding was a railway freight facility located off the A76 in the hamlet of Mennock that lies circa two miles (three km) south-east of Sanquhar, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. Situated 68 miles (109 km) ...
*
Mennock
Mennock is a small village or hamlet which lies south-east of Sanquhar on the A76, in Dumfriesshire, in the District Council Region of Dumfries and Galloway, southwest Scotland. It original nucleus are the old smithy and corn mill with associat ...
References
External links
Photographs of the Enterkinfoot areaVideo footage and history of Morton CastleVideo footage of Kirkbide and its natural historyKirkbride and the Ghost of Abraham CrichtonKirkbride, Durisdeer - A Visual Record1983 photo of Enterkinfoot Viaduct
{{DEFAULTSORT:Enterkinfoot
Villages in Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfriesshire
Parishes in Dumfries and Galloway
History of Dumfries and Galloway
Demolished buildings and structures in Scotland
Buildings and structures in Dumfries and Galloway
Glasgow and South Western Railway