New Abbey, about six miles from Dumfries, is said to be one of the prettiest places in Dumfries and Galloway.
With a population of fewer than 100 people, the quiet village boasts a number of important buildings, including many that are listed.
Find out more about this little gem near the Solway Coast
1.New Abbey is home to Abbey Vale FC.
It changed its name from Loch Vale FC in the early 1970s but had to keep ‘Vale’ in the title to stay in the Dumfries Amateur League. The original pitch was cut by a farmer in his tractor, who also played for the club.
Today the team plays at Mayfield Park, which can hold up to 1000 spectators.
2. Criffel, one of the highest hills in the area at 1872 feet (570 metres), stands above New Abbey.
Although not considered particularly high, it stands out above the other smaller hills that are part of the Southern Upland Way.
It can be seen from Cumbria on a clear day and is inhabited by skylarks.
3.Loch Kindar sits at the foot of Criffel.
It contains a crannog, an ancient dwelling found in lochs in Scotland and Ireland.
The loch is owned by Loch Kindar Angling Club, which restocks the loch regularly with rainbow trout and brown trout.
4. Sweetheart Abbey was built in 1273 by Lady Devorgilla as a memorial to her husband, John Balliol.
She was said to have carried his embalmed heart in an ivory casket and was buried with it after her death in 1290.
Originally called New Abbey to distinguish it from Dundrennan Abbey, the monks changed its name after her death in 1290.
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5.The artist JMW Turner made sketches of the abbey on his first visit to Scotland in the summer of 1831.
He filled eight pages of his sketchbook with pictures of the abbey drawn from every angle and different distances.
Many are now part of the Turner Bequest, a large number of drawings and paintings given to the nation by the painter.
6.The Waterloo Monument can be reached by a short walk from New Abbey.
It was built in 1816 to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo the year before.
Although there are no individual’s names on it, the inscription reads, “To record the valour of those British, Belgian and Prussian soldiers who… gained the Victory of Waterloo by which French tyranny was overthrown and peace restored to the world.”
Jean Armour, Robert Burns’ widow, gave 5 shillings towards the building of the tower.
7. Sir William Paterson, one of the founders of the Bank of England, was said to be buried in New Abbey in 1719.
He convinced the Scottish government to undertake the Darien scheme, a failed attempt to establish an independent Scottish Empire in modern day Panama.
Many of the 1200 Scots who sailed for Darien in 1698 died, including Paterson’s wife and child.
8. One of the many listed buildings in the village is the New Abbey Corn Mill.
It is now owned by Historic Environment Scotland and you can join a guided tour to see what life was like for its workers.
Small children were employed in the mill and accidents involving hair, clothing and even body parts being trapped in the workings were not unheard of.
9. Shambellie House, on the outskirts of the village, was once home to the Museum of Costume.
It closed in 2013 and there is now a trust in place, which is investigating alternative uses for the building and grounds.
It is looking into running courses and workshops on subjects including photography, arts, crafts, history and wildlife.
10. There are two burns that flow through New Abbey: the Sheep Burn and the New Abbey Pow which runs into the River Nith Estuary and open into the Solway Firth.
If you look closely at one of the houses in the main street, you’ll see a carving of three women in a rowing boat. They are said to have worked tirelessly transporting materials across the Solway Firth during the construction of the abbey.
Article written exclusively for DGWGO by R.Gibblin
