{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Use British English|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox UK place | official_name = Balmaghie | gaelic_name = Baile Mhic Aoidh |static_image_name= Balmaghie Church, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland.jpg |static_image_width = |static_image_caption= Balmaghie Parish Church | country = Scotland | map_type = Scotland | population = | population_ref = | os_grid_reference = | coordinates = {{coord|54.975|N|3.998|W|display=title}} | language = [[English language|English]] | language1 = [[Scots language|Scots]] | language2= [[Scottish Gaelic language|Scottish Gaelic]] | post_town = | postcode_area = | postcode_district = | dial_code = | constituency_westminster = | constituency_scottish_parliament = | unitary_scotland = [[Dumfries and Galloway]] | lieutenancy_scotland = }} '''Balmaghie''' ({{IPAc-en|b|æ|l|m|ə|ˈ|ɡ|iː}} {{respell|bal-mə|GEE|'}}),<ref>G.M. Miller, ''BBC Pronouncing Dictionary of British Names'' (Oxford UP, 1971), p. 10.</ref> from the [[Scottish Gaelic language|Scottish Gaelic]] ''Baile Mhic Aoidh'', is an ecclesiastical and civil parish in the historical county of Kirkcudbrightshire in [[Dumfries and Galloway]], Scotland and was the seat of the [[McGhee Tartan|McGhee family]]. It is bordered by the [[River Dee, Galloway|River Dee]] to the north and east. [[Threave Castle]] stands on an island in the river. The River Dee is commonly known as the Black Water of Dee on the northern border, the name changes with the meeting of the [[Water of Ken]] to the north west and is then known as [[Loch Ken]] along the eastern border. Balmaghie parish borders Girthon to the west and [[Tongland]] and [[Twynholm]] to the south. The closest market town is [[Castle Douglas]], about 6 miles from Balmaghie Kirk.
The ecclesiastical parish covers the same area as the civil parish and the two are generally not differentiated between.
Balmaghie parish is mainly rural and contains only a handful of small settlements: Laurieston, Bridge of Dee, and [[Glenlochar]] as well as number of farms and houses scattered throughout the parish. Farming is the major industry of the area, although there is a large area of commercial forestation operated by the [[Forestry Commission]] to the west of Laurieston. Tourists and locals visit the area to watch wild birds at the [[Royal Society for the Protection of Birds|RSPB]] Nature Reserve at Duchrae, the Ken-Dee Marshes.<ref>[http://www.rspb.org/reserves/guide/k/kendeemarshes/index.asp Ken-Dee Marshes]</ref> A number of [[red kite]] have been re-introduced to the area and can be seen near Laurieston at the Bellymack feeding station.<ref>[http://www.gallowaykitetrail.com/gallowaykitetrail/redkitebellymack.html Bellymack feeding station] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041210132127/http://www.gallowaykitetrail.com/gallowaykitetrail/redkitebellymack.html |date=2004-12-10 }}</ref>
The 2008 horror film ''[[Outpost (2008 film)|Outpost]]'' and its 2012 sequel ''[[Outpost: Black Sun|Outpost:Black Sun]]'' were filmed on the Balmaghie estate.<ref>[https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/outpost-2-being-filmed-across-2574048 "Outpost 2 being filmed across Dumfries and Galloway"], [[Dailyrecord.co.uk]], March 11, 2011.</ref>
The 2018 mystery novel ''The Shadow of the Black Earl'' by Charles E. McGarry is set in a fictionalised version of Laurieston Hall and surrounding area.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Shadow of the Black Earl|last=McGarry|first=Charles E|publisher=Polygon|year=2018|isbn=9781846974236|location=Edinburgh}}</ref>
== Balmaghie Kirk == The ecclesiastical focus of Balmaghie was Balmaghie Kirk,{{sfn|Reid|1895}}{{sfn|Scott|1917}} until its closure in 2015. Plans to sell the church for housing conversion were withdrawn following widespread protests and a petition and it has now been taken over by the Balmaghie Sacred Landscape Trust and the building is now in community use.<ref>{{Cite news|date=18 October 2018|title=Trust takes on former church|newspaper=Galloway News|p= 9}}</ref>
The church was built in 1794 and set on a small hillock in Balmaghie overlooking Loch Ken and opposite [[Crossmichael]] Kirk on the far bank. Remodelling was carried out by [[Charles Kinnear|Peddie and Kinnear]] in 1891–94. The tower was reduced and reroofed in 1893 by William Davidson. [[File:Gravestones_at_Balmaghie_Churchyard.jpg|thumb|Gravestones at Balmaghie Churchyard]] The Balmaghie War Memorial was designed by the sculptor [[Alexander Carrick]] in Cullaloe stone and unveiled in 1920.
== Estates == * Balmaghie, house of 1874-80 by John Burnet and [[John James Burnet]], now reduced in size. * Hensol or Duchrae, house c1824<ref name="lewis">{{cite web |title='Bachies - Baneton', in A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-dict/scotland/pp91-101 |website=British History Online |publisher=S Lewis, London 1846 |access-date=19 May 2025}}</ref> designed by [[Robert Lugar]]. * Laurieston Hall, mansion dating from the 17th century with additions in 1893 by architect [[Sydney Mitchell]]. * Livingston House, mid-18th-century lairds house. * Netherhall, situated on the river Dee, home of the [[Malcolm Ross (courtier)|Ross]] family. * Slogarie, house of 1886 by [[Charles Kinnear|Peddie and Kinnear]], remodelled after a fire by Antony Curtiss Wolffe 1960s.
== People == *[[Archibald Douglas, 3rd Earl of Douglas|Archibald the Grim]] (c. 1330 – c. 24 December 1400), [[Lord of Galloway]], builder of [[Threave Castle]] *[[John M'Millan]] (1669-1753), [[Cameronian]] preacher, founder of the [[Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland|Reformed Presbytery]].{{sfn|Thomson|1903}} He preached for the first time in Balmaghie Church on 22 December 1700, apparently as ordinary supply, and on 30 April 1701, was elected to the parish. *[[John Neilson (Lower Canada politician)| John Neilson]] (1776–1848), born in Dornal, Balmaghie, to William Neilson and Isabel Brown; emigrated to [[Quebec City]], [[Lower Canada]]; publisher, bookseller, and leading politician. *Rear Admiral James Murray Gordon (1782–1850), of Balmaghie House, buried in his private chapel-mausoleum on the estate.<ref>{{Cite book|title=A Naval Biographical Dictionary|last=O'Byrne|first=William Richard|year=1849}}</ref> *[[Margaret McNaughton]] (1856–1915), Scottish Canadian author and historian. Born in Balmaghie in 1856 to Thomas Peebles and his wife Jane, emigrated to Canada, where she married Montreal-born Archibald McNaughton. Her account of her husband's experiences travelling across Canada to the Cariboo gold fields was the second non-fiction book published by a woman in British Columbia. *[[S. R. Crockett|Samuel Rutherford Crockett]] (1859–1914), novelist of Scottish historical fiction. He was born at Duchrae Farm, Balmaghie, on 24 September 1859, the illegitimate son of dairymaid Annie Crocket. Some of his works are set in the surrounding area. He died in [[Tarascon]] in France on 16 April 1914. His remains were buried in the family grave in his home kirkyard at Balmaghie. A memorial to him was erected in Laurieston by public subscription in 1932. *[[John McCrae]] (1872–1918), wrote "[[In Flanders Fields]]" died of [[pneumonia]] near the end of the Great War. His parents farmed at Laurieston and emigrated to Canada. * [[Nigel Henderson|Admiral Sir Nigel Henderson]] (1909–1993) and his wife Catherine Maitland, lived at Hensol House, former home of the Cuninghame family, and Helen, [[Charles Kennedy, 5th Marquess of Ailsa|Marchioness of Ailsa]]. *Lieutenant-Colonel Sir [[Malcolm Ross (courtier)|Walter Hugh Malcolm Ross]], GCVO, OBE, GCStJ (1943–2019) was a member of the Royal Household. Appointed Lord Lieutenant of the Stewartry 2006 and resigned 2018. Lived at Netherhall.
==Gallery== <gallery> File:Laurieston Village - geograph.org.uk - 321989.jpg|Laurieston willage File:Laurie Arms Inn, in Laurieston - geograph.org.uk - 484046.jpg|Laurie Arms Inn, Laurieston File:Kirk Road, Laurieston. - geograph.org.uk - 523617.jpg|Kirk Road to Balmaghie Kirk File:S.R. Crockett Memorial, Laurieston - geograph.org.uk - 886451.jpg|S.R. Crockett memorial, Laurieston File:Bridge of Dee - geograph.org.uk - 679632.jpg|Brig o Dee hamlet File:Bridge of Dee railway station (site), Dumfries & Galloway (geograph 6162047).jpg|the old Bridge of Dee railway station File:Admiral Gordon's Chapel - Glenlochar - geograph.org.uk - 963863.jpg|Admiral Gordon's chapel, Glenlochar File:Glenlochar barrage at end of Loch Ken - geograph.org.uk - 1252140.jpg|Glenlochar Barrage File:Threave Castle - general view from E bank of River Dee.jpg|Threave Castle File:Hensol House - geograph.org.uk - 263579.jpg|Hensol House File:Picture of Little Duchrae.jpg|Little Duchrae, birthplace of S.R. Crockett File:The Ken-Dee Marshes from Balmaghie Churchyard - geograph.org.uk - 321958.jpg|Ken-Dee Marshes from the Balmaghie Kirkyard </gallery>
==See also== * [[Galloway Hoard]] * [[List of listed buildings in Balmaghie, Dumfries and Galloway]]
==References== ;Citations {{reflist}} ;Sources {{refbegin|30em|indent=yes}}
*{{cite book |last1=Gibson |first1=Alex. |title=The new statistical account of Scotland. [electronic resource] |volume=4|date=1845 |publisher=William Blackwood and Sons |location=Edinburgh and London |pages=[https://archive.org/details/b21365805_0004/page/n803/mode/2up 184]-185 |article=Balmaghie |url=https://archive.org/details/b21365805_0004/page/n803/mode/2up |accessdate=15 July 2020}}
*{{cite book |last=Groome |first=Francis, Hindes |title=Ordnance gazetteer of Scotland : a survey of Scottish topography, statistical, biographical, and historical|volume=1 |date=1882 |publisher=T.C. Jack |page=[https://archive.org/details/ordnancegazette01groo/page/116/mode/1up?q=balmaghie 116]|location=Edinburgh |article=Balmaghie|url=https://archive.org/details/ordnancegazette01groo |accessdate=6 June 2020}}
*{{cite book |last1=Johnstone |first1=John |title=The statistical account of Scotland. Drawn up from the communications of the ministers of the different parishes |date=1791 |publisher=W. Creech |location=Edinburgh |pages=[https://archive.org/details/statisticalacco20sincgoog/page/n654/mode/2up 640]-652 |volume=13|article=Parish of Balmaghie |url=https://archive.org/details/statisticalacco20sincgoog |accessdate=15 July 2020}}
*{{cite book |last1=Lewis |first1=Samuel |title=A topographical dictionary of Scotland, comprising the several counties, islands, cities, burgh and market towns, parishes, and principal villages, with historical and statistical descriptions: embellished with engravings of the seals and arms of the different burghs and universities |date=1851|article=Balmaghie |publisher=S. Lewis and co. |location=London |pages=[https://archive.org/details/topographicaldic01lewi/page/103/mode/1up 103]-104 |volume=1 |url=https://archive.org/details/topographicaldic01lewi/page/128/mode/2up |accessdate=6 June 2020}}
*{{cite book |last1=Mackenzie |first1=William, of Galloway |last2=Symson |first2=Andrew |title=The history of Galloway, from the earliest period to the present time |date=1841 |publisher=J. Nicholson |location=Kirkcudbright |pages=[https://archive.org/details/historyofgallowa02mack/page/309 309]–316 |volume=2 |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofgallowa02mack |accessdate=19 April 2019}}
*{{cite book |last1=Reid |first1=Henry Martyn Beckwith |title=The kirk above Dee water |date=1895 |publisher=A. Rae |location=Castle-Douglas |pages=[https://archive.org/details/kirkabovedeewate00reid/page/48/mode/2up 48]-80 |url=https://archive.org/details/kirkabovedeewate00reid |accessdate=15 July 2020}}
*{{cite book |last1=Reid |first1=Henry Martyn Beckwith |title=A Cameronian apostle: being some account of John Macmillan of Balmaghie |date=1896 |publisher=Alexander Gardner |location=London |url=https://archive.org/details/cameronianapostl00reid/page/n17 |accessdate=19 April 2019}}
*{{cite book |last1=Scott |first1=Hew |author-link=Hew Scott|title=Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae; the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation |date=1917 |publisher=Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd |page=[https://archive.org/details/fastiecclesiaesc02scot/page/393 392]-393 |volume=2 |url=https://archive.org/details/fastiecclesiaesc02scot |accessdate=15 March 2019}}
*{{cite book |last=Thomson |first=J. H. |editor-last=Hutchison |editor-first=Matthew |title=The martyr graves of Scotland |date=1903 |publisher=Oliphant, Anderson & Ferrier |location=Edinburgh |pages=[https://archive.org/details/themartyrgraves00thomuoft/page/n389/mode/2up 370]–376 |url=https://archive.org/details/themartyrgraves00thomuoft}}
{{refend}}
==External links== *[http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=202969 Balmaghie House, Dictionary of Scottish Architects Building/Design Report] *[http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=214911 Slogarie House and Slogarie Cottages, Dictionary of Scottish Architects Building/Design Report] *[http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=214883 Balmaghie Parish Church, Dictionary of Scottish Architects Building/Design Report] *[http://www.kirkcudbright.co/balmaghie.asp Parish of Balmaghie Home Page] *[http://www.balmaghiekirk.com BalmaghieKirk.com]
{{commons category|Balmaghie}} {{Civil parishes in Dumfries and Galloway}} {{authority control}}
[[Category:Villages in Dumfries and Galloway]] [[Category:Parishes in Dumfries and Galloway]]