Transactions of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society LXXXV 2011 Transactions of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society FOUNDED 20th NOVEMBER, 1862 THIRD SERIES VOLUME LXXXV Editors: ELAINE KENNEDY FRANCIS TOOLIS ISSN 0141-1292 2011 DUMFRIES Published by the Council of the Society Office-Bearers 2010-2011 and Fellows of the Society President Dr F Toolis Vice Presidents Mrs J Brann, Mr R Copland, Mrs C Iglehart, Mr A Pallister Fellows of the Society Mr A D Anderson, Mr J Chinnock, Mr J H D Gair, Dr J B Wilson, Mr K H Dobie, Mrs E Toolis, Dr D F Devereux and Mrs M Williams Mr L J Masters and Mr R H McEwen — appointed under Rule 10 Hon. Secretary Mr J L Williams, Merkland, Kirkmahoe, Dumfries DG1 1SY Hon. Membership Secretary Miss H Barrington, 30 Noblehill Avenue, Dumfries DG1 3HR Hon. Treasurer Mr L Murray, 24 Corberry Park, Dumfries DG2 7NG (until October 2011) Mr M Cook, Gowan Foot, Amisfield, Dumfries DG1 3PB (from October 2011) Hon. Librarian Mr R Coleman, 2 Loreburn Park, Dumfries DG1 1LS Hon. Editors Mrs E Kennedy, Nether Carruchan, Troqueer, Dumfries DG2 8LY Dr F Toolis, 25 Dalbeattie Road, Dumfries DG2 7PF Dr J Foster (Webmaster), 21 Maxwell Street, Dumfries DG2 7AP Hon. Joint Syllabus Conveners Mrs J Brann, Trostron, New Abbey, Dumfries DG2 8EF Miss S Ratchford, Tadorna, Hollands Farm Road, Caerlaverock, Dumfries DG1 4RS Hon. Curators Mrs J Turner and Miss S Ratchford Hon. Outings Organiser Mr A Gair Ordinary Members Mrs P Williams, Mr D Rose, Mrs A Weighill, Mrs S Honey, Mr J.Mckinnel, Mr D Scott, Dr Jeanette Brock and Dr Jeremy Brock CONTENTS Rosa Gigantea – ‘Sir George Watt’ Part II: Including ‘Sir George Watt’ Escorts ‘Banaras Dawn’ to Scotland by Girija Viraraghavan by Morag Williams ........ 1 The 2010 Dumfriesshire Rookery Census: Including comparisons with the surveys of 1908, 1921, 1963, 1973, 1975, 1993, 2003, 2004 and 2008 by L. R. Griffin, D. Skilling, R. T. Smith, J. G. Young ..................................... 9 Excavation and Recording of Three Sites at Knocknab on Torrs Warren, West Freugh by Diana Coles, Alison Sheridan and Crane Begg with contributions from Philip Abramson, Charles French and Jane Murray ................................ 17 Neolithic, Bronze Age, Anglian and Later Discoveries at Lockerbie by Magnus Kirby ............................................................................................... 53 Sir Enguerrand de Umfraville: His Life, Descent and Issue by Alex Maxwell Findlater ..................................................................................... 67 Gaelic in Galloway: Part One – Expansion by Alistair Livingstone ....................... 85 The Dumfries Collectors and the King’s Boat at Carsethorn, 1764 – 1799 by Frances Wilkins ............................................................................................. 93 The Gatehouse Adventure: The Makers of a Planned Town 1760 to 1830 by David Steel .................................................................................................... 119 The Decline of Liberalism in Dumfriesshire: Was It the Standard Wot Done It? by David Dutton ................................................................................................. 143 Addenda Antiquaria Joseph Train, Robert Malcolmson and the Collection of Folklore for (Sir) Walter Scott and James Hogg by David F. Devereux................................ 161 A Medieval Hunting Leash Mount from Palnure, Dumfries and Galloway, Analysis and Discussion by Stuart Campbell ................................................... 164 Reviews Kirkpatrick Fleming: On the Borders of History by Duncan and Sheila Adamson. Alex McCracken ................................................................................................ 168 The Men of the North: The Britons of Southern Scotland by Tim Clarkson. David F. Devereux .............................................................................................. 168 Art in Madness: Dr. W. A. F. Browne’s Collection of Patient Art at Crichton Royal Institution, Dumfries by Maureen Park Carol Hogarth ..................................................................................................... 170 Obituary James Banks (1914 – 2010) .............................................................................. 175 Proceedings ............................................................................................................. 176 EDITORIAL INFORMATION Contributions are invited on the Natural History, Geology, Antiquities and Archaeology including Industrial Archaeology, of south west Scotland or the Solway Basin, and preference is always given to original work on local subjects. Intending contributors should, in the first instance, apply to the Editors, giving the nature and approximate size of their paper. Much more information on these Transactions and on the activities of the Society can be found at www.dgnhas.org.uk. Each contributor has seen a proof of his or her paper and neither the Editors nor the Society hold themselves responsible for the accuracy of scientific, historical or personal information in it. The Hon. Secretary, Mr John L Williams, Merkland, Kirkmahoe, Dumfries DG1 1SY, Tel: 01387 710274, deals with all matters other than membership which are dealt with by the Hon. Membership Secretary, Miss H. Barrington, 30A Noblehill Avenue, Dumfries DG1 3HR, Tel: 01387 256666. Exchanges should be sent to the Editor, Elaine Kennedy, Nether Carruchan, Troqueer, Dumfries DG2 8LY. Exchange volumes are deposited with Dumfries Museum, at which location they may be consulted by members. As public opening hours vary, it is recommended that prior contact be made with Museum staff (telephone 01387 253374) before visiting. Enquiries regarding back numbers of the Transactions - see back cover - should be made to the Hon. Librarian, Mr R. Coleman, 2 Loreburn Park, Dumfries DG1 1LS, Tel: 01387 247297. As many of the back numbers are out of stock, members can greatly assist the finances of the Society by arranging for any volumes that are not required to be handed in. It follows that volumes marked as out of print may nevertheless be available from time to time. All payments, other than subscriptions, should be made to the Hon. Treasurer, Michael Cook, Gowan Foot, Amisfield, Dumfries DG1 3PB. Payment of subscriptions should be made to Miss H. Barrington (see above). The latter will be pleased to arrange for subscriptions and/or donations to be treated as Gift Aid under the Finance Acts, which can materially increase the income of the Society without, generally, any additional cost to the member. Important Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax concessions are also conferred on individuals by these Acts, in as much as bequests or transfers of shares or cash to the Society by way of Gift Aid are exempt from these taxes. The Society may make small grants available for excavation or research. Applications should be made prior to 28th February in each year to the Hon. Secretary. Researchers are also reminded of the Mouswald Trust founded by our late President, Dr R.C. Reid, which provides grants for work on certain periods. Enquiries and applications for grants to that Trust should be made to Primrose and Gordon, Solicitors, 1 Newall Terrace, Dumfries DG1 1LN. The Society may also be able to assist with applications for funding from other sources. Dumfries and Galloway Council are thanked for their contribution to the Society. The illustration on the front cover is of the Wamphray cross-slab from the article ‘The Early Church in Dumfriesshire’ by W.G. Collingwood, in Series III Volume XII, (1926) of these Transactions. It is discussed afresh by Prof. Richard Bailey in Whithorn Lecture No. 4 (1996). 1 ROSA GIGANTEA – ‘SIR GEORGE WATT’ PART II INCLUDING ‘SIR GEORGE WATT’ ESCORTS ‘BANARAS DAWN’ TO SCOTLAND BY GIRIJA VIRARAGHAVAN1 Morag Williams2 Readers of the Transactions issue LXXXIV 2010 will recall the story of Rosa Gigantea ‘Sir George Watt’, which ended on a note of hope that the rose might be grown successfully in Scotland. There was great despair at the lack of success of the various packages which had been sent from India at considerable cost by the ever-hopeful Girija Viraraghavan and her husband, Viru. In Scotland, Richard Baines at Logan Botanic Garden in the West of Dumfries and Galloway remained just as optimistic and willing to keep trying to achieve success. After two failed attempts Morag Williams perhaps planted the seed of an idea in Girija’s mind, which lay dormant because there did not seem to any possibility of its happening. She said that the main reason for the lack of success seemed to be the time taken by these tender cuttings to reach their destination in Scotland and receive attention. If only someone travelling from India to the UK could bring them by air it would improve the chances of success. Better still, if a rooted plant, instead of cuttings, could arrive by this means there would be greater hope of a successful outcome. Even so, such a move would provide another hurdle to overcome: a plant would require certification to travel. There follows in Girija’s own words the second instalment of the journeying of the Rosa Gigantea ‘Sir George Watt’ from India to Scotland, which first appeared in January 2011 in The Indian Rose Annual XXVII 2011. Girija has kindly given consent for publication in the Transactions. ‘Sir George Watt’ Escorts ‘Banaras Dawn’ to Scotland by Girija Viraraghavan1 In September 2009 we received