KIRKBEAN, Kirkcudbrightshire
"It is bounded on the northeast, east, south, and
southwest, by the Solway Firth, comprising about ten miles of sea
coast, and in the other directions by a rugged mountainous
district, terminated on the northern extremity by
Criffell.....
The parishes that come in contact with Kirkbean are New Abbey to the north and northwest, and the
united parishes of Colvend and
Southwick to the southwest and west....
In various directions, the view from the summit of Criffell is
very extensive. Annan, Carlisle, Dumfries, and Castle Douglas are
distinctly visble, and also the Isle of Man....
There are four small villages. That of Kirkbean is one of the
most beautiful and interesting anywhere to be seen. It is
situated in a simple rural valley....
Upon the whole, great attention has of late been paid to the
improvement of all kinds of cattle" (Rev. Thomas Grierson,
Minister)
New Statistical Account, Blackwood
Click on the map at the right to access more maps of Kirkbean.
Bibliography
History, Kirkcudbright. The New Statistical Account of Scotland, 2nd Series, W Blackwood, 1845.
Cemeteries
The Church Yard of Kirkbean has had pre-1855 monumental inscriptions transcribed and indexed. The index and transcribed inscriptions are included in a series of volumes that cover all of Kirkcudbrightshire. Kirkbean is in volume 7. Refer to the county page for additional details.
Church History
"The church is five miles distant from the remotest farm house, and four from the village of Saturness. Still it is well placed for the accommodation of the principal part of the population....
There is not above four families of old Dissenters in the parish, besides two Catholic families. To this number may now be added about fifteen families who have lately joined the Free Kirk...."
Rev. Thomas Grierson, Minister, New Statistical Account, Blackwood.
Church Records
Church of Scotland records are held at the General Register Office in Edinburgh. Copies of the pairsh register on microfilm may be consulted in LDS Family History Centres around the world. Refer to the county page for additional details.
| Records Available | Baptism | Marriage | Burial | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Church of Scotland | 1714-1854 | 1714-1790 1825-1856 |
1714, 1787 1824-1854 |
OPR 870 |
| Free Church | none | none | none | CH3 1139 |
The Kirkbean and Southwick Free Church records contain some court minutes and miscellaneous papers.
Gazetteers
- The transcription of the section for Kirkbean from the National Gazetteer (1868) provided by Colin Hinson.
