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Cuthbert's other town (probably)
Sep. 23rd, 2023 06:28 pmYesterday was productive, but in a rather tedious way: we have made plans for next week's necessary travel, and we have ordered a cooker. Neither of these things is particularly delightful, but they will do, and they will make other things work, so... But I'd rather post some more about our holiday in Galloway, and the days we spent in Kirkcudbright.
My guide book is non-committal about the etymology of the place-name: it dismisses as "popular belief" the obvious explanation that it refers to the 'kirk' or 'church' of Saint Cuthbert, but doesn't describe the alternative 'Caer Cuabrit', the fort on the bend of the river as more than 'possible'. The first church here was, and the parish church still is, like Durham Cathedral, dedicated to Saint Cuthbert, so I'll go with that version until proved otherwise. We went into the church to see a display about Jessie M. King's drawings of the town's buildings, and while we were there also admired the Harrison & Harrison organ, and this sideways view of the church itself:
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Jessie M. King is one of the many artists for whom Kirkcudbright is celebrated. Dorothy L. Sayers opens her novel, The Five Red Herrings with the declaration "If one lives in Galloway, one either fishes or paints," and the line is much quoted around the town. But that's for another time; the town itself supplies enough to fill this one.
( As witness... )
We were pretty tired from our day's exploration, but one last picture caught my eye as we returned to the hotel, the essence of Scotland, the thistle triumphant:
My guide book is non-committal about the etymology of the place-name: it dismisses as "popular belief" the obvious explanation that it refers to the 'kirk' or 'church' of Saint Cuthbert, but doesn't describe the alternative 'Caer Cuabrit', the fort on the bend of the river as more than 'possible'. The first church here was, and the parish church still is, like Durham Cathedral, dedicated to Saint Cuthbert, so I'll go with that version until proved otherwise. We went into the church to see a display about Jessie M. King's drawings of the town's buildings, and while we were there also admired the Harrison & Harrison organ, and this sideways view of the church itself:
Jessie M. King is one of the many artists for whom Kirkcudbright is celebrated. Dorothy L. Sayers opens her novel, The Five Red Herrings with the declaration "If one lives in Galloway, one either fishes or paints," and the line is much quoted around the town. But that's for another time; the town itself supplies enough to fill this one.
( As witness... )
We were pretty tired from our day's exploration, but one last picture caught my eye as we returned to the hotel, the essence of Scotland, the thistle triumphant:
