In 1795 Gatehouse was granted the status of a “Burgh of Barony”.
This effectively meant that it had the status of a town and that hiring and firing fairs could be held for farm workers.
The bicentenary was marked in 1995 with a number of separate events :-
- Commemorative booklets
- Bicentenary Bridge
- Community Art Project
- Tapestry
- Lunch at Murray Arms
- Tea Party at Community Centre
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Stories & poems etc. published by the Community Council. |
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A footbridge across the Fleet from the Mill grounds to Burgher Park.
John McCormick and Jack Pickthall made the piers for the Bicentenary Bridge (June 1995)
Installation of the Bicentenary Bridge in 1995
Organised by Jeremy Carlisle and Brian Arneill. Photographed by Geoff Keating.
"Gatehouse View with Statues" John Faed (1818 - 1902)
Originally the backdrop for the Town Hall stage, now hanging in the Dining Room of Gatehouse School.
(since this was written in 1995 the painting has been moved to the Faed Gallery at the Mill on the Fleet.
Gatehouse in 1995
The view painted on June 24th 1995
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The Work Place :by the bridge over the River Fleet. |
The First Brushful of Paint
by James Murray Usher
The Second ....
by Mrs Ruby Murray Usher
Next came the Young Artists
And the not so young ....
The Town Crier
Mrs Jane McGivern
The Men in Charge
Jeremy Carlisle (right) and Brian Arneill (centre) with another local artist.
The Presentation.
l-r : Brian Arneill (artist), Howard McLean (headmaster), Jane McGivern (Town Crier), Liz Niven (representing the Gulbekian Foundation), Jenny Wilson (Dumfries and Galloway Arts Association), James Murray Usher (Chairman Bicentary Committee), Lilian Dent (Bicentenary Committee), Helen Keating (Secretary Bicentenary Committee), Jeremy Carlisle (artist).
The Contributors
Photographs by Geoffrey Keating.
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Each section was made by a different volunteer.
Arranged for all those who had ancestors who lived in Gatehouse up to 200 years ago.
July 1995
