Post by Geoff on Aug 18, 2010 3:53:08 GMT -5
Reading Nigel Tranter stories or Robert Burns' poetry you will come across a few names from south west Scotland's past. For some reason, many of these places are difficult to find today, even though they are extremely important in the understanding of the history of Scotland.
In the early 1940's the British war department gave instructions for road signs and distinguishing place markings to be covered or removed so as to confuse any invading force. Did this happen again in the 60's?
In 2010 we don't seem to help tourists: we do promote the "KINGDOM OF FIFE" but we disguise the Kingdom of Galloway? It's hidden - now joined with Dumfriesshire, becoming Dumfries and Galloway. How many visitors believe the names together imply that these are two towns. Surely it should be Dumfriesshire and Galloway?
Hidden inside D&G are: The Kingdom of Galloway (including Wigtonshire); The Stewardry of Kirkcudbrightshire; Nithsdale; Eskdale and Annandale.
Then there's Ayrshire; now made up of: East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, North Ayrshire and the Isle of Arran. Hidden somewhere behind these modern titles of Ayrshire are: Kyle, Carrick and Cunningham.
So when you read about: Robert and Edward Bruce, the Earls of Carrick; or William Wallace, nicknamed the King of Kyle; or Kyle and Carrick Forests, you know where to start to look.
Glasgow Prestwick Airport is in Kyle by the way.
In the early 1940's the British war department gave instructions for road signs and distinguishing place markings to be covered or removed so as to confuse any invading force. Did this happen again in the 60's?
In 2010 we don't seem to help tourists: we do promote the "KINGDOM OF FIFE" but we disguise the Kingdom of Galloway? It's hidden - now joined with Dumfriesshire, becoming Dumfries and Galloway. How many visitors believe the names together imply that these are two towns. Surely it should be Dumfriesshire and Galloway?
Hidden inside D&G are: The Kingdom of Galloway (including Wigtonshire); The Stewardry of Kirkcudbrightshire; Nithsdale; Eskdale and Annandale.
Then there's Ayrshire; now made up of: East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, North Ayrshire and the Isle of Arran. Hidden somewhere behind these modern titles of Ayrshire are: Kyle, Carrick and Cunningham.
So when you read about: Robert and Edward Bruce, the Earls of Carrick; or William Wallace, nicknamed the King of Kyle; or Kyle and Carrick Forests, you know where to start to look.
Glasgow Prestwick Airport is in Kyle by the way.