Editing Dumfries (section)

==Culture==
[[File:Camera Obscura, Dumfries.JPG|thumb|upright|right|[[Dumfries Museum]] and camera obscura]]

Dumfries got its nickname 'Queen of the South' from David Dunbar, a local poet,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 March 2008 |title=Robert Temple Bibliographical Archive |url=http://www.telinco.co.uk/RobertTemple/Hrkiv6.htm#t1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031105133946/http://www.telinco.co.uk/RobertTemple/Hrkiv6.htm#t1 |archive-date=5 November 2003 |access-date=24 August 2011 |publisher=Telinco.co.uk}}</ref> who in 1857 stood in the [[1857 United Kingdom general election|general election]]. In one of his addresses he called Dumfries "Queen of the South" and this became synonymous with the town.<ref name=qoshist/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ritchie |first=Robert |title="Best town nickname" The Scotsman 1&nbsp;August&nbsp;2009 |url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/features/Best-town-nickname.5509952.jp |access-date=24 August 2011 |publisher=Thescotsman.scotsman.com}}</ref>

The term ''doonhamer'' comes from the way that natives of Dumfries over the years have referred to the area when working away from home. The town is often referred to as ''doon hame'' in the [[Scots language]] (down home). The term doonhamer followed, to describe those that originate from Dumfries.<ref name=qoshist/> The Doonhamers is also the nickname of [[Queen of the South F.C.|Queen of the South]] who represent Dumfries and the surrounding area in the Scottish Football League.<ref name=qoshist/> The crest of Dumfries contains the words, "A Lore Burne". In the history of Dumfries close to the town was the marsh through which ran the Loreburn whose name became the rallying cry of the town in times of attack – A Lore Burne (meaning 'to the muddy stream').<ref name=qoshist/><ref name="autogenerated3">{{Cite web |title=Dumfries and Galloway Museums and Galleries on-line |url=http://www.dumfriesmuseum.demon.co.uk/frames.html |access-date=24 August 2011 |publisher=Dumfriesmuseum.demon.co.uk |archive-date=11 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711222022/http://www.dumfriesmuseum.demon.co.uk/frames.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2017 Dumfries was ranked the happiest place in Scotland by [[Rightmove]].<ref name="happy">{{Cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/border/2017-10-11/dumfries-ranked-the-happiest-place-to-live-in-scotland|title=Dumfries ranked the happiest place to live in Scotland|date=11 October 2017|website=ITV News}}</ref>

===Museums, parks and libraries===
Located on top of a small hill, [[Dumfries Museum]] is centred on the 18th-century windmill which stands above the town. Included are fossil footprints left by prehistoric reptiles, the wildlife of the Solway marshes, tools and weapons of the earliest peoples of the region and stone carvings of Scotland's first Christians. On the top floor of the museum is a [[camera obscura]].<ref name=autogenerated3 />

Based in the [[control tower]] near Tinwald Downs, the aviation museum has an extensive indoor display of memorabilia, much of which has come via various recovery activities. During the second world war, aerial navigation was taught at Dumfries also at [[Wigtown]] and nearby [[Annan, Dumfries and Galloway|Annan]] was a fighter training unit. [[RAF Dumfries]] doubled as an important maintenance unit and aircraft storage unit. The museum is run by the [[Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum|Dumfries and Galloway Aviation]] Group and is the only private aviation museum in Scotland.<ref name="autogenerated2">{{Cite web |date=1 August 1999 |title=Dumfries and Galloway Museums |url=http://www.dumfriesmuseum.demon.co.uk/ |access-date=24 August 2011 |publisher=Dumfriesmuseum.demon.co.uk |archive-date=22 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222132412/http://www.dumfriesmuseum.demon.co.uk/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The restored control tower of the former World War II [[airfield]] is now a listed building. The museum is run by volunteers and houses a large and ever expanding [[aircraft]] collection, aero engines and a display of artefacts and personal histories relating to aviation, past and present. It is also home to the [[Loch Doon]] [[Spitfire]]. Both [[civil aviation]] and [[military aviation]] are represented.<ref name="Dumfriesaviationmuseum.com" />

[[File:Ewart Library entrance.jpg|thumb|left|Entrance to the Ewart Library]]

The Ewart Library is a [[Carnegie library]], and was opened in 1904. Carnegie donated £10,000 toward the building of the library, and suggested that it was named after William Ewart, former MP for the area, and who was key in the introduction of acts of Parliament in both England and Scotland related to the creation of public libraries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Edwardian Renaissance Architecture in Scotland |url=http://www.scotcities.com/carnegie/renaiss.htm |access-date=2019-07-27 |website=www.scotcities.com |archive-date=10 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190910163352/http://www.scotcities.com/carnegie/renaiss.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The most significant of the parks in Dumfries are all within walking distance of the town centre:-
* Dock Park – located on the East bank of the Nith just to the South of St Michael's Bridge
* Castledykes Park – as the name suggests on the site of a former castle
* Mill Green (also known as deer park, although the deer formerly accommodated there have since been relocated) – on the West bank of the Nith opposite Whitesands
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===Theatre, cinema and media===
[[File:Shakespeare St, Dumfries.jpg|thumb|The Theatre Royal in Dumfries. In the background can be seen the spire of the old St Andrew's Cathedral: the rest of the building burned down in 1961<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.standrewsdumfries.org.uk/History_plus.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327015953/http://www.standrewsdumfries.org.uk/History_plus.htm|url-status=dead|title=St. Andrew's Catholic Church Dumfries website|archive-date=27 March 2014}}</ref> and was replaced with a new church on the same site.]]The [[Theatre Royal, Dumfries]] was built in 1792 and is the oldest working theatre in Scotland.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rinaldi |first1=Giancarlo |title=The hopes and fears of a 232-year-old theatre |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crm2z0zvy2lo |access-date=21 September 2024 |agency=BBC |date=20 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 2014 |title=Guild of Players – Home |url=http://www.guildofplayers.co.uk/ |access-date=24 August 2011 |publisher=Guildofplayers.co.uk}}</ref>

The theatre is owned by the Guild of Players who bought it in 1959, thereby saving it from demolition, and is run on a voluntary basis by the members of the Guild of Players. It is funded entirely by Guild membership subscriptions, and by box office receipts. It does not currently receive any grant aid towards running costs. In recent years the theatre has been re-roofed and the outside refurbished. It is the venue for the Guild of Players' own productions and for performances from visiting companies. These include: Scottish Opera, TAG, the Borderline and [[7:84]]. The Robert Burns Centre is an art house cinema in Dumfries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Robert Burns Centre Film Theatre |url=http://www.rbcft.co.uk/ |access-date=24 August 2011 |publisher=Rbcft.co.uk}}</ref> The Odeon Cinema, which showed more mainstream movies, closed its doors in mid-2018 due to issues with the building, forcing them to close. The cinema will reopen as The Regal in 2025.

Dumfries was formerly home to one of the 11 [[BBC]] studios in Scotland. ''[[Greatest Hits Radio Dumfries & Galloway]]'', part of [[Bauer Media Group]], broadcasts from Dumfries, and is also the main radio station for the area. Community radio station ''Alive 107.3'' broadcasts on 107.3FM in Dumfries and online.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} In 2018, Dumfries got a new radio station, ''Dumfries Community Radio''. Also known as DCR Online, it is not a traditional FM radio station, but an online radio station.

The two local newspapers that specifically cover Dumfries and the surrounding are:-
* ''[[Dumfries and Galloway Standard]]''<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 August 2009 |title=icDumfries – Dumfries & Galloway Standard News |url=http://icdumfries.icnetwork.co.uk/dumfriesgalloway/ |access-date=24 August 2011 |publisher=Icdumfries.icnetwork.co.uk}}</ref> (established 1843) publishing on Tuesdays and Fridays
* ''[[Dumfries Courier]]''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dumfries Courier – Regionwide news from your weekly newspaper |url=http://www.dumfriescourier.co.uk/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926073214/http://www.dumfriescourier.co.uk/ |archive-date=26 September 2011 |access-date=24 August 2011 |publisher=Dumfriescourier.co.uk}}</ref> publishing on Fridays

===Concert and event venues===
The [[Loreburn Hall]] (sometimes known colloquially as The Drill Hall)<ref name="culturalprofiles.org.uk">{{Cite web |title=Scotland: Loreburn Hall, Dumfries |url=http://www.culturalprofiles.org.uk/scotland/Units/298.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606152912/http://www.culturalprofiles.org.uk/scotland/Units/298.html |archive-date=6 June 2011 |access-date=2009-04-27}}</ref> has hosted concerts by performers such as [[Black Sabbath]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=1970 Tour |url=http://www.black-sabbath.com/tourdates/1970.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611151759/http://www.black-sabbath.com/tourdates/1970.html |archive-date=11 June 2011 |access-date=24 August 2011 |publisher=Black-sabbath.com}}</ref> [[Big Country]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Alley/2384/td-1990.html|title=Tour Dates 1990|date=22 October 1999|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991022224215/http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Alley/2384/td-1990.html|archive-date=22 October 1999}}</ref> [[The Proclaimers]] and [[Scottish Opera]].<ref name="culturalprofiles.org.uk" /> The hall has hosted sporting events such as [[wrestling]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=wZw Present The 'Destruction Tour' |url=http://www.wrestling101.com/101/newsitem/1154/ |access-date=24 August 2011 |publisher=Wrestling101.com |archive-date=19 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219085931/http://www.wrestling101.com/101/newsitem/1154/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The new DG One sport, fitness and entertainment centre became the principal indoor event venue in Dumfries in 2007,<ref>{{Cite web |title=MiniWeb |url=http://www.dgone.co.uk |access-date=24 August 2011 |publisher=DG One}}</ref> but in October 2014, it closed due to major defects being discovered in the building. However, the refurbished building reopened to the public in the summer of 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 June 2019 |title=Dumfries leisure centre with 'unique' failings ready to reopen |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-scotland-south-scotland-48761099 |access-date=7 January 2020}}</ref> The Theatre Royal has also reopened following renovation work.

===Architectural geology===
[[File:Buccleuch St, Dumfries, 2007-07-26.jpg|thumb|Sandstone buildings in Buccleuch Street (the building with the turrets is [[Dumfries Sheriff Court]])]]

There are many buildings in Dumfries made from sandstone of the local Locharbriggs quarry. The quarry is situated off the A701 on the north of Dumfries at Locharbriggs close to the nearby aggregates quarry. This dimension stone quarry is a large quarry. Quarry working at Locharbriggs dates from the 18th century, and the quarry has been worked continuously since 1890.<ref name="autogeneratedquarry">{{Cite web |last=Associates |first=RJ Design |title=Locharbriggs Red Sandstone Suppliers |url=http://www.stancliffe.com/uk-stone-types-and-colours/locharbriggs-red-sandstone}}</ref>

There are good reserves of stone that can be extracted at several locations. On average the stone is available at depths of 1m on bed although some larger blocks are obtainable. The average length of a block is 1.5m but 2.6m blocks can be obtained. Locharbriggs is from the [[New Red Sandstone]] of the Permian age. It is a medium-grained stone ranging in colour from dull red to pink. It is the sandstone used in the [[Queen Alexandra Bridge]] in [[Sunderland]], the [[Manchester Central Convention Complex]] and the base of the [[Statue of Liberty]].<ref name=autogeneratedquarry />

===Visual arts and festivals===
With a collection of over 400 Scottish paintings, Gracefield Arts Centre hosts a changing programme of exhibitions featuring regional, national and international artists and craft-makers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gracefield Arts centre |url=http://www.dumfriesmuseum.demon.co.uk/grace.html |access-date=24 August 2011 |publisher=Dumfriesmuseum.demon.co.uk |archive-date=22 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222025418/http://www.dumfriesmuseum.demon.co.uk/grace.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Dumfries Art Trail brings together artists, makers, galleries and craft shops with venues accessible all year round.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dumfriesarttrail.wordpress.com/ |title=DART 2017 |access-date=4 February 2021 |archive-date=20 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920205544/https://dumfriesarttrail.wordpress.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

There are a number of festivals which take place throughout the year, mostly based on traditional values. Guid Nychburris ([[Middle Scots]], meaning Good Neighbours) is the main festival of the year, a ceremony which is largely based on the theme of a positive community spirit. The ceremony on Guid Nychburris Day, follows a route and sequence of events laid down in the mists of time. Formal proceedings start at 7.30&nbsp;am with the gathering of up to 250 horses waiting for the courier to arrive and announce that the Pursuivant is on his way, and at 8.00&nbsp;am leave the Midsteeple and ride out to meet the Pursuivant. They then proceed to Ride the Marches and Stob and Nog (mark the boundary with posts and flags) before returning to the Midsteeple at 12.15&nbsp;pm to meet the Provost and then the Charter is proclaimed to the towns people of Dumfries. This is then followed by the crowning of the Queen of the South.<ref>{{Cite web |title=www.guidnychburris.co.uk |url=http://www.guidnychburris.co.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060822205037/http://www.guidnychburris.co.uk/ |archive-date=22 August 2006 |access-date=24 August 2011 |publisher=guidnychburris.co.uk}}</ref>

Since 2013, Dumfries has seen the annual [[Nithraid]], a small boat race up the Nith from Carsethorn, celebrating the town's historical relationship with the river. The region is also home to a number of thriving music festivals such as the Eden Festival (at St Ann's near Moffat), Youthbeatz (Scotland's largest free youth music festival), the Moniaive Folk Festival, Thornhill Music Festival, [[Big Burns Supper Festival]] and previously Electric Fields at Drumlanrig Castle.

===Sport===
[[File:Palmerston Park main stand.JPG|thumb|right|The main stand of [[Palmerston Park]], home ground of [[Queen of the South F.C.]]]]
[[Queen of the South F.C.|Queen of the South]] represent Dumfries and the surrounding area in the third level of the country's [[Scottish Professional Football League|professional football system]], the [[Scottish League One]]. [[Palmerston Park]] on [[Terregles]] Street is the home ground of the team. This is on the Maxwelltown side of the River Nith. They reached the [[2008 Scottish Cup Final]], losing 3–2 to [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]].<ref name=qoshist/> Dumfries City VFC are a virtual football club from the town. [[Dumfries Rugby Club|Dumfries Saints Rugby Club]] is one of Scotland's oldest rugby clubs having been admitted to the [[Scottish Rugby Union]] in 1876–77 as "Dumfries Rangers".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dumfries Saints Rugby Club, Rugby Scotland |url=http://www.dumfriessaintsrugby.co.uk |access-date=24 August 2011 |publisher=Dumfriessaintsrugby.co.uk}}</ref>

Dumfries is also home to a number of golf courses:
* The Crichton Golf Club
* The Dumfries and County Golf Club
* The Dumfries and Galloway Golf Club

Of those listed, only the Dumfries and Galloway Golf Club is on the Maxwelltown side of the River Nith. This course is also bisected into 2 halves of 9 holes each by the town's Castle Douglas Road. The club house and holes 1 to 7 and 17 and 18 are on the side nearest to [[Summerhill, Dumfries]]. Holes 8 to 16 are on the side nearest to Janefield.

The opening stage of the [[2011 Tour of Britain]] started in [[Peebles]] and finished {{convert|105.8|mi|km}} later in Dumfries. The stage was won by sprint specialist and reigning Tour de France green jersey champion, [[Mark Cavendish]], with his teammate lead out man, [[Mark Renshaw]] finishing second. Cavendish had been scheduled to be racing in the [[2011 Vuelta a España]]. However Cavendish was one a number of riders to withdraw having suffered in the searing Spanish heat. This allowed Cavendish to be a late addition to the Tour of Britain line up in his preparation for what was to be a successful bid two weeks later in the [[2011 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race]]. Cavendish in a smiling post race TV interview in Dumfries described the wet and windy race conditions through the Southern Scottish stage as 'horrible'.<ref>Tour of Britain, ITV4, 7 pm Sun 11 September 2011</ref> DG One complex includes a national event-sized competition [[swimming (sport)|swimming]] pool. The David Keswick Athletic Centre is the principal facility in Dumfries for athletics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=David Keswick Athletic Centre |url=http://www.runtrackdir.com/details.asp?track=dumfries |access-date=24 August 2011 |publisher=Runtrackdir.com}}</ref> Dumfries is home to [[Nithsdale Amateur Rowing Club]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Douglas A. Rathburn |date=14 July 2011 |title=Blades of the World: British Rowing Clubs |url=http://www.oarspotter.com/blades/UK/Club/British_Club.html |access-date=24 August 2011 |publisher=Oarspotter.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=rowing news and articles – Dumfries and Galloway Standard |url=http://www.dgstandard.co.uk/tags/rowing/ |access-date=24 August 2011 |publisher=Dgstandard.co.uk}}</ref> The rowers share their clubhouse with Dumfries Sub-Aqua Club.<ref>[http://website.lineone.net/~tkburnett/] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010520163810/http://website.lineone.net/~tkburnett/|date=20 May 2001}}</ref>

The town is also home to [[Solway Sharks]] [[ice hockey]] team. The team are current Northern Premier League winners. The team's home rink is Dumfries Ice Bowl. Dumfries Ice bowl is also recognised as Scotland's only centre of ice hockey excellence, and trials for the Scottish Jr national team are carried out at this venu. Dumfries Ice Bowl is also home to two [[synchronised skating]] teams, Solway Stars and Solway Eclipse. In addition, Dumfries Ice Bowl is also home to several curling teams, competitions and leagues. Junior curling teams from Dumfries, consisting of curlers under the age of 21, regularly compete in the Dutch Junior Open based in Zoetermeer, the Netherlands. In 2007, 2008 and 2009 a Dumfries-based team have been the winners of the competition's Hogline Trophy.

Dumfries hosts three outdoor [[bowls]] clubs:<ref>{{Cite web |title=SBA district 17 |url=http://bowlsclub.org/associations/lawn/GB/SBA17/247/ |access-date=24 August 2011 |publisher=BowlsClub.org |archive-date=12 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812200844/http://bowlsclub.org/associations/lawn/GB/SBA17/247/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Dumfries Bowling Club
* Marchmount Bowling Club
* Maxwelltown Bowling Club

Dumfries hosts cycling organisations and cycling holidays.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Domain Error |url=http://www.dumfriescc.org/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527161000/http://dumfriescc.org/ |archive-date=27 May 2013 |access-date=2009-05-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dumfries and Galloway Cycling Group CTC Section Southwest Scotland, homepage |url=http://www.dandgcycling.care4free.net/ |access-date=24 August 2011 |publisher=Dandgcycling.care4free.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=30 September 2003 |title=Cycling holidays in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland |url=http://www.visitdumfriesandgalloway.co.uk/cycling/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819140424/http://www.visitdumfriesandgalloway.co.uk/cycling |archive-date=19 August 2011 |access-date=24 August 2011 |publisher=Visitdumfriesandgalloway.co.uk}}</ref>

===Freedom of Dumfries===
In 1953 the [[King's Own Scottish Borderers]] were granted the freedom of Dumfries.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 April 2014|title= Dumfries - Freedom Of Town For Kosb (1953)|url= https://m.youtube.com/watch?si=u07FmPYW9vpUZqjb&v=KEe_L_vwQK4&feature=youtu.be |access-date=9 April 2024 |website=[[YouTube]] |publisher=[[British Pathé]]}}</ref>