Editing Kirkcudbright

{{Short description|Town in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country                          = Scotland
| official_name                    = Kirkcudbright
| gaelic_name                      = Cille Chùithbeirt<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gaelicplacenames.org/databasedetails.php?id=851|title=Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba (2011) 'Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba - Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland - Database', Ainmean-Aite.org.|access-date=26 March 2015|archive-date=7 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407210629/http://gaelicplacenames.org/databasedetails.php?id=851|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| population                       = {{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Kirkcudbright}}
| population_ref                   = ({{Scottish settlement population citation|year}})<ref>{{Scottish settlement population citation}}</ref>
| os_grid_reference                = NX685505
| coordinates                      = {{coord|54.832|-4.048|display=inline,title}}
| unitary_scotland                 = [[Dumfries and Galloway]]
| lieutenancy_scotland             = [[Kirkcudbrightshire]]
| constituency_westminster         = [[Dumfries and Galloway (UK Parliament constituency)|Dumfries and Galloway]]
| constituency_scottish_parliament = [[Galloway and West Dumfries (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Galloway and West Dumfries]]
| post_town                        = KIRKCUDBRIGHT
| postcode_district                = DG6
| postcode_area                    = DG
| dial_code                        = 01557
| static_image_name                = File:Aerial view of Kirkcudbright & the River Dee (geograph 3644499).jpg
| static_image_caption             = Aerial view of Kirkcudbright and the River Dee
| edinburgh_distance_mi            = 84
| london_distance_mi               = 282
}}

'''Kirkcudbright''' ({{IPAc-en|k|əːr|ˈ|k|uː|b|r|i}} {{respell|kur|KOO|bree}}; {{langx|gd|Cille Chùithbeirt}}) is a town at the mouth of the [[River Dee, Galloway|River Dee]] in [[Dumfries and Galloway]], Scotland, southwest of [[Castle Douglas]] and [[Dalbeattie]]. A former [[royal burgh]], it is the traditional county town of [[Kirkcudbrightshire]].

==History==
An early rendition of the name of the town was Kilcudbrit;<ref>Learmonth, W. (2012) ''Kirkcudbrightshire and Wigtownshire'', Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press</ref> this derives from the [[Scottish Gaelic|Gaelic]] ''Cille Chuithbeirt'' meaning "chapel of [[Cuthbert]]", the saint whose mortal remains were kept at the town between their exhumation at [[Lindisfarne]] and reinterment at [[Chester-le-Street]].<ref>Eyre, C (1849) ''The History of St. Cuthbert: Or an Account of His Life, Decease, and Miracles; of the Wanderings with his Body at Intervals During CXXIV. Years; of the State of his Body from his Decease Until A.D. 1542; and of the Various Monuments Erected to His Memory'', City of Westminster: James Burns</ref>

[[John Spottiswoode]], in his account of religious houses in Scotland, mentions that the [[Franciscans]], or Grey Friars, had been established at Kirkcudbright from the 12th century.<ref>Spottiswood, J (1655) ''The history of the Church of Scotland, beginning in the year of our Lord 203 and continued to the end of the reign of King James the VI of ever blessed memory : wherein are described the progress of Christianity, the persecutions and interruptions of it, the foundation of churches, the erecting of bishopricks, the building and endowing monasteries, and other religious places, the succession of bishops in their sees, the reformation of religion, and the frequent disturbances of that nation by wars, conspiracies, tumults, schisms : together with great variety of other matters, both ecclesiasticall and politicall'', City of London: J. Flesher for R. Royston</ref>

[[John I de Balliol|John Balliol]] was in possession of the ancient castle at Castledykes in the late 13th century and [[Edward I of England]] is said to have stayed here in 1300 during his war against Scotland.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Keay|first=John|title=Collins Encyclopedia of Scotland|publisher=HarperCollinsPublishers|year=1994|isbn=0002550822|location=London|pages=585}}</ref>

In 1455 Kirkcudbright became a [[royal burgh]].<ref>Bell, J (2015) 'Old Kirkcudbright - History of an Ancient Parish & Burgh.', Kirkcudbright Community Website. [http://www.old-kirkcudbright.net/]</ref> About a century later, the magistrates of the town obtained permission from [[Mary, Queen of Scots|Queen Mary]] to use part of the convent and nunnery as a parish church. From around 1570, Sir Thomas MacLellan of Bombie, the chief magistrate, received a charter for the site, its grounds and gardens. MacLellan dismantled the church in order to obtain material for his [[MacLellan's Castle|new castle]], a very fine house, which was built on the site.<ref>Coventry, M. (2006) ''The Castles of Scotland'', City of Edinburgh: Birlinn Limited</ref>

After defeat at the [[Battle of Towton]], [[Henry VI of England]] crossed the [[Solway Firth]] in August 1461 to land at Kirkcudbright before joining his wife [[Margaret of Anjou|Queen Margaret]] in exile at [[Linlithgow]]. The town for some time withstood a siege in 1547 from the English commander Sir Thomas Carleton but, after the surrounding countryside had been overrun, was compelled to surrender.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Nicolson|first1=J |last2= Burn|first2= R|year=1777|title=The History and Antiquities of the counties of Westmorland and Cumberland|volume=1|location=City of Westminster|url=https://archive.org/stream/historyandantiq00burngoog#page/n60/mode/2up.asp}}</ref>

[[File:Kirkcudbright Tollbooth - geograph.org.uk - 841001.jpg|thumb|left|[[Kirkcudbright Tolbooth]]]]
[[Kirkcudbright Tolbooth]] was built between 1625 and 1629 and served not only as the [[tolbooth]], but also the council offices, the burgh and sheriff courts, the criminal prison and the debtors' prison. One of the most famous prisoners was [[John Paul Jones]], founder of the United States Navy, who was born in [[Kirkbean]].<ref>[http://www.jpj.demon.co.uk/jpjlife.htm Slaving and a Murder Trial]. Retrieved 14 November 2012.</ref><ref>[http://www.scan.org.uk/researchrtools/courtrecords.htm 1770 Extract of Warrant for the arrest of John Paul (Jones)]. Scan.org.uk. Retrieved 14 November 2012.</ref> The Tolbooth was superseded as the county's main administrative building by a new courthouse at 85 High Street, built in 1788 and rebuilt in 1868, which then served as the meeting place of Kirkcudbrightshire County Council from its creation in 1890 until 1952 when the council moved its meeting place to [[County Buildings, Kirkcudbright|County Buildings]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Former Kirkcudbright Sheriff Court |url=http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB36518 |website=Historic Environment Scotland |access-date=4 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Stewartry District Council Offices |url=http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB36523 |website=Historic Environment Scotland |access-date=3 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Canmore|num=175784|desc=Kirkcudbright, 121, 123 High Street, County Buildings}}</ref>

[[File:Johnston_School,_Kirkcudbright_-_view_from_NW.jpg|thumb|The Johnston School, Kirkcudbright]]
The Johnston School was one of the town's two primary schools, until it was merged with Castledykes Primary School in 2009, the new School called Kirkcudbright Primary School being housed in a new building. The school was endowed with a bequest by Kirkcudbright merchant and shipowner William Johnston (1769–1845) and opened in 1847 as Johnston's Free School. The building was designed by Edinburgh architect [[James Newlands]] (1813–1871) who later went on to be the first Borough Engineer for Liverpool where he designed and built the first integrated sewerage system in the world in 1848. The school building was rebuilt, retaining the [[Italianate architecture|Italianate]] tower and façade in 1933 by William A MacKinnell, (1871–1940). He was the County Architect for Kirkcudbrightshire and built many schools in the Stewartry. In 2020 the building was refurbished as a Community Activity and Resource Centre. The building is [[listed building|Listed]] Category B.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/212431/kirkcudbright-st-mary-street-johnston-school|title= The Johnston School|publisher=Canmore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.buildingsatrisk.org.uk/details/991918|title=Johnston School (Former), St Mary Street, Kirkcudbright &#124; Buildings at Risk Register|website=www.buildingsatrisk.org.uk|access-date=2 February 2020|archive-date=25 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125025111/http://www.buildingsatrisk.org.uk/details/991918|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Johnston {{!}} Kirkcudbright Development Trust |url=https://www.kdt.org.uk/the-johnston/ |access-date=2022-10-30 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

St Andrew's and St Cuthbert's Church was designed in 1886 by London architect A. E. Purdie (1843–1920), in the Gothic style. It was built on the site of the medieval St Andrew's Church. In 1971 the interior was re-ordered and stripped of its Victorian fixtures and fittings and now features an abstract concrete and iron cross by the Liverpool sculptor Sean Rice<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-sean-rice-1283255.html|title=Obituary: Sean Rice|newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=23 October 2011}}</ref> (1931–1997), modern stained glass by the Polish artist [[Jerzy Faczynski]] (1917–1994) and a set of four paintings by Vivien K. Chapman depicting The Passion of Christ.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gatehouse-folk.org.uk/userfiles/files/Who%20Did%20What/Artists/Chapman%2C%20Vivien3.pdf|title=Chapman, Vivien (1925–c.2000)|publisher=Gatehouse Folk|access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref>

The [[Kirkcudbright railway station|Kirkcudbright Railway]] opened in 1864 but the railway line and station closed in 1965.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://canmore.org.uk/site/69353/kirkcudbright-st-mary-street-railway-station|title= Kirkcudbright, St Mary Street, Railway Station |publisher= Canmore}}</ref>

[[File:Kirkudbright Town Hall - geograph.org.uk - 2541003.jpg|thumb|left|[[Kirkcudbright Town Hall|Kirkcudbright Galleries]]]]
[[Kirkcudbright Town Hall]] was designed by architects [[John Dick Peddie|Peddie]] and [[Charles Kinnear|Kinnear]]. It was completed in 1879 and is a Category B listed building.<ref name="SArch">{{cite web |title=Kirkcudbright Public Hall and Museum |url=http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=215193 |website=Scottish Architects |access-date=27 January 2020}}</ref> It has since been converted into the Kirkcudbright Galleries, a new facility which was opened by the [[Anne, Princess Royal|Princess Royal]] on 12 July 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-44793422 |title= Princess Royal opens Dumfries hospital and Kirkcudbright gallery|date=12 July 2018|newspaper=BBC| access-date=28 September 2021}}</ref>

[[Kirkcudbright war memorial|The war memorial]] dates from 1921 and was created by the sculptor [[George Henry Paulin]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Edwards|first= M |year=2006|title=Roll of Honour - Kirkcudbrightshire - Kircudbright|url=http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Kirkcudbrightshire/Kirkcudbright.html}}</ref>

=== Training area {{anchor|Kirkcudbright Training Area}} ===
Like many other remote areas during the Second World War, a {{convert|4700|acre|km2|adj=on}} area to the southeast of the town and extending to the coast of the [[Solway Firth]], was acquired by the Army in 1942, as a training area for the [[Normandy landings|D-Day]] invasion.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kirkcudbright Training Area|date=19 October 2022 |url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/DefenceEstateandEnvironment/AccessRecreation/Scotland/KirkcudbrightTrainingArea.htm|publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]]}}
</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/index.php/Secrets/KirkcudbrightTrainingArea|title=Secret Scotland - Kirkcudbright Training Area|website=www.secretscotland.org.uk}}</ref> The area remains in active use for live-firing exercises. Part of the training area is the [[Dundrennan Range]], a weapons development and testing range. The use of this range for the testing of [[depleted uranium]] shells has been controversial.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Call to stop uranium shell tests|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1157417.stm|date=7 February 2001|publisher=[[BBC News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Weapon test move comes under fire|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/7289584.stm|date=11 March 2008|work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> The range also contains a surviving [[Tortoise heavy assault tank|A39 Tortoise]] heavy assault tank.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zpylCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA45|page=45|title=Super-heavy Tanks of World War II|first=Kenneth W.|last=Estes|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing| year=2014|isbn=978-1782003847}}</ref>

===Museums===
[[Broughton House]] is an 18th-century town house standing on the High Street. It was the home of Scots impressionist artist [[Edward Atkinson Hornel]] between 1901 and his death in 1933. [[National Trust for Scotland|The National Trust for Scotland]] maintain the house and its contents as a museum of Hornel's life and work.<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=GDL00075 |desc=Broughton House|access-date=7 March 2019}}</ref>

The [[Stewartry Museum]] was founded in 1879 and was at first based in the Town Hall until it became too small to house the collections.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Museums Galleries Scotland |year=2015|title=The Stewartry Museum|url=http://www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/member/the-stewartry-museum}}</ref><ref>Dumfries and Galloway Council (2105) 'Dumfries and Galloway Council : The Stewartry Museum, Kirkcudbright', Dumfries and Galloway Council. Uniform Resource Locator: {{cite web |url=http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=3638 |title=Dumfries and Galloway Council : The Stewartry Museum, Kirkcudbright |access-date=2015-06-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150625194135/http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=3638 |archive-date=25 June 2015}}</ref> The collection moved to a purpose-built site. It contains the local and natural history of the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright. Britain's earliest surviving sporting trophy, the Siller Gun, is part of the collection.<ref>Bell, J (2015) [http://www.old-kirkcudbright.net/pages/siller.asp 'Kirkcudbright's Siller (Silver) Gun'], Kirkcudbright Community Website.{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927221915/http://www.old-kirkcudbright.net/pages/siller.asp |date=27 September 2006 }}. Old-kirkcudbright.net. Retrieved 22 June 2011.</ref>

The Tolbooth building is now used as an arts centre.<ref>[http://www.kirkcudbright.co.uk/galleries.asp Tolbooth Arts Centre]. Kirkcudbright.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2011.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=3639 |title=Dumfries and Galloway Council : Tolbooth Art Centre, Kirkcudbright |access-date=2015-06-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150624182406/http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=3639 |archive-date=24 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=Visit Scotland |year=2015|title=Tolbooth Art Centre - Kirkcudbright |url=http://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/tolbooth-art-centre-p249601}}</ref>

==Art==
Kirkcudbright has for long been a centre for visual artists and is now known as "the Artists' Town".<ref name=artist>[http://www.kirkcudbright.co.uk/ Artists' Town official website]. Kirkcudbright. Retrieved 22 June 2011.</ref> The main routes into the town include brown tourist signs saying "Artists' Town".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.alamy.com/welcome-to-kirkcudbright-please-drive-carefully-artists-town-sign-image406523024.html|title=Welcome to Kirkcudbright, please drive carefully, Artists' Town sign|publisher=Alamy|access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref>

Kirkcudbright is home to an artists' collective which has a shop in the town centre, The PA, Professional Artists Collective.<ref name="PA">{{cite web |title=The PA Pop-up |url=http://papop-up.co.uk/ |website=PA Pop-up |access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref> [[Wasps Studios]] (Workshop & Artists Studio Provision Scotland) occupy two linked townhouses, Canonwalls and Claverhouse, in the High Street.<ref name="Waspss">{{cite web |title=WASPS Studios |url=https://www.waspsstudios.org.uk/ |website=WASPS Studios |access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref> It is also a centre in which many artists open their studios during [[Spring Fling Open Studios]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spring-fling.co.uk/|title=Welcome|publisher=Spring Fling| access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref>

The Kirkcudbright Arts & Crafts Trail takes place every summer. This four-day event, finishing on the first Monday in August, allows visitors to see artists' studios and visit places that are normally off-limits to visitors.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.artandcraftstrail.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617051606/http://www.artandcraftstrail.com/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=17 June 2016|title=Taking part|publisher= Kirkcudbright Arts & Crafts Trail|access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref>

===Galleries===
Galleries in Kirkcudbright include Kirkcudbright Galleries, in the former Town Hall on St Mary Street,<ref>{{cite web |title=Kirkcudbright Galleries |url=https://www.kirkcudbrightgalleries.org.uk |publisher=Kirkcudbright Galleries |access-date=16 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Baker |first1=Tora |title=Sixty artists and makers from across Scotland help to launch new gallery in Kirkcudbright |url=https://www.creativeboom.com/news/sixty-artists-and-makers-from-across-scotland-help-to-launch-new-gallery-in-kirkcudbright/ |website=Creative Boom | date=8 June 2018 |access-date=16 April 2025}}</ref> and the Harbour Cottage Gallery.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.harbourcottagegallery.org.uk/history/|title=History – Harbour Cottage Gallery|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-28}}</ref>

===Cinema and literature===
[[File:Kirkcudbright Harbour.jpg|thumb|Kirkcudbright Harbour]]
[[File:In Memory Of Loved Ones Lost At Sea - Kirkudbright.jpg|thumb|upright|1994 wooden sculpture ''In Memory of Loved Ones Lost at Sea'' by Charlie Easterfield in Kirkcudbright harbour]]

The 1907 novel Little Esson by [[S. R. Crockett]] is a romantic mystery involving the artistic community of Kirkcudbright.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Donaldson|first=Islay Murray|title=The Life and Work of S. R. Crockett|publisher=Ayton Publishing|year=2016|isbn=9781910601143|pages=299, 344}}</ref> The title character Archibald Esson is a fictionalised version of [[William Stewart MacGeorge]], Crockett's boyhood friend. 
The later [[whodunit]] ''[[Five Red Herrings]]'' by [[Dorothy L. Sayers]] also involves the artistic community of Kirkcudbright.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072502/|title=Five Red Herrings|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref> In 1975, the book was made into a BBC TV drama series shot in the town, with [[Ian Carmichael]] playing the lead role of [[Lord Peter Wimsey]].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=IMDb|title=Five Red Herrings (TV Mini-Series 1975)|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072502/}}</ref>

The town also provided locations for the cult 1973 horror film ''[[The Wicker Man]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Where was 'The Wicker Man' filmed?|url=http://www.british-film-locations.com/The-Wicker-Man-1973|website=British Film Locations|access-date=5 June 2017|archive-date=19 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319225910/http://www.british-film-locations.com/The-Wicker-Man-1973|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Robert Urquhart (actor)|Robert Urquhart]] starred in a 1980 BBC adaptation of [[Henrik Ibsen|Ibsen]]'s ''[[An Enemy of the People]]'', shot on location in Kirkcudbright.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001180/19770428/094/0012|title=The BBC's plans to strengthen drama made in Scotland|newspaper=The Stage|date=28 April 1977|access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref>

===Music===
[[Matt McGinn (Scottish songwriter)|Matt McGinn]] wrote and recorded "The Wee Kirkcudbright Centipede" which has also been covered by other singers including [[Alastair McDonald (musician)|Alistair McDonald]] on disc and on his BBC Scotland show ''Songs of Scotland'', which included a segment filmed on location at the town's Johnston Primary School where McDonald led the children in a dance sequence.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotslanguage.com/articles/node/id/422|title=Scotslanguage.com - The Wee Kirkcudbright Centipede|website=www.scotslanguage.com|language=en|access-date=2019-09-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/a6bce62871ab4fe6a4d269e5dccc65f6|title=The Sounds of Scotland|date=1976-08-12|work=The Radio Times|access-date=2019-09-06|issue=2753|pages=14|language=en-GB|issn=0033-8060}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/arts_ents/14536296.the-wee-kirkcudbright-centipede-tv-fame-and-andy-stewart-breakfast-with-alastair-mcdonald/|title=The Wee Kirkcudbright Centipede, TV fame and Andy Stewart: breakfast with Alastair McDonald|website=HeraldScotland|date=4 June 2016 |language=en|access-date=2019-09-06}}</ref>

==Notable people==
===Artists===
[[File:The Greengage, High Street, Kirkcudbright, Scotland.jpg|alt=|thumb|Jessie M. King's house, Greengate]]

Kirkcudbright has had a long association with the Glasgow art movement. Several artists, including the [[Glasgow Boys]] and the famed [[Scottish Colourists]], such as [[Samuel Peploe]] and [[Francis Cadell (artist)|Francis Cadell]], based themselves in the area over a 30-year period from 1880 to 1910, establishing the [[Kirkcudbright Artists' Colony]]. Also among those who moved here from Glasgow were [[Edward Atkinson Hornel|Edward Hornel]], [[George Henry (painter)|George Henry]] and [[Jessie M. King]]. Later another small group of Glasgow-trained artists built their studios across the river at The Stell, including John Charles Lamont and [[Robert Sivell]]. Landscape painter Charles Oppenheimer moved to Kirkcudbright in 1908. He is given credit along with artist Dorothy Nesbitt for protecting the Harbour Cottage (art) Gallery from demolition in 1956.  Kirkcudbright became known as "the artists' town".<ref name=artist/> Other artists include:

*[[Joseph Simpson (artist)|Joseph Simpson]] (1879–1939), British painter and etcher of portraits and sporting subjects.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kirkcudbrightgalleries.org.uk/artists-footsteps/artist/joseph-w-simpson/|title=Joseph W Simpson &#124; Kirkcudbright Galleries &#124; Dumfries and Galloway &#124; Artists &#124; Gallery|website=Kirkcudbright Galleries}}</ref>
*[[Phyllis Bone]] (1894–1972), Scottish sculptor who moved to Galloway and lived in later life in Kirkcudbright.<ref name="Alumni">{{cite web |title=Phyllis Mary Bone (1894 – 1972) |url=https://www.ed.ac.uk/alumni/services/notable-alumni/alumni-in-history/phyllis-mary-bone |website=University of Edinburgh Alumni |date=30 March 2016 |publisher=University of Edinburgh |access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref>
*[[William Hanna Clarke]] (1882–1924), landscape and figure painter who lived in Kirkcudbright, and many of his works featured the town. He is buried in the town's churchyard and his tombstone was carved by his friend Alexander Proudfoot, a Glasgow sculptor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.artistsfootsteps.co.uk/artists_a_z.asp?ID=25 |title=William Hanna Clarke |publisher=Artists' Footsteps |access-date=8 June 2014 |archive-date=22 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022232455/http://www.artistsfootsteps.co.uk/artists_a_z.asp?ID=25 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Sportspeople===
* [[Bob McDougall]] (1894–1936), [[George Cloy]] and [[David Mathieson]] (born 1978), professional footballers who lived in the town.<ref name="McCartney, I 2008">McCartney, I (2008) Queen of the South: The History 1919–2008, Staffordshire: The Breedon Books Publishing Company Limited</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=McLean|first=K |year=2009|title=QosFC: Legends - George Cloy|publisher= Queen of the South Football Club|url=http://qosfc.com/content-legendsView.aspx?playerid=1050}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=McLean|first=K |year=2009|title=QosFC: Legends - Tommy Bryce|publisher= Queen of the South Football Club|url=http://qosfc.com/content-legendsView.aspx?playerid=1045}}</ref>
* [[David MacMyn]] (1903–1978), Scottish rugby international, was from Kirkcudbright.<ref>HG (1978) 'Obituary', British Medical Journal, 1 (6119, April), 1058 to 1060</ref>

===Others===
[[File:Craigville, St Mary's Street, Kirkcudbright, Scotland.jpg|alt=|thumb|Lawrence of Arabia's family lived at Craigville, St Mary's Street, Kirkcudbright between 1889 and 1891]]
*[[Malcolm Caldwell]], born James Alexander Malcolm Caldwell (1931–1978), British academic and a prolific Marxist writer. Caldwell was murdered, under mysterious circumstances, a few hours after meeting [[Pol Pot]] in Cambodia. His father, Archibald Thomson Caldwell was County Architect for Kirkcudbrightshire from 1950 until his death in 1957.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dictionary of Scottish Architects - DSA Architect Biography Report (February 7, 2024, 7:17 am) |url=https://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=204159 |access-date=7 February 2024 |website=scottisharchitects.org.uk}}</ref> Caldwell was Dux of [[Kirkcudbright Academy]] in 1949.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kirkcudbrightacademy.website/caldwell.html|title=Caldwell|access-date=20 April 2019|archive-date=20 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420150538/http://www.kirkcudbrightacademy.website/caldwell.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Cecil Coles]] (1888–1918), a composer who was born in Kirkcudbright and killed on active service in the [[World War I|First World War]].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Commonwealth War Graves Commission|year=1918|title=Comprehensive Report|url=http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/71046/COLES,%20CECIL%20FREDERICK%20G}}</ref>
* [[John Duncan (traveller in Africa)|John Duncan]] (1805–1849), a Scottish explorer in Africa. Born at Culdoach, the family farm.
* [[Marriott Edgar]] (1880–1951), lyricist and poet who wrote, amongst other things, ''[[Albert and the Lion]]'' for [[Stanley Holloway]], was born in Kirkcudbright.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.poetry.net/poet/Marriott+Edgar|title=Marriott Edgar Poems|website=Poetry.net|access-date=25 November 2020}}</ref>
* [[John Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine of Rerrick]] (1893–1980), banker and [[Governor of Northern Ireland]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.royalsoced.org.uk/cms/files/fellows/biographical_index/fells_indexp1.pdf |title=Former Fellows of The Royal Society of Edinburgh, 1783–2002: Part 1 (A–J) |author=C D Waterston |author2=A Macmillan Shearer |publisher=[[Royal Society of Edinburgh]] |isbn=090219884X |date=July 2006 |access-date=18 September 2015 |archive-date=24 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124115814/http://www.royalsoced.org.uk/cms/files/fellows/biographical_index/fells_indexp1.pdf |url-status=dead|page=232}}</ref>
* [[T. E. Lawrence]] ''(Lawrence of Arabia)'' (1888–1935), lived in infancy with his family between 1889 and 1891 in Craigville, St Mary's Street. His brother William George was born here in 1889.<ref>{{Lives of WWI |id=2323783 |name=William George Lawrence}}</ref>
* [[Gary Lewis (actor)|Gary Lewis]] (born 1957), actor in ''Gangs of New York'', ''Billy Elliot'', etc. lives in Kirkcudbright.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/kirkcudbright-actor-gary-lewis-receives-13667523|title=Kirkcudbright actor Gary Lewis receives honorary degree from Glasgow Caledonian University|date=5 December 2018|newspaper=Daily Record|access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref>
* [[Sara Maitland]] (born 1950), daughter of Adam Maitland of Cumstoun House (a descendant of [[Thomas Maitland, Lord Dundrennan|Judge Thomas Maitland, Lord Dundrennan]]). She is a British writer of religious fantasy. A novelist, she is also known for her short stories.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 April 2022 |title=Cumstoun and its Castles – Kirkcudbright History Society |url=https://www.kirkcudbrighthistorysociety.org.uk/news/cumstoun-and-its-castles/ |access-date=22 February 2024 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Media==
Local TV coverage is provided by ''[[BBC Reporting Scotland]]'' on [[BBC One]] & ''[[ITV News Lookaround]]'' on [[ITV1]]. Radio stations that broadcast the town are [[BBC Radio Scotland]] on 93.1 FM and [[Greatest Hits Radio Dumfries & Galloway]] on 103.0 FM. The town is served by the local newspapers, ''[[Dumfries & Galloway Standard]]'' and the ''[[Dumfries Courier]]'' which publishes on Fridays. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/scotland/dumfries-courier/|title=The Dumfries Courier|date=14 July 2014|website=British Papers|accessdate=28 August 2024}}</ref>
T

==Sport==
Kirkcudbright is represented in the [[South of Scotland Football League]] by [[St Cuthbert Wanderers F.C.|St Cuthbert Wanderers FC]].<ref>{{cite web|publisher=St Cuthbert Wanderers FC|year=2014|title=St Cuthbert Wanderers FC|url=http://www.stcuthbertwanderers.co.uk/}}</ref> It was founded by parishioners of St Cuthbert Catholic Church. The club's best-known former players are [[Bob McDougall]], [[Billy Halliday]] and [[David Mathieson]].<ref name="McCartney, I 2008"/>

===2019 Tour of Britain===
The first stage from Glasgow of the [[2019 Tour of Britain|Tour of Britain 2019]] ended in Kirkcudbright on 7 September.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://road.cc/content/news/261385-route-septembers-tour-britain-unveiled-details-all-stages|title=Route of September's Tour of Britain unveiled|work=Road.cc|date=29 May 2019|access-date=29 May 2019}}</ref> The winner was Dutchman [[Dylan Groenewegen]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-britain-2019/stage-1/results/|title=Tour of Britain: Groenewegen wins stage 1|work=Cycling News|first=William|last=Fotheringham|date=7 September 2019|access-date=7 September 2019}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Kirkcudbright}}
* [http://www.kirkcudbright.town/ Visit Kirkcudbright Website]
* [http://www.kirkcudbright.com/ Kirkcudbright Community Website]
*[http://www.kirkcudbrightacademy.website/caldwell.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420150538/http://www.kirkcudbrightacademy.website/caldwell.html |date=20 April 2019 }}
*[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-sean-rice-1283255.html Obituary: Sean Rice]
*[https://www.ed.ac.uk/alumni/services/notable-alumni/alumni-in-history/phyllis-mary-bone Phyllis Mary Bone (1894 – 1972)]
*[https://www.kirkcudbright.town/arts/kirkcudbright-artists-town/ Kirkcudbright Artists' Town]
*[https://www.kirkcudbrightgalleries.org.uk/artists-footsteps/artist/joseph-w-simpson/ Joseph W Simpson - Kirkcudbright Galleries | Dumfries and Galloway | Artists | Gallery]
*[https://papop-up.co.uk/kirkcudbright/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126141655/http://papop-up.co.uk/kirkcudbright/ |date=26 January 2020 }}
*[https://www.waspsstudios.org.uk/spaces/artist-space/canonwalls-and-claverhouse/ spaces]
*[https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/320810/LAWRENCE,%20WILLIAM%20GEORGE Second Lieutenant William George Lawrence | War Casualty Details 320810 | CWGC]

<br />{{Civil parishes in Dumfries and Galloway}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Kirkcudbright| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Dumfries and Galloway]]
[[Category:Royal burghs]]
[[Category:Galloway]]
[[Category:Kirkcudbrightshire]]
[[Category:Parishes in Dumfries and Galloway]]
[[Category:County towns in Scotland]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Scotland]]