Located in Dumfries and Galloway County Southwest Scotland, Pam and I found my grandfathers (Jim Lamont) birth place. Stewarton, now located in the area of Stewarton farm is just south of Wigtown and Kirkinner on the west shores of Wigtown Bay.
At the time of Jim Lamont's birth (1882) Stewarton was a small village along the road that travels from Kirkinner to Garlieston. The village does not really exist any longer; it's actually a large working farm. The farm covers a group of picturesque farmhouses and beautiful pastures that gently slope into Wigtown Bay with a group of mountains in the background. I think the mountains would be the Cairnsmore of Fleet or the Cairnharrow.
Pam and I never actually found the house were he was born if it even exist. I took some photos of the main Stewarton farmhouse and some out buildings to give you an idea of what would have been standing in 1882. I'm quite sure these pictured structures date back to 1882. Everything was built to last by the looks of it.
Before Stewarton we stopped and took a B&B in Wigtown, a charming location south of Newton Stewart on A714. Wigtown is internationally known as Book Town. Over 25 different bookshops line the main street. Being a book lover this town was a dream for me; I could have stayed for a month.
Pictured is the Glaisnock House a B&B on Main Street Wigtown. Our hosts were Bill and Lydia Cairns a wonderful couple who were very informative concerning local landmarks.
Their tiny dining room served up the best meals of our entire Scottish trip.
Also pictured is the church at Kirkinner. Located here are the parish birth records of Jim Lamont and some of his siblings. It's a beautiful church and surrounding cemetery dating back hundreds of years. We arrived just has the service started and were unable to get photos of inside the church.
Of course it was raining. September 2002
