Ecclefechan

infobox UK place
country = Scotland
official_name= Ecclefechan
gaelic_name= Eaglais Fheichein
scots_name=
os_grid_reference= NY193748
latitude=55.061553
longitude= -3.264243
population= 746 [cite web|publisher=Scotland's Census Results Online|title =Comparative Population Profile: Ecclefechan Locality | url=http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Population&mainArea=ecclefechan&mainLevel=Locality | date = 2001-04-29| accessdate =2008-09-03 ] (2001 census)
est. 840 [http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data] (2006)
unitary_scotland= Dumfries and Galloway
lieutenancy_scotland= Dumfries
post_town = LOCKERBIE
postcode_district = DG11
postcode_area = DG
dial_code= 01576
constituency_westminster= Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale
constituency_scottish_parliament= Dumfries

Ecclefechan ("Eaglais Fheichein" in Gaelic) is a small village in the south of Scotland in Dumfries and Galloway.1:50,000 OS map 85]

Ecclefechan, known as "Fechan" to the local residents, has two shops, one of which is also a Post Office, a hairdresser, a church, a doctors surgery and a primary school "Hoddom Primary School". It also has three hotels: "The Ecclefechan Hotel" with its white-painted frontage is prominent on the High Street and the main junction in the village; the "Cressfield Hotel" which has an adjoining caravan park; "Kirkconnel Hall Hotel" which sits to the north.

The place names Ecclefechan and St Vigeans are derived from "Vigeanus", a Latinised form of the Old Irish name Féchín. Féchín of Fore started a cult in the 7th century.

Geography and administration

Ecclefechan lies in the valley of the Mein Water, a tributary of the River Annan, 5 miles (8 km) north of Annan and 8 miles (14 km) northwest of the English border. The A74(M) runs immediately north of the village and J19 of this motorway is just northwest of the village.

The High Street of the village has a burn which runs through a culvert below it. This culvert was constructed in 1875 by Dr George Arnott at his own expense.

Places of interest

Thomas Carlyle's birthplace "The Arched House" is a tourist attraction and has been maintained by the National Trust for Scotland since 1936.

Ecclefechan lies at the foot of the large Roman Fort, Burnswark, which dominates the horizon with its flat top. Two miles from the village centre lies Hoddom Castle, a caravan and holiday park.

Notable residents

Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881), the essayist, satirist and historian was born in Ecclefechan on 4 December, 1795 at The Arched House. Carlyle left Ecclefechan at the age of 13 and walked the 84 miles to Edinburgh in order to attend university. In 1828 Carlyle moved to Craigenputtock with his wife Jane. He never forgot his roots and insisted that Ecclefechan should become his final resting place. He was buried in Ecclefechan churchyard on 5 February 1881.

Archibald Arnott (1772-1855), Napoleon's doctor on St Helena, was born in Ecclefechan on 18 April 1772 at Kirconnel Hall. He returned to Ecclefechan in his retirement and he was also buried in the Ecclefechan churchyard.

William Harkness (1837-1903) who was an astronomer was born at Ecclefechan.

Culture

*Robert Burns (1759-1796) composed a song entitled "The Lass O' Ecclefechan".

*Ecclefechan also has links to the Guinness family, the story of the Whistling Ploughboy of Ecclefechan under the title "A Guinness With a Difference" was produced by ministries and charts the ploughboy's influence under God on the Guinness family.

*"Oor Wullie" of The Sunday Post fame once got a day off school for spelling "Ecclefechan" correctly, and the Jocks and the Geordies of the Dandy once reminisced the "Great Battle of Ecclefechan".

*Local produce includes Ecclefechan butter tart and a blended whisky called "The Fechan" whose label denotes the Arched House. The Ecclefechan Tart gained national prominence in late 2007 when the supermarket Sainsbury's promoted them as an alternative to mince pies at Christmas. The tarts proved to be very popular with over 50,000 packs sold in November alone. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/7109302.stm]

References

* Ordnance Survey Landranger Map (number 85) - 1:50,000 scale (1.25 inches to 1 mile). ISBN 0-319-22685-9.
* [http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1674241 Dr. Archibald Arnott: Surgeon to the 20th Foot and Physician to Napoleon. Brit Med J. 2 August 1975; 3(5978): 293–295]