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First published in 1867, the History of the Burgh of Dumfries by the newspaper editor William McDowall still remains the most detailed and comprehensive account available. After some theories about its foundation in Celtic and Roman times and some conjecture that the name Dumfries originally meant the fort in the brushwood McDowall moves on to the well documented Middle Ages and traces the history of the burgh from the granting of the first royal charter by William the Lion in the 12th century to its position as a busy market town in Victorian times.
As is self evident this is primarily a local history book. But many characters of wider historical interest have visited or had connections with Dumfries ––– Robert the Bruce, John Knox, Mary Queen of Scots, Bonnie Prince Charlie, Robert Burns, who spent the last few years of his life in the town, even William Hare the accomplice of the notorious body-snatcher Burke.
This book has long been out of print but at the Rooskie Press I feel that it is definitely a book which should be in print and so I have brought out this facsimile of the first edition of 1867.
There have been later editions with added notes bringing McDowall’s original work up to date. But this edition has no such additions. It is McDowall’s work as it was first published in 1867.
This facsimile is being produced using the new technology of print-on-demand. This means that the book has been set up electronically and can now be printed off whenever required –– even, if necessary, one at a time. So, hopefully, it will remain available and not go out of print.
For readers in the UK
Make out a cheque for £25.00 to Mary S Moffat and send it to The Rooskie Press, 32 Moffat Road, Dumfries, Scotland, DG1 1NY, UK
For readers in the USA
The UK printer of Solway Sleuth-Hounds has an agreement with the Bridgeport National Bindery in Massachusets. For American orders copies of the book are printed in Massachusetts and dispatched to addresses in the USA. But orders have still to go direct to The Rooskie Press in Scotland.
Either send an international money order or make out a cheque for $40 to Mary S Moffat and send it to The Rooskie Press, 32 Moffat Road, Dumfries, Scotland, DG1 1NY, UK
Any queries e-mail the Rooskie Press
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Back to Rooskie Press.