Views in Wigtownshire
Albums of old photographs of the area are not unusual but
the 2007 acquisition is, in several respects. Firstly, it is
of high quality as regards both materials and photographs. It seems
obvious that it is not a commercial production but either unique or
one of a very few copies intended for private circulation.
Secondly, the photographs are of a very early date and well before
the picture postcard era. They seem to have been taken at different
times but all may date from the 1860's and
1870's.
Another unusual feature is the subject-matter of the photos
and their geographical distribution. In some cases, for example the
ford on the Bladnoch at Kenmore and Stein Head, they are probably
unique as professional examples and devoid of commercial appeal. As
the distribution map shows, they tend to cluster in groups, leaving
obvious subjects unrepresented: the album deals more or less with
the Machars but contains no photographs of Newton Stewart or
Wigtown, two of the largest towns. On the other hand, it has three
photographs of Whithorn priory..
Not the least remarkable feature of Views in Wigtownshire is
the route by which it came into the possession of the museum. It
was purchased in Italy some years ago by the late John G. Ross,
self-styled photographer and explorer, who decided to donate it to
the Dumfries and Galloway Museums Service because of its local
content. This was accomplished through the medium of Mr R Crewdson
of Kirkcudbright and Mr R. Sutcliffe of Kingston-upon-Thames. The
album has therefore travelled far and
circuitously.
All these features raise fascinating questions about the
album's origins, questions to which they also suggest answers. The
strongest clue is the Wigtownshire - Italy connection. In 1908 the
Earl of Galloway sold Galloway House, its policies, and the
surrounding farms to Sir Malcolm McEacharn. After the latter's
death in 1910 his widow and then his son Neil McEacharn inherited
the properties. In 1931 the latter sold them and moved to northern
Italy, where he established his world-famous garden at the Villa
Taranto on Lake Maggiore. Did he find the album in Galloway House
and take it with him to Italy? The quality of the book and of the
photographs suggests a wealthy owner. Most of the photographs are
of places in the South Machars in the vicinity of Galloway House
with a particular emphasis on the Whithorn area, where the former
Galloway family home was located at Glasserton
House.
The exceptions are potentially significant. Two show
Glentrool Lodge and the view up Loch Trool, probably taken from it.
The lodge was built and for long owned by the Galloway family,
being a particular favourite of the ninth earl (1800-1873). A group
of three show Old Place of Mochrum and scenes in the vicinity. The
Old Place was owned and restored by the Marquesses of Bute. The
third marquess (1847-1900), orphaned at an early age, was
befriended by the ninth Earl of Galloway and spent all his school
holidays at Galloway House. It seems at least possible that the
origins of the album lie in this friendship. Three other facts
encourage that theory. The ninth earl died in 1873: the photographs
seem to date from around this time. The album contains three views
of Whithorn priory and in later years the third Marquess of Bute
had the remains there consolidated, evidence perhaps of a
continuing interest in the site. (He was also responsible for the
conservation of Cruggleton arch, pictured in the book.) Thirdly,
the collection contains four photographs of places on Monreith
estate close to Monreith House. The owner of the estate in the late
19th century was Sir Herbert Maxwell (1845-1937), a friend of the
third Marquess of Bute. All the photographs with one exception have
links with those three men, Maxwell, Bute, and Galloway. So it may
be that they along with McEacharn are the links in the chain that
created this work and took it to Italy, with John G. Ross the final
link that brought it back almost to where it started. Or that may
not be the case at all…
