Newton Stewart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Newton Stewart
|
|
|---|---|
 The River Cree with Newton Stewart beyond |
|
 Newton Stewart
|
|
| Area | 1.94 km2 (0.75 sq mi) |
| Population | 4,030 (2020) |
| • Density | 2,077/km2 (5,380/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | NX405655 |
| • Edinburgh | 85 mi (137 km) |
| • London | 299 mi (481 km) |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NEWTON STEWART |
| Postcode district | DG8 |
| Dialling code | 01671 |
| Police | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Fire | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
|
| Scottish Parliament |
|
Newton Stewart is a town in southwest Scotland. It is in an area called Dumfries and Galloway. The town's name in Gaelic is Baile Ùr nan Stiùbhartach.
The town sits by the River Cree. Most of Newton Stewart is on the west side of the river. People sometimes call it the "Gateway to the Galloway Hills". This is because it's close to the beautiful Galloway Forest Park.
The main jobs in the town are in farming, forestry, and tourism. Newton Stewart has a local market. It also offers many services to help the farming community. You can find many mountain biking trails nearby. The town is about 7 kilometres (4.3 miles) from Wigtown, which is known as Scotland's book town.
Contents
Town History
Newton Stewart was started in the mid-1600s. It was founded by William Stewart. He was the youngest son of the 2nd Earl of Galloway. The town was first called the "New Town of Stewart".
King Charles II gave the town special status. This allowed it to hold a weekly market. It could also have two fairs each year.
In 1329, Robert the Bruce crossed the river here. He was on his way to Whithorn. The current bridge was built in 1813. It was designed by John Rennie the Elder. This bridge replaced an older one from 1745.
A businessman named Sir William Douglas also helped the town. He started cotton mills in Newton Stewart. For a short time, the town was even called "Newton Douglas" after him. But it soon went back to its original name.
The main public building in town is the McMillan Hall. It was finished in 1885.
Getting Around
The A75 road runs along the south side of Newton Stewart. This road connects the town to Stranraer in the west. It also links to Dumfries in the east.
Buses are the main way to get around. Stagecoach Western provides bus services. These buses connect Newton Stewart to other places. You can travel to areas in South Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway.
Newton Stewart used to have a train station. It was on the Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Joint Railway. The station closed in 1965. This was part of a big plan to close many railway lines. The closest train stations now are in Stranraer and Barrhill. Stranraer is about 25 miles (40 kilometres) away. Barrhill is about 18.5 miles (30 kilometres) away.
Schools in Town
Newton Stewart has three primary schools:
- Penninghame Primary
- Minnigaff Primary
- St Ninian’s RC Primary
The town also has one secondary school. This is called the Douglas Ewart High School.
Media and Films
A famous movie called The Wicker Man was filmed near Newton Stewart. This movie came out in 1973. Most of the filming happened around the town. The movie had its first showing at the local cinema.
Fun Things to Do
There are many nature trails close to Newton Stewart. These trails are part of the Galloway Forest Park. Forest Enterprise manages these beautiful areas. They are great for exploring nature.
Sports
The local football team is called Newton Stewart FC. Their nickname is the "Creesiders". They play in the South of Scotland league. Their home ground is called Blairmount Park.
Famous People
Several notable people have connections to Newton Stewart:
- The artist and musician Bill Drummond grew up here. He was part of the groups the KLF and K Foundation.
- Ian Gibson (1943–2016) was a footballer. He played for Scotland's Under 23 team. He also played for clubs like Middlesbrough.
- Professor William Wither McClelland FRSE (1889–1968) was an educationalist. He was a professor of Education at St Andrews University.
- Lieutenant General Sydney Rigby Wason (1887–1969) was a senior army officer. He served in the Second World War.
