Kirkconnel Parish Heritage Society

08/09/2026

The office will be closed tomorrow to allow staff and trustees to attend the funeral of John Ferguson.
It will reopen on Thursday at 9am.

04/09/2026

Issue 226 of the KKS News is now available from:

Kirkconnel Premier
Nisa Nith Buildings
Nisa Scott Street
Spar Sanquhar
Nisa Sanquhar
C&M Brown's Newsagent
Kirkconnel Parish Heritage Society office

01/09/2026

It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our Treasurer, Trustee and, above all, our good friend John Ferguson.

John was a real character and a much-loved part of Kirkconnel Parish Heritage Society. We could always count on him for his support, his quick wit, a terrible joke (or two!) and that cheeky smile that usually meant he was up to something.

John was also one of those people who could turn his hand to just about anything. You only had to mention in the morning that we needed something built or fixed, and by the afternoon John would have it made and ready to go - usually without any fuss and probably accompanied by a cheeky comment!

He was also the green-fingered talent behind the beautiful flower displays outside the Heritage, taking great pride in keeping them looking their best and bringing colour to the village.

John gave so much to his community. As well as everything he did for the Heritage, he was a Church Elder and a walk leader with the Upper Nithsdale Walking Group, along with so much more.

John’s presence at the Heritage will be greatly missed. We'll miss his help, his friendship and his willingness to get stuck into anything - but most of all we'll miss the banter, the terrible jokes and that cheeky smile.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

Rest easy, John. The Heritage simply won't be the same without you.

14/08/2026

Info for those attending the Dayhopper to Rothesay on Thursday 17th September:

The minibus will leave Sanquhar at 9.30am and pick up at Spar bus stop, middle bus stop, Kirkconnel chemist car park, Nith Buildings and Hyslop Street.

Please let us know where you'd like picked up.

14/08/2026

Info for those attending the Dayhopper to House of Bruar/Pitlochry on Thursday 20th August:

The bus will leave Kirkconnel at 8:30am with pick-ups at the chemist, Nith Buildings, Hyslop Street, Sanquhar middle bus stop, Spar bus stop.

Please let us know where you'd like picked up.

12/08/2026

Kym will be on annual leave week commencing Monday 17th August and will return on Monday 31st August.

Eilidh from KKDT will be in the Heritage office most days to cover however, if the office is closed during the normal hours and you require assistance, please call the Chair (David Branton) on 07561524316.

The KKS News will also be a week later than scheduled and will be in shops on Friday 4th September. The deadline is still Wednesday 26th August for any articles, adverts etc.

We thank you for your understanding.

10/08/2026

07/08/2026

We'd like to wish Brighten Up Kirkconnel & Kelloholm all the best today at the RHS Britain in Bloom judging. Your hard work has really paid off, the place looks fantastic!

04/08/2026

As this series on the life of James Hyslop draws to a close, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to William Dalgleish for kindly sharing the material that inspired and informed this series.

Chapter Five - A Remarkable Life Comes to an End

James Hyslop's return to Scotland after almost three years in South America was a joyful homecoming. Years earlier, the shepherd boy from Kirkconnel had been offered the opportunity of a lifetime after being introduced in Edinburgh to Captain Grahame of the Royal Navy. Impressed by Hyslop's intelligence and character, Grahame appointed him tutor aboard HMS Doris, setting him on a remarkable journey to Brazil, Chile and Peru that would shape both his life and his writing.

During the voyage, Hyslop embraced every opportunity to learn. He taught two Tahitian boys who had secretly boarded a ship in the hope of reaching Britain, quickly learning enough of their language to educate them and marvelling at the knowledge they had already gained from Christian missionaries. He explored the ports and landscapes of South America, recording vivid descriptions of the people, scenery and customs in letters that were later published in the Edinburgh Magazine. Yet, despite the tropical beauty around him, his thoughts continually returned to Upper Nithsdale. One of his happiest discoveries was a simple willow tree growing in Brazil, which instantly reminded him of his childhood beside the River Nith and inspired some of his most heartfelt poetry.

Returning to Scotland in 1825, Hyslop travelled first to Sanquhar, Kirkconnel and Glenmuir. Among his first visits was to Miss Barker of Sanquhar – the "Anna", "Annie" and "Lydia" celebrated in many of his poems. Their affection had survived the long separation, and Hyslop entrusted her with the manuscript book containing much of his poetry, a treasured possession she kept for the remainder of her life.

Back in Nithsdale, Hyslop delighted in simple country life once more, helping on his uncle's farm at Little Carco, making hay, herding sheep and revising his poetry while preparing his South American letters for publication. His health improved, his writing flourished and his reputation as one of Scotland's most promising young poets continued to grow.

In 1826 he moved to London, where he worked as a parliamentary reporter before becoming superintendent of a large charity school. There he met many of the country's leading literary figures, including Allan Cunningham, Joanna Baillie and the renowned preacher Edward Irving. Although his reputation grew steadily, the demands of London life gradually weakened his already fragile health.

Hoping that another sea voyage would restore his strength, Hyslop reluctantly accepted a final appointment as tutor aboard HMS Tweed. Before leaving Scotland, he wrote a moving farewell to his homeland, declaring that he had "never loved thee with a love so deep, so pure as now."

Only weeks into the voyage tragedy struck. After landing on the Cape Verde island of St Jago, Hyslop and several fellow officers were caught in torrential tropical rain and slept in their soaked clothing. Fever rapidly swept through the party. Despite devoted care from Captain Churchill, who even surrendered his own bed for the young tutor, James Hyslop died aboard the Tweed on 4th November 1827, aged just 29. He was buried at sea with full military honours.

News of his death brought profound sadness throughout Upper Nithsdale. Fellow Kirkconnel poet William Laing mourned him in verse, while readers across Scotland continued to treasure The Cameronian Dream and The Scottish National Melody. Almost two centuries later, James Hyslop remains one of Kirkconnel's greatest sons - a shepherd, teacher, traveller and poet whose love for his native hills never diminished, no matter how far from home he sailed.

03/08/2026

Some more wee jobs carried out recently. The derelict house on the Main Street now has some pretty lavendar plants at the front and a community chalkboard at the side. Plus, the edges have all been weeded as you enter the village.