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Dalbeattie's Maritime Heritage

Dalbeattie Community Initiative has unveiled ambitious plans to carry out conservation and restoration work at the Dub O' Hass, the town’s Old Port as part of it’s long term aim to assist with the economic regeneration of Dalbeattie.

Funding package
The project is possible now that a funding package has been put together.  So far for 2007/08, £7000 has been awarded to the project from the Scottish Executive’s Quality of Life Fund and Scottish Natural Heritage have offered a grant of £6000.  We are now awaiting the outcome of an application made to the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme, operated in Dumfries & Galloway by Solway Heritage.

Graham Platt, Development Worker with the Initiative said “We are very excited with the potential this project has.  The funding we have secured so far will enable us to undertake much of the initial conservation and interpretation work.  We are hopeful of a positive outcome with our application to the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme which will enable us to implement the full programme of work we have planned.”

Proposals for the Old Port area
Dalbeattie Old Port has fallen into disrepair over the years and without essential conservation work being carried out it is likely that over the next few years the area will deteriorate further and may become lost to the town forever.  Indeed, the recent storms and severe flooding along the River Urr left a trail of destruction, with fallen trees, debris being washed ashore and a section of banking at the port site collapsing into the waters The Port is a physical reminder of the glorious days of sail and the importance of the port and local waterways in the growth and prosperity of the town.
Today, tourism is an expanding industry in the region with the nearby picturesque coastal villages and beautiful scenery being particularly popular with tourists.  The desire for visitors to explore the heritage of the places they visit provides an opportunity to develop access and interpretation to the port site. The first heritage trail in the town has already been developed and this project offers another opportunity to develop interpretation for a trail that explores the rich natural, built and cultural heritage of the town.

The purpose of the project is to communicate the importance of the industrial heritage and it’s effect on biodiversity to the wider public.  This will be achieved by enhancing access and producing a self guided trail for local people and visitors to Dalbeattie who would like a closer look at their surroundings.  The project will use the rivers confluence at the Old Port to draw together a number of themes that influence our understanding and appreciation of our surroundings.  These include history, industry, farming and wildlife.

Future plans
As a second phase of this redevelopment, future plans include restoring the quayside to it’s original state, constructing a viewing area, installing interpretation panels and using the original granite mooring bollards to record glimpses of the port’s history.

Graham added “We are grateful to the landowner for his support with this project and we will be involving other local organisations including the Dalbeattie Museum Trust and the Urr Navigation Trust.  A local Working Group has been set up to take this project forward but if there is anyone in the local community who has a particular interest then please get in touch with me. An exhibition of the project proposals will be in Dalbeattie Library for the next two weeks and local people can see what we are aiming to do and have the opportunity to comment, input ideas or get involved with the actual project development.