Moniaive
Moniaive is a village in the Glencairn, [Dumfries and Galloway|Parish of Glencairn], in Dumfries and Galloway, southwest Scotland. It stands on the Cairn and Dalwhat Waters, north-west of the town of Dumfries. Moniaive has been named best overall small village in the Nithsdale in Bloom competition five times in a row, from 2006 to 2011. The village streetscape was featured in the 2002 Peter Mullan film The Magdalene Sisters. In 2004, The Times described the village as one of the 'coolest' in Britain.
History
Moniaive has existed as a village as far back as the 10th century. On 4 July 1636 King Charles I granted a charter in favour of William, Earl of Dumfries, making Moniaive a 'free Burgh of Barony'. With this charter came the rights to set up a market cross and tolbooth, to hold a weekly market on Tuesday and two annual fairs each of three days duration. Midsummer Fair was from 16 June and Michaelmas Fair on the last day of September.Covenanting
In the 17th century, Moniaive became the refuge for the Covenanters, a group of Presbyterian nonconformists who rebelled at having the Episcopalian religion forced on them by the last three Stuart kings, Charles I, Charles II and James VII. There is a monument off the Ayr Road to James Renwick, a Covenanter leader born in Moniaive, and who aged 26 was the last Covenanter to be executed in Edinburgh.James Paterson
The Scottish artist James Paterson, a founder member of 'The Glasgow Boys', settled in Moniaive in 1884 and stayed for 22 years. He painted many local scenes including "The Last Turning" – a view of a woman approaching the village on the lane on the western side of the old millpond in the Dalwhat Valley – now displayed in the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. A James Paterson museum existed within the village until 2005 displaying photographs and memorabilia from the collection of his granddaughter, Anne Paterson-Wallace.Cairn Valley Light Railway
The Cairn Valley Light Railway was opened from Dumfries in 1905 as a subsidiary company of the Glasgow and South Western Railway. Plans initially had involved developing Moniaive into a resort due to the countryside being very scenic and peaceful. Passenger services were suspended as a wartime economy on 3 May 1943 and to all traffic on 4 August 1947.Local economy
The local economy is dominated by sheep and some cattle farming as well as forestry. The area has a large self-employed community including writers, artists, graphic designers, historical interpretation services, clothing designers, aromatherapists, stained glass workers, a wine importing business, a chocolatier, computer repairs, garden and landscaping services, plant nursery, and child care. There is a large general store including a post office counter, a garage, a cafe, a chocolatier, an Italian restaurant, several artist studios, a primary school, a guest house and two hotels with bars and restaurants, one with accommodation, and two village halls.A bi-monthly newspaper, called the Glencairn Gazette, is produced by volunteers and distributed free to residents.
Notable people
- Michael Chaplin, the son of Charlie Chaplin, eloped to and married in Moniaive as a teenager
- Rumer Godden, writer, lived in Moniaive
- Alex Kapranos of rock band Franz Ferdinand bought the house in Moniaive previously owned by James Paterson
- Alan Grant, writer of Judge Dredd and Batman
- John Inglis (missionary)
- Joanna Lumley also has a home near here
- Rab Smith, ex-professional darts player