Before the Union of 1707 foreign trade was negligible, but after that it increased and there was a regular arrival of tobacco ships from Virginia with cargoes of tar and other produce in addition. There was a fair trade in wine from Oporto and an occasional timber ship from the Baltic. In times of food shortage quantities of grain were imported from Ireland, but for some reason Parliament prohibited this, with the result that the trade went 'underground'.

The building of the railway from Dumfries to Portpatrick (1858-62) with a later branch to Kirkcudbright, weakened the coastal trade, and finally in 1908 the once-active harbour at Kirkcudbright was partially filled up. There is still some trade through the port today, chiefly in oil; but the only other active port in the area is Palnackie at the head of the estuary of the Urr. It was once too small for the number of ships wishing to use it.back to top