Crossroads and Characters

7. THE PLACE CALLED THE DRAGON.

In the early part of the 19th century, Dunning found itself with a growing neighbour. Although just a few hundred yards south-east of Dunning, the New Town of Pitcairns had its own post office and did not relish the suggestion of being a Dunning suburb. A school (on the left in this photograph), was soon built providing a link between the two communities. Behind it lies the small historic hill called the Dun Knock. Between the school and the burn were quarries from which came much building stone for the village. The lowest white building just to the right of centre was an unusually-situated church, the United Free, now in ruins. The Church of Scotland still uses the old U. F. manse, which is also located in Newton of Pitcairns or, as most people called it even in its early days, the Dragon.