According to local folklore, poetess Isabel "Tibbie" Pagan (1741 - 1820) was a friend of Scotland's National Bard, Robert Burns. Having
spent some of her childhood days in New Cumnock, Tibbie
moved to Muirkirk in 1785. Oh....I almost forgot.....it is alleged that this meagre income was supplemented by selling illicit whisky! (Extract from the poem "Southside Memories" by James Strickland c1900) To
wander round by Tibbie's Brig,
Tibbie's Brig (or Garpel Bridge as it was originally known) was built in 1793 to provide a safer means of crossing Garpel Water en route to Muirkirk. The main mode of transport in those days was of course the coach and horse.
The only means of traversing the Garpel was by a ford, which could prove a risky business with the water in full flow. I am sure Coach passengers of the day would welcome the new bridge crossing with open arms (not to mention bruised cheeks!) Tibbie's Brig has long been a favoured beauty spot with Muirkirk folks. It was common for a group of adults to head out to Tibbie's Brig in order to "dam up" the water, so creating a deep pool for swimming in time for the local school's summer holidays. Time
had not been kind to Tibbie's Brig. Since it bore
historic significance like the Sanquhar Brig (P8)
which had been restored in 1993, it was commonly felt
that urgent action should be taken to return it to its
former glory. Here's to the next 200 years! Slainte! Still as popular as ever, it is no longer a necessity to physically "dam-up" the river since, at the time of the brig's reconstruction, a considerable quantity of material was excavated from the river bed, thereby deepening the pool on a permanent basis.
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