John McWilliam junior, was the grandson of James Davitts and was involved in the Gatehouse Brewery from at least 1825, when he was recorded in Pigot's Director; he probably replaced a Mr Archibald. In 1834 he bought additional land around the buildings from Alexander Murray, James Murray's heir. By 1837 he was no longer recorded as a brewer in Pigot's Directory. It is probable that the business was taken on by Andrew Kirk, who was listed in the 1841 census.
Location: Gatehouse of Fleet
Active: 1820s - 1830s
Status: Closed
The Gatehouse Brewery was completed in 1771, and was described as "a large 3-storey brick and rubble building on an L-plan, with a 2-storey dwelling-house at one end". The buildings survive and are now used for a mix of residential and commercial purposes.
Web resources
Gatehouse folk - then and now. Last accessed 17th January 2016.
Books and periodicals
Donnachie, I. Industrial archaeology of Galloway (South-west Scotland, including Wigtown, Kirkcudbright and adjoining parts of Dumfries). Newton Abbot: David & Charles, 1971.
Hume, J. R. The industrial archaeology of Scotland, 1: The Lowlands and Borders. London: B. T. Batsford, 1976.
