The town of Dumfries is the largest settlement in south-western Scotland and resides on the crossing of the River Nith in the county of Dumfrie-shire. Dumfries has been established since before the invasion of Rome in 1st century AD and became a town under the early period of Scottish rule dated 1180. In the 1800s Dumfries was best known as a port town and market for surrounding areas. In the early 19th century Dumfires, like many other towns, was dirty and unsanitary resulting in a cholera outbreak in 1832. In the later half of the century the town began to take reforms to improve the sanitation and living quality. The Greyfriars church was built in 1868 and continues today.
“Reached Dumfries at about nine o’clock—market-day; met crowds of people on the road, and every one had a smile for us and our car…”(Wordsworth).