The etymology of the name is uncertain. It may be from the Britishtwyn (a bank or hillock) and the Saxonhame meaning home,[4] or be of Scots derivation and mean "between the river banks".[5]
History
The village was founded in the 16th century when two mills were set up on the burn which passes through the village centre. In the 18th century, the first school was built in the village, with the current primary school built in 1911.[3] Twynholm was a parish from medieval times until 1975, including the neighbouring parish of Kirkchrist from 1654.[6]
In 1887, John Bartholomew's Gazetteer of the British Isles described Twynholm like this:
Twynholm, par. and vil., Kirkcudbrightshire - par., 10,484 ac., pop. 681; vil., 3 miles NW. of Kirkcudbright; P.O.
— John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887)[7]
There are a variety of listed buildings in the vicinity including the ruins of the 16th century Cumstoun Castle,[8] and the parish church.[9] The church was constructed in 1818 and was restored and the roof replaced in 1914. In 1963, a church porch was added.[3]
Sara Maitland, born 1950, daughter of Adam Maitland of Cumstoun House. (a descendant of the judge Thomas Maitland, Lord Dundrennan ). She is a British writer of religious fantasy. A novelist, she is also known for her short stories. Her work has a magic realist tendency. [13]
