About Kirkconnel and Kelloholm Development Trust
Kirkconnel and Kelloholm Development Trust (KKDT) was established as a Scottish Incorporated Charitable Organisation (SICO) in June 2015 to lead on the implementation of the Community Action Plan (2014-2019) which has now been updated as a Borderlands Place Plan for 2023-2033. As part of this, KKDT works to support all community organisations in Kirkconnel and Kelloholm with objectives to improve our village, as well as leading our own strategic projects. These projects were developed in accordance with our area’s current socioeconomic needs, aiming to tackle issues that have been identified in our Place Plan as areas of concern. Our staff and Board of Trustees work towards these aims with the collective goal of improving Kirkconnel and Kelloholm.
Our Village’s History
Christianity is embedded in our village’s history as Kirkconnel was given its name from The Church of Saint Conal. St Conal’s Church is one of the oldest church sites in Southern Scotland with archaeological remains dating back to the 9th Century. The Church’s current foundations date back to the 12th and 13th centuries, still housing our village’s rich history.
In the 1890’s, Kirkconnel and Kelloholm’s first coal pit was opened at Fauldheld. Following this, the village of Kelloholm was established to provide settlement for the local miners as the industry grew. Mining remains as a central point of Kirkconnel and Kelloholm’s heritage.