Museums, archives and heritage in Angus

Forfarshire (or Angus), maritime county in E. of Scotland; is bounded N. by the counties of Aberdeen and Kincardine, E. by the North Sea, S. by the Firth of Tay, and W. by the county of Perth; greatest length, 37 miles; greatest breadth, 27 miles; area, 560,087 acres, population 266,360. The surface presents great variety. In the NW. are the Braes of Angus, a group of spurs of the Grampians, intersected by romantic glens; in the SW., 8 miles from and parallel to the Firth of Tay, are the Sidlaw Hills; between the Braes of Angus and the Sidlaw Hills is the fertile valley of Strathmore (Great Valley) or Howe of Angus; from the Sidlaw Hills to the coast on the E. and S. the land is level and highly cultivated. From Dundee to Arbroath the coast consists of sand; from Arbroath to Lunan Bay it is formed of sandstone cliffs, culminating in the Red Head. The chief rivers are the Isla, a tributary of the Tay, and the North Esk and South Esk, which flow SE. to the North Sea. Agriculture has the advantage of the most approved methods, and cattle rearing is carried to great perfection; the polled Angus cattle, however, are now raised chiefly in the county of Aberdeen. Nearly the whole of the NW. of the county is either waste land, or is occupied as sheep-walks or deer-forests. Granite is the prevailing rock in the N. portion of the Grampians, and sandstone in the neighbourhood of the Sidlaw Hills; sandstone flags are quarried in the Carmylie district, and there are limeworks in the neighbourhood of Montrose. The principal industry is the manufacture of linen and jute, Dundee being the chief seat of those trades in Britain. The county contains 51 parishes, and 5 parts, the parliamentary burgh of Dundee, the parliamentary burghs of Montrose, Arbroath, Brechin, and Forfar (part of the Montrose Burghs).

– John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887)

Angus Archives

Hunter Library, Restenneth Priory

Forfar DD8 2SZ

01307 468644

www.angus.gov.uk/history/archives/default.htm

Angus Archives is a vast collection of items covering 800 years of the history of Angus and its people. The archives house and preserve the area’s written, printed and photographic history.

Angus Folk Museum

Kirkwynd

Glamis DD8 1RT

01307 840288

www.nts.org.uk/Property/5

18th century cottages home to important collections, offering an insight into the domestic life of rural workers in Angus. The agricultural centre houses a reconstructed farm steading as part of a ‘life on the land’ exhibition. Museum highlights include a reconstructed farm steading with farmer’s bothy as part of the exhibition, charming exhibitions housed in six 18th century cottages offering vivid insights into rural life in Angus, and a schoolroom, Victorian manse parlour and rural kitchen among the many displays.

Arbroath Signal Tower Museum

Signal Tower Museum, Ladyloan

Arbroath DD11 1PU

01241 435329

www.angus.gov.uk/history/museums/signaltower

Beside Arbroath’s harbour, on the sea front, stands an elegant complex of regency buildings built in 1813. The building formed the shore station for the families of the lighthouse keepers that served on the Bell Rock Lighthouse. Arbroath Signal Tower Museum collects artefacts, photographs and archive material relating to the history of Arbroath and District. The collections are especially representative of the Burgh.

Barry Mill

Barry

Carnoustie DD7 7RJ

0844 493 2140

www.nts.org.uk/Property/Barry-Mill

Barry Mill is a magnificent example of Scotland’s industrial heritage. It is set in a secluded area beside the Barry Burn, with a working mill, ladeside and burnside walks, and guided tours. Exhibition explaining the role of the mill in the rural economy. Milling demonstrations – normally on Sunday afternoons and for pre-booked groups. A working example of a traditional water-powered oatmeal mill.

Brechin Town House Museum

28 High Street

Brechin DD9 6ER

01307 461460

www.brechintownhouse.org.uk

The museum is located within the old Town House in the centre of Brechin. A tollbooth was first mentioned on this site in 1450 but was replaced in 1789-90 by the present building.

Broughty Castle Museum

Castle Approach, Broughty Ferry

Dundee DD5 2TF

01382 436916

www.leisureandculturedundee.com

Broughty Castle is a 15th century fort, housing fascinating displays on the life and times of Broughty Ferry and seashore life. Be intrigued by the armour in the military gallery and the history of the soldiers who were stationed in the building.

Camperdown House

Camperdown Country Park

Dundee DD2 4TF

01382 432084

www.camperdownpark.com

A neo-classical house built in 1828 and designed by the architect William Burn. It was named after the Battle of Camperdown, where Admiral Adam Duncan triumphed over the Dutch fleet in 1797.

Discovery Point & RRS Discovery

Discovery Quay, Riverside Drive

Dundee DD1 4XA

01382 309060

www.rrsdiscovery.com

This is the story of Discovery from her beginnings in Dundee and Captain Scott’s remarkable Antarctic expedition, through her long ocean-going career until her final journey home. Find out about life on board and the essential design features that allowed her to survive the extreme polar conditions.

Dundee City Archives

Archive and Record Centre, Support Services, 21 City Square

Dundee DD1 3BY

01382 434494

www.dundeecity.gov.uk/archive

Dundee City Archives holds the official records of Dundee City Council, of the former City of Dundee District Council, the former Corporation of Dundee and the former Tayside Regional Council. The centre also holds records retransmitted from the National Records of Scotland (NRS), such as kirk session minutes in the Presbytery of Dundee.

Frigate Unicorn

Victoria Dock

Dundee DD1 3JA

01382 200 900

www.frigateunicorn.org

His Majesty’s Frigate Unicorn, of 46 guns, was built for the Royal Navy in the Royal Dockyard at Chatham and launched in 1824. She is now the world’s last intact warship from the days of sail, one of the six oldest ships in the world and Scotland’s only representative of the sailing navy.

Glenesk Folk Museum

The Retreat, Tarfside, Glenesk

Edzell DD9 7TA

01356 648070

www.gleneskretreat.co.uk

The Glenesk Folk Museum at the Retreat was set up in 1955 by Miss Greta Michie, a local farmer’s daughter and school teacher, based on Scandinavian folk museums she had visited in Norway. The Retreat houses an extremely large collection of artefacts, some of which are now on display in the museum.

House of Dun – National Trust Scotland

Montrose DD10 9LQ

01674 810 264

goo.gl/DYhcOA

With so much history behind it, the rich character of the House of Dun is sure to keep you occupied all day. The Dun Estate was home to the Erskine family from 1375 until 1980, but archaeological evidence shows that people have lived here for at least 9,000 years.

J M Barrie’s Birthplace

9 Brechin Road

Kirriemuir DD8 4BX

01575 572646

goo.gl/W73T19

In this two-storeyed house J M Barrie (1860-1937), the creator of Peter Pan, was born. The upper floors are furnished as they may have been when Barrie lived there.

Kirriemuir Gateway to the Glens Museum

The Townhouse, 32 High Street

Kirriemuir DD8 4BX

01575 575479

goo.gl/A4Vx2L

Kirriemuir Gateway to the Glens Museum is situated in Kirriemuir Town House, a building that has been at the heart of Kirriemuir since its construction in 1604.

McManus, The: Dundee’s Art Gallery & Museum

Albert Square, Meadowside

Dundee DD1 1DA

01382 307200

www.leisureandculturedundee.com

The McManus is a magnificent Victorian, Gothic building where art, history and the environment combine to offer a fascinating insight into Dundee.

McManus Collections Unit

Barrack Street

Dundee DD1 1PG

01382 307200

www.leisureandculturedundee.com

From birds to butterflies, coins to costumes and fossils to foreign artefacts, The Collections Unit offers visitors a fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpse of Dundee’s museum collections. Tours of the facility are available on selected dates.

Meffan Museum & Art Gallery

20 West High Street

Forfar DD8 1BB

01307 464123

www.angus.gov.uk/history/museums/meffan

Situated in the heart of Forfar’s historic town centre is ‘The Meffan’ built in 1898 as a bequest from the daughter of Provost Meffan. Originally Forfar’s library and museum, the building is now a lively art gallery and museum.

Mills Observatory

Glamis Road, Balgay Park

Dundee DD2 2UB

01382 435967

www.leisureandculturedundee.com

Britain’s first purpose-built public observatory. Gifted to the people of Dundee in 1935, with a bequest from John Mills, a linen and twine manufacturer and keen amateur scientist.

Collections: Victorian 10’ Cooke refracting telescope (1871), providing breathtaking views of the Moon and Planets. Interesting displays of historic equipment and information of local importance.

Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre

Waldron Road

Montrose DD10 9BB

01674 678222

www.rafmontrose.org.uk

The earliest air station in Britain, established 1913 by the Royal Flying Corps, dating from a period of manned flight when planes were, quite literally, kites. The museum features a fascinating photographic archive and collection of aviation memorabilia, artefacts and vehicles relating to the flying history of Montrose.

Montrose Museum & Art Gallery

Panmure Place

Montrose DD10 8HF

01674 673232

www.angus.gov.uk/history/museums/montrose

Montrose Museum was built in 1842 with funds raised by the Montrose Natural History and Antiquarian Society. One of the oldest purpose-built museums in Scotland, it is an elegant building constructed from pink sandstone which overlooks the historic Mid Links parks.

Collections: Fine local historical collections including Pictish stones, the Baltic trade, whaling, Jacobite material, Marquis of Montrose, Montrose Silver, Lord Gray Agate Collection, local pottery, Stone & Iron Age. William Lamb Studio.

North Carr Lightship

c/o South Victoria Dock Road

Dundee DD1 3BP

01382 542516

www.northcarr-lightship.org

North Carr is the only remaining Scottish lightship. She protected shipping off Fife Ness until 1975 when she was briefly berthed as a tourist attraction in Anstruther Harbour.

Scotland’s Jute Museum @ Verdant Works

West Henderson’s Wynd

Dundee DD1 5BT

01382 309060

www.verdantworks.com

Scotland’s Jute Museum @ Verdant Works weaves the tale of jute with the life and work of old Dundee, from the incredible rise of the industry to its subsequent decline. At Scotland’s Jute Museum @ Verdant Works the rattle and the roar of the orgininal restored machinery transport you back over 100 years to an era when jute was king and Dundee was its realm.

St Vigeans Sculptured Stones

Kirkstyle, St.Vigeans

Arbroath DD11 4RB

01241 878756

goo.gl/ZpKx1w

A fascinating and very important collection of over 30 Pictish carved stones housed in a cottage in the charming village of St Vigeans. In the village of St Vigeans 0.5m N of Arbroath off of the A92.

University of Dundee Museum Services

Hawkhill House, 5-7 Hawkhill Place, University of Dundee

Dundee DD1 4HN

01382 384 310

www.dundee.ac.uk/museum

A fascinating University collection of art, science and nature. A superb collection of Scottish art from 18th century to contemporary work. Scientific instruments, natural history specimens, medical equipment, textiles and design pieces.