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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.