Skip Navigation

Local history highlights in Angus & Dundee

  The Roots Festival delegates were welcomed to Arbroath Abbey by some famous historical figures, including Robert The Bruce and his noblemen

Each parish has played a part in key moments of Scottish history, and some may provide fascinating material for family history research.

 

Ancient place names,  old ways of land-management, conserved architectural features and local family names preserved in historic sites, museums, castles and visitor attractions can all help you to find out more about your own ancestors.

 

  

Forfar & Area

 

Visit the beautiful 12th Century ruins of Restenneth Priory & discover  Angus Archives - 800 years of historic records of Angus

 

  • The Meffan Museum and Art Gallery  'The Forfar Story' presents an evocation of Forfar in times past - shoemakers, clock makers & 17th Century witchhunt
  • Glamis Castle
  • Glamis Castle - Royal Residence from 1372, legendary setting for Shakespeare's 'Scottish Play' & childhood home of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
  • Angus Folk Museum, Glamis - see how country folk lived and worked. Re-created kitchen, parlour, laundry , schoolroom, typical bothy, smiddy and byre in beautiful setting of conservation village.

See Newtyle Graveyard - for documented grave inscriptions

Scotland's largest doocot (or dovecote)

 

 

Visit Letham, George Dempster 's planned village, twinned with Monasterboice in Ireland - and nearby reputed site of the Battle of Dunnichen


Find the site of ancient Forfar Castle, seat of King Malcolm Canmore & St Margaret, which was destroyed in 1306 by Robert the Bruce.

 

 

Kirriemuir & Area

 

Kirriemuir Square Gateway to the Glens Museum Kirriemuir - 400 year old townhouse with display interpreting the history of Kirriemuir and the Glens

  • Barrie's Birthplace  - the weaver's cottage which was the earliest home of J M Barrie, author and playwright and creator of Peter Pan - with the original "Wendy House"
  • Camera Obscura - one of 3 in Scotland gifted by J M Barrie

 

Starry Rock shop Kirriemuir - local makers of the famous boiled sugar confectionery, which is sold in small bundles of pencil-sized sticks. Find them at 27-29 Roods, Kirriemuir

 

Arbroath & Area

  Meet the re-enactors at Arbroath Abbey

Carmyllie - birthplace of James Bowman Lindsay, inventor of the "lightbulb" in 1837  some 40 years before Edison

  • Patrick Bell inventor of reaping machine is buried at Carmyllie.
  • Arbroath Abbey - founded by William the Lion in 1178. The Declaration of Arbroath was issued from here on April 6th 1320 and may have become the model for American Declaration of Independence
  • St Vigeans Museum - a unique collection of carved Pictish stones, a legacy from the inhabitants of Angus in the first millennium AD
  • The Arbroath Smokie  and the fishing heritage of Auchmithie and Arbroath
  •  The Bell Rock Lighthouse & Signal Tower Museum - the museum tells the story of Arbroath and the lighthouse, in the setting of the original shore base for keepers
  • Hospitalfield House -  one of the finest country houses in Scotland, and home to a vibrant programme of artists' residencies and exhibitions

 

 

Brechin & Area

 

Brechin Cathedral & Round Tower Brechin Round Tower -  delightful small cathedral and 12th Century round tower (one of only two such towers in Scotland) 

  • Brechin Castle  - home of Earls of Dalhousie, where John Balliol surrendered the Scottish Crown to Edward 1 of England (either at Brechin Castle or Stracathro graveyard)
  • Maison Dieu Chapel, Brechin - ruinous remains of a chapel, belonging to a medieval hospital founded in the 1260s
  • Edzell Castle(ruin) Late 15th or early 16th Century with 17th Century walled garden and inset sculpture - used by Oliver Cromwell as a garrison
  • Pictavia Visitor Centre- find out more about your Pictish ancestors at this purpose built interpretive Pictish Centre
  • Brechin Town House Museum -  presents the history of Brechin, re-opening after major renovation in Spring 2010 
  • Pictish carved stone, Aberlemno Aberlemno Carved Pictish Stones  - Aberlemno Church & Stones. Among the top 10 dark - age monuments in Europe. Covered October - May to protect them, replicas can be seen at Pictavia, which is open winter weekends
  • The Davidsons (of Harley Davidson Motorcycle) - Netherton of Melgund near Aberlemno is their ancestral home
  • The Caledonian Railway - volunteer run heritage railway, on four miles of track between Brechin and Bridge of Dun, with the only surviving Victorian  railway terminus  in Scotland. Easter events, summer weekend trains, and Christmas specials.
  • The Retreat, Glenesk - the history and genealogy of Glens folk in a superb archive resource with good access, cafe facilities, and situated in a beautiful glen

 

 

Montrose & Area

 

Montrose Air Station Romney Hut and Sopwith Camel replica Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre - the first operational airstation  in Britain, established by the Royal Flying Corps in 1913 and a key centre for air training in two World Wars

  • The House of Dun - a particularly lovely example of a Georgian Scottish country house with superb restored plasterwork, built by William Adam 1730, looked after by NTS 
  • Montrose Basin Wildlife Centre - purpose built wildlife activity centre with viewing gallery, feeding stations, pond, and panoramic views over the beautiful Montrose estuary to the Angus Glens
  • William Lamb Studio - The studio was given to the town on the death of the sculptor, at his specific request, and is home to a unique collection of his work

 

Monifieth & Area

 

St Rule's Church & Graveyard has been a place of worship for Christians for well over 1400 years. St Rule reputedly brought the relics of the martyred St Andrew to Scotland from Patras in Greece.

  • Various Souterrains or Earth houses including Ardestie Earth House, dating from the Iron Age, are situated within the Monifieth district
  • Monifieth House of Memories -  visitor centre with Monifieth History Society's collection of photos and memorabilia

 

Barry Mill, courtesy of the National Trust For ScotlandCarnoustie & Area

 

  • Barry Mill -  - fully restored working oatmeal mill and visitor centre owned by National Trust for Scotland on a site where there has been a mill since 1539

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dundee & Area

Discovery display

 

 

RSS Discovery Tour-  Captain Scott's polar exploration ship at Discovery Point. This historic vessel was built in Dundee, and returned to the city in 1886 as the centrepiece of a super visitor attraction

 

The Verdant Works, Dundee - fascinating museum about the jute industry and its relationship with the people of Dundee

 

 

  

Sunset, Frigate Unicorn, Dundee

Frigate Unicorn - historic ship launched in 1824, this classic sailing frigate was a fast and powerful warship, and was one of the most successful and charismatic ship designs of the age

 

The Howff graveyard, Dundee - historic graveyard, and important resource for anyone with Dundee ancestors

 

McManus Galleries, Dundee - due to re-open in 2010 after a major refurbishment, watch for the re-opening date and make sure you include this superb gallery and museum in your visiting plans.

Dundee University Museums The University has Museum Collections comprising a range of material preserved during the 125 years of the institution's existence.

 

Broughty Castle, Dundee - was built in 1496 on a rocky promontory overlooking the mouth of the Tay, and houses fascinating displays on the life and times of Broughty Ferry, its people, and the natural environment.