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The roots of the town of Kirriemuir stretch far back in history, and it is a town known all around the world for various reasons. Very little is known about the town in prehistoric times, but a few remnants of those days still exist. One of the town's well known features is a standing stone on The Hill, known as the 'Stannin Stane'. The erection of this stone possibly dates to the Bronze Age, although this will probably never be known for certain. A place in Kirriemuir called Tillyloss, situated just off Brechin Road, gives another tantalising clue about early settlement. 'Tillyloss' probably derived from a much older name of 'tulach-lios'. This is a Gaelic term which means a rounded knoll with an inhabited enclosure, suggesting that maybe around 700 B.C. there were Iron Age roundhouses on this site.
The Roman army certainly courted the area around the modern town, as pieces of Roman road found in Caddam Wood and other near-by sites confirm. However, it was not until 1201 that the name of the town was recorded in writing. At that time Earl Gillechrist, who was the first Earl of Angus, gave the 'chapels, lands, tithes, common pasturage aisements, and all the pertinents belonging to the Church of Kerimor' to Arbroath Abbey. Since 1201 there have been over 30 different spellings of the name, including Keirmure, Killemure and Kerymor.
However, the fact that an Earl of Angus had such a close relationship with Kirriemuir in 1201 suggests that the Earl was the patron of the church at Kirriemuir, and that this connection probably extended back into Pictish times when the equivalent of an Earl was a 'Mormaer'.
Such strong connections suggest that the Church of 'Kerimor', and indeed the immediate area, would have been an important Pictish site. This certainly corresponds with the sheer number of Pictish stones that have been discovered in and around the Old Parish Church, which so far total 18.
The town of Kirriemuir grew up around the church, and the area known as the Roods was probably the first part of the town where conscious town planning occurred in the 12th or 13th centuries.
In 1459 the town was made a Burgh of Barony. This development was associated with the growing power of the House of Douglas who was the Earls of Angus and controlled the barony of Kirriemuir at that time. The rights and privileges of a burgh of barony varied and were different to those of a burgh town. Kirriemuir had no right of foreign trade, but was allowed weekly markets, resident craftsmen, the power to buy and sell, and a market cross. Kirriemuir is the only Burgh of Barony in Angus.
After a royal mandate in 1352, officials from Dundee were allowed to protect their trading interests by going to Kirriemuir to publicly forbid trading
in the town and seize the goods of offenders. This indicates that already the town was increasing its manufacturing output. The town's textile industry has been a crucial source of employment in the town for centuries. Handloom weaving in cottages gave way to textile factories in the 19th century when Stewart and Ogilvy's Gairie Linen Works, and Wilkie's Kirriemuir Linen Works became the town's main employers.
Kirriemuir's proximity to the Glens and drove roads also ensured that agriculture played an important part in the town's development. Markets, allowed by the town's Burgh of Barony status, swelled the town's population. The influence of farming continues to the present day, although the potato fields and berry fields that were found in the Northmuir area were replaced by housing during the last few decades of the 20th century.
Kirriemuir's title of 'Gateway to the Glens' is very accurate. The beautiful Glens of Isla, Prosen, and Clova can be reached easily from the town, and links between the town and Glens are still strong.
Kirriemuir has produced many people and musical connections of note throughout its history which have contributed to the overall social and economic development of the town.
Perhaps the best known Kirriemarian is the writer and creator of Peter Pan, Sir J.M.Barrie. Also born in Kirriemuir is an equally famous person in the world of rock music, namely Bon Scott. He was the lead singer of rock group AC/DC from 1974 until his untimely death in 1980.
Songs listened to and performed all over the world have their roots in Kirriemuir, and draw people to the town. The Ball of Kirriemuir is infamous, and its story is known far and wide. The original ballad was possibly based on an earlier 18th century song, but it has been changed so much since it was first sung that its Scots language has been very diluted. The Scottish dance tune Caddam Wood also brings fame to the town. Every year the Kirriemuir Folk Festival attracts people and continues to provide Kirriemuir with a strong connection to traditional music.
Perhaps the most curious link is with Hawaii. Three brothers from Kirriemuir emigrated to Hawaii in the late 1870s, and started a trend. Many of those who followed the brothers from Kirriemuir to Hawaii found employment on sugar plantations. The number of emigrants was so significant that twenty-five percent of Hawaiians of Scottish descent have forbears from the area in and around Kirriemuir.
From prehistoric times to the present day Kirriemuir has produced a great deal of fascinating architectural, social and economic history. The heritage that has survived to the present day must be preserved so that local people and visitors of the future can continue to appreciate the uniqueness of the town.
© Angus Council 1998 - 2007