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Montrose, Angus
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Montrose is a coastal resort town and former royal burgh in Angus, Scotland. It is situated 38 miles (61 km) north east of Dundee between the mouths of the North and South Esk rivers. It is the northernmost coastal town in Angus and developed at a natural harbour that traded in skins, hides and cured salmon in medieval times.
With a population of approximately 12,000, the town functions as a port, but the major employer is GlaxoSmithKline, recently saved from closure.
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Encyclopedia
Montrose is a coastal resort town and former royal burgh in Angus, Scotland. It is situated 38 miles (61 km) north east of Dundee between the mouths of the North and South Esk rivers. It is the northernmost coastal town in Angus and developed at a natural harbour that traded in skins, hides and cured salmon in medieval times.
With a population of approximately 12,000, the town functions as a port, but the major employer is GlaxoSmithKline, recently saved from closure. The skyline of Montrose is dominated by the 220 foot steeple, designed by James Gillespie Graham and built between 1832 and 1834.
Montrose is a town with a wealth of architecture, and is a centre for international trade. It is an important commercial port for the thriving oil and gas industry. The town itself boasts the widest high street in Scotland.
This has picturesque closes leading to secluded gardens. The town has a view of a two-mile tidal lagoon, Montrose Basin, which is considered a nature reserve of international importance. It is also the largest inland salt water basin in the UK, and an important habitat for the mute swan. Just outside Montrose is the 18th Century House of Dun, designed by the Scottish architect William Adam (architect) and built in 1730 for David Erskine, 13th Laird of Dun.
History
Prehistoric elements are found in the vicinity of Montrose, including the Stone of Morphie located to the north.
Early place names appear to show the presence of a Norse settlement in the area of the present harbour. The Norse settlement was named Stroma which translates as 'Tide race river', referring to the speed of the tidal emptying and filling of the aforementioned basin, (est 9 Knots). The name Montrose probably stems from 'Mouth Hrossay' due to the location at the outlets of the River Esk near Rossie Island (Norse: horse island). However, the first documentary evidence of the existence of Montrose is the burgh charter issued by David I...Later Munross.
During the Wars of Independence against Edward I, in 1296 the English monarch visited the town with 30,000 of his men and stayed at Montrose castle for five days during which time he humiliated Scottish King John de Balliol (John of Scotland) by publicly stripping him of his Royal insignia and status in a ceremony which later earned him the nickname "Toom (empty) Tabard.". The following year the castle, which was manned by an English garrison, was destroyed in the year 1297 by Scottish hero William Wallace.
In the 17th Century the site of the castle, now known as Castlestead, was also the birthplace of the famous James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose. Graham signed the National Covenant against Charles I's reorganisation of the Kirk in Scotland, fighting in the ensuing Bishops' Wars, but later switched to the King's side only to be captured and executed in Edinburgh in the year 1650.
It is said that Sir James Douglas embarked from here for Jerusalem with the heart of King Robert the Bruce.
The final chapter of the ill-fated 1715 Jacobite rebellion was also played out in Montrose After the short lived uprising on 4th February 1716 Prince James Francis Edward Stuart (the Old Pretender) arrived in Montrose, where he spent his last night in Scotland. He sailed from Montrose to his final exile in France. The town was held for his son, Prince Charles Edward Stuart, 30 years later and in February 1746 the largest naval battle of the war was fought in Montrose Harbour.
At one time it traded regularly with the towns of the Hanseatic League and was, during the 18th century, a major smuggling centre.
During World War II Montrose became a hub for a constant stream of international pilots from all over the Commonwealth, Poland, Czechoslovakia, America, Russia, France and other allied nations.
As well as a training base Montrose was also an operational airfield for Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire squadrons, which flew sorties over Norway and were a part of the air defences for Edinburgh.
Of course, this also made the town a target for German aircraft and it was bombed on more than one occasion.
Culture
Montrose is regarded as the culture and sculpture capital of Angus, with over 20 statues of note scattered around the town. The statues are a mix of contemporary and classical works, with many from the noted local sculptor, William Lamb (artist) ARSA. Lamb was born in Montrose in 1893 and was an artist of exceptional talent.
In Montrose from the 1920s to 1940s, local architect George Fairweather’s studio provided a forum for lively debate by an artistic community that included Hugh MacDiarmid, Edwin Muir, William Lamb (artist), Helen Cruickshank and Fionn MacColla.
The local weekly newspaper, the Montrose Review, was edited by Hugh MacDiarmid.
Sport
Montrose also has the 5th oldest golf course in the world, the Montrose Medal, dating from 1562. It is also a qualifying course for The Open Championship. Past events hosted on the Montrose Links include:
- Scottish Professional Championship, 1909, 1967, 1970
- Scottish Amateur Championship, 1905, 1913, 1919, 1926 and 1925
- British Boys Championship, 1991; Scottish Universities Championship
- Final Qualifying for The Open, 1999 and 2007.
Montrose F.C. are members of the Scottish Football League and currently play in the Third Division. Montrose Roselea F.C.are a Scottish junior football, Formed in 1930 and nicknamed "the Lea", they play their home games at Broomfield Park. Montrose also has a cricket club, Rugby union club and several bowls clubs.
The first Sunday of every August Montrose hosts a Highland Games.
Notable connections
- Edward Baird was born in Montrose in 1904 and studied at Glasgow School of Art from 1924 to 1927. Baird returned to Montrose after graduating and lived there for the rest of his life, painting local subjects and keeping a low profile. Often described as a Scottish Surrealist, Baird is equally known for his association with the Scottish Renaissance movement. His artistic output was relatively small, due to his perfectionism, time-intensive manner of working and his early death at the age of forty-five.
- Robert Brown (botanist), is acknowledged as the leading British botanist to collect in Australia during the first half of the 19th century.
- Captain Sir Alexander Burnes, Explorer.
- George Paul Chalmers, Artist - The Angus Rembrandt.
- Helen Cruickshank, the Scottish poet, grew up in this area.
- Malcolm Duncan (musician), Sax player with the Average White Band
- Joseph Hume, Scottish doctor and politician was born in Montrose in 1777.
- Violet Jacob (1863 - 1946) was a Scottish writer, now known especially for her historical novel Flemington and her poetry.
- Hugh MacDiarmid, was once editor of the local newspaper.
- John McGovern (footballer), Nottingham Forest European Cup winning captain.
- Andrew Melville, Radical Presbyterian who ensured the completion of Knox's Reformation in Scotland.
- James Morrison (artist) RSA, RSW, Artist
- Willa Muir, the most important translator of the twentieth century, was born Wilhelmina Anderson in Montrose. Assisted by her husband, the poet Edwin Muir, she translated many novels from German, including those of Kafka.
- Robert Peel, notable for starting the police force originally called 'peelers'.
- Carmen Reid, novelist was born in Montrose and grew up in the surrounding countryside.
- Gordon Smith (footballer born 1924), footballer.
- Betsy Whyte, remembered for her autobiography The Yellow on the Broom settled in Montrose and was a popular traditional storyteller at folk festivals.
- George Wishart, Lutheran Reformer and Martyr.
Education
The town has a number of Primary Schools (Lochside, Borrowfield, St Margrets, Ferryden, Rosemount and Southesk) and one secondary school, Montrose Academy.
Montrose Academy is a secondary school in Angus, Scotland established in 1815. It has a school roll of around 1000 students, with a staff roll of 100. Most of its pupils come from the associated Primary Schools of Borrowfield, Ferryden, Lochside, Rosemount, Southesk and St Margaret’s.
The Academy's most famous feature is the gold dome on top of the original building. Originally the dome was copper, but was covered in gold leaf as a war memorial, paid for by Miss Blanche Mearns to commemorate her brother who had died in World War II. The dome, which is locked off has been said to be haunted by many ghosts. However there are no reports of anything paranormal happening in the area. It features on the school's badge, a gold dome on the maroon blazer. The school tie is broad stripes of maroon and gold. The school has two war memorials, located on the east exterior wall of the Assembly Hall, bearing the names of former pupils who died in both world wars.
Montrose Music Festival
Montrose Music Festival is a non-profit, volunteer organisation, dedicated to promoting free live music of all styles and genres, and at all levels, in Montrose and surrounding areas.
The first Montrose Music Festival took place over the weekend of Friday 31st May - Sunday 1st June 2008 and was an overwhelming success, bringing thousands of visitors and an estimated £500,000 boost to the local economy. The main attraction of the inaugural festival was the Friday night opening concert by the legendary Average White Band, regarded by many as the perfect band to open the first festival because of Montrose's connection with original AWB saxophonist's Malcolm Duncan (musician).
During the Saturday and Sunday, the music moved into the pubs and hotels with over 60 free entry gigs over the two days, with acts of varying genres entertaining thousands of music fans. Amongst these acts were: Highly respected harmonica player Fraser Speirs, Award winning Scottish folk band Malinky and upcoming Oxford based alt-rock band Lights Action.
The efforts of the committee were recognised in December 2008 when the Angus Ambassador Awards presented the festival with the Pride of Angus Award at the ceremony at the Carnoustie Golf Hotel.
Aiming to build on the success of the first festival, the organisers upped the ante by booking another legendary Scottish band, Deacon Blue to headline the 2009 festival. Demand for the opening concert was so high that the tickets were sold out within 20 minutes. The 2009 festival will take place over the weekend of Friday 29th – Sunday 31st May.
Montrose Music Festival has become a nationally recognised, and much anticipated, annual event.
Bamse
Bamse is Montrose's very own war hero and is buried in the town. The St Bernard dog from Norway stole the hearts of all who knew him, especially children. When he died in July 1944, Montrose schools were closed and 800 children lined the route to his graveside funeral.
Bamse (meaning bear) arrived in Montrose on the minesweeper Thorodd during World War ll with Captain Erling Hafto, his owner, who registered him as a crew member.
In Montrose, the stories of his exploits are numerous and legendary. He saved the life of Lieutenant Commander Olav Nilsen at Dundee Docks and generally looked after his fellow sailors. If anyone started a fight with one of his crew, Bamse got up on his hind legs and at over six foot tall, clamped his great paws on the assailant to end any fight.
The Bamse Project raised £50,000 to erect a larger than life-size bronze statue of Bamse at Montrose Harbour. Half the donations came from Norway.
The statue was created by internationally known sculptor Alan Herriot, and was unveiled by Prince Andrew in October 2007 in front of hundreds of spectators.
Montrose Basin
The Montrose Basin is a shallow estuary approximately three kilometres in diameter.
The Scottish Wildlife Trust operates a modern, purpose-built wildlife centre at Rossie Braes, which offers good telescopic and televisual views of the area, and of the thousands of migratory birds which pass through the area in all seasons.
In Winter, 20000 pink-foot geese take up residence on the mudflats, feeding in the nearby fields by day, and returning to the safety of the Basin in the evening. The haunting fluting of their calls are beloved of local people, for whom the sound marks the turning of the seasons. The many feeders attract brightly coloured field and garden birds, and the occasional woodpecker.
In Summer, one might see the osprey which hunts along the length of the Basin, or a kingfisher flitting past. The artificial sand-martin bank is a hive of activity all Spring and early Summer. One can watch the blue tits and swallows inside their nests, and take in the panoramic vista of the rolling Angus countryside and hills.
See also
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