Montrose, Angus

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Montrose
Mon Rois (Scottish Gaelic)
Montrose, Munross (Scots)
Town and former Royal burgh
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View of Montrose from Ferryden
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Etymology: The moor by the wood
(from Scottish Gaelic)
Motto(s): 
Mare ditat, rosa decorat(Latin)
The sea enriches, the rose adorns
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Location within Angus
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Montrose
Location within Scotland
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Montrose
Location within Europe
Coordinates: 56°42′29″N2°28′01″W / 56.708°N 2.467°W / 56.708; -2.467
Sovereign State Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Country Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
Local authority Flag of Angus.png  Angus
Lieutenancy area Angus
First settled Neolithic period
Royal Charter 1140
Royal burgh abolished1975
Government
   Councillors
List
  •   Iain Gall (CON)
  •   Kenny Braes (SNP)
  •   Bill Duff (SNP)
  •   Tommy Stewart (IND)
   MSPs
List
   MPs
List
Population
 (2022) [1]
  Town11,730
  Language(s)
English
Scots
Demonym(s) Montrosian
Gable Ender
Postcode
Area code 01674
OS Grid Reference NO715575

Montrose ( /mʌnˈtrz/ mun-TROHZ; Scottish Gaelic : Mon Rois [mɔnˈrˠɔʃ] ) is a town and former royal burgh in Angus, Scotland. Situated 28 miles (45 kilometres) north of Dundee and 37 miles (60 kilometres) south of Aberdeen, Montrose lies between the mouths of the North and South Esk rivers. It is the northernmost coastal town in Angus and developed as a natural harbour that traded in skins, hides, and cured salmon in medieval times.

Contents

With a population of approximately 12,000, the town functions as a port, but the major employer is GlaxoSmithKline, which was saved from closure in 2006. [2] The skyline of Montrose is dominated by the 220-foot (67 m) steeple of Old and St Andrew's Church, 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 oil and gas industry. It is known for its wide thoroughfare and high street, [3] which leads to picturesque closes containing secluded gardens. The town has a view of a tidal lagoon, Montrose Basin, which is considered a nature reserve of international importance. It is 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 and built in 1730 for David Erskine, Lord Dun, 13th Laird of Dun.

History

Toponymy and early history

Prehistoric elements are found in the vicinity of Montrose, including the Stone of Morphie located to the north. [4] One ancient name for Montrose was Celurca. [5] The place-name is formed from the Scottish Gaelic Moine (meaning moor or peat moss) and Ros (meaning peninsula or promontory), perhaps ultimately of Pictish origin. The first documentary evidence of the existence of Montrose is the burgh charter issued by David I who founded the town around 1140 as Sallorch or Sallork. [6] By 1178 the name had taken the form Munross before becoming Montrose. [7] Folk etymology attributes the origin of the town's name as "Mount of Roses". This is reflected by the motto on the town's seal: Mare ditat, rosa decorat. [8] (English: The sea enriches, the rose adorns)

Medieval history

Montrose was visited and plundered in numerous instances by Danes. In the year 980 it was sacked and razed to the ground. [9] It was once believed that a castle existed in Montrose in the 10th century and was destroyed by Kenneth III. However the historicity of this account has been disputed. [10]

In the two proceeding centuries there are no precise dates in its history. During the 1140s it was an important trading town. The trading revenues received from Montrose as well as Forfar and Dundee were acquired by Malcolm IV and contributed to Restenneth Priory. [10] In 1178 William the Lion built a castle nearby in which he would occasionally reside. The ruins have acquired the name Red Castle. The last record of a charter there was in 1198. [11] A convent dedicated to the Virgin Mary is said to have been founded in 1230 by Alan Durward but the precise location is unknown. [10] In 1244 the town succumbed to fire. [11]

In July 1296 [12] during the Wars of Independence, Edward I visited the town with 30,000 of his men and stayed at Munros castle for three nights. Some accounts state that it was there that he humiliated Scottish King John de Balliol by publicly stripping him of his royal insignia and status; other accounts claim that this occurred in Brechin. [10] Twelve burgesses of the town swore allegiance to Edward I [11] to protect themselves and the community of the town. [10] The following year the castle, which was manned by an English garrison, was destroyed by William Wallace who is said to have slain all soldiers in sight. [11] The site of the castle, known as Castlestead, is at the southern end of the High Street. David II visited it towards the end of his reign in 1371. [10] The Dukedom of Montrose was created in 1488.

During the 15th century, the inhabitants of the town found themselves increasingly under heel of the Lairds of Dun who ransacked and took possession of property and cattle. The lairds are said to have arrived in the middle of one night on horseback heavily armed. The burghesses of the town immediately sent out an appeal to the Duke of Montrose for protection but the messenger was purportedly murdered before the appeal arrived. It was then that James IV of Scotland intervened and settled the matter. [11]

Modern history

Montrose and the steeple Montrose and The Steeple - geograph.org.uk - 487549.jpg
Montrose and the steeple

From its early inception as a port Montrose had traded in skins, hides and cured salmon but in the 17th century began to export wheat and barley in regular trading transactions with the Hanseatic League. The town imported flax and timber from the Baltic; salt, fruit and wine from France and Portugal. [6] The wealth this brought to the town is demonstrated in the surviving houses built by landowning and merchant families as well as local street names of "America Street", "California Street", "Baltic Street" and "India Street" evidencing its trading heritage.

The site of the castle, now known as Castlestead was 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.

Between 1677 and the summer of 1678 a dyke which was begun across the Montrose Basin, designed to drain and reclaim the northern half, by Dronner, a Dutch engineer. [13] [14] It was destroyed shortly after in a storm. One of the most vocal objectors to the scheme was the elderly Meggie Cowie, who was said to have made blasphemous comments to those who were involved. She was tried, found guilty of witchcraft, and was burnt at the stake on 14 January 1679. [15] [16] [17]

Park in Montrose A Park at Montrose - geograph.org.uk - 1311715.jpg
Park in Montrose

The final chapter of the ill-fated 1715 Jacobite rebellion was also played out in Montrose. Towards the end of the uprising (which had lasted nearly six months, from September 1715 to February 1716) James Francis Edward Stuart (the Old Pretender; formerly James, Prince of Wales) arrived in Montrose, where he spent his last night in Scotland, on 4 February 1716. He sailed from Montrose to exile in France. The town was held for his son, Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie; the Young Pretender), 30 years later and in February 1746 the largest naval battle of the war was fought in Montrose Harbour.

During the 18th century the town was a major smuggling centre. It profited from the slave trade but only for a brief time. The wealth accrued by trade was substantial. Wealthy merchants in the 18th and 19th centuries dominated the town and built their houses gable to gable. Hence Montrosians have inherited the sobriquet, "gable-enders". [18] A statistical account taken between 1791 and 1799 estimates the population in the 1750s as 4248; in 1776 as 4465; in 1784 as 4866 and in 1790 as 5194. Contemporaries expected that many would emigrate at the conclusion of the American Revolutionary War but those that did leave were few. [19]

Montrose Town House Montrose Guild Hall (geograph 3744419).jpg
Montrose Town House

Samuel Johnson made a tour of the town on his visit to Scotland in the 1770s. He said of it:

"...we travelled on to Montrose, which we surveyed in the morning and found it well-built, airy, and clean. The town house is a handsome fabrick with a portico. We then went to view the English chapel, and found it a small church, clean to a degree unknown in any other part of Scotland, with commodious galleries, and what was yet less expected, with an organ.". [20]

View of the town in 1838 Montrose Gazeteer of Scotland.jpg
View of the town in 1838
Montrose by Sir George Reid, 1888 Montrose - Sir George Reid - ABDAG003946.jpg
Montrose by Sir George Reid, 1888
Montrose High Street during the 1870s HighStreetMontrose 1870s.jpg
Montrose High Street during the 1870s

Alexander Christie (c. 1721–1794) was provost in the town during the 1760s and 1780s and oversaw the establishment of Scotland's first lunatic asylum in Montrose in 1781 [21] which eventually became known as Sunnyside Royal Hospital. The asylum, initially called Montrose Lunatic Asylum, Infirmary and Dispensary was founded by Susan Carnegie of Charleton to treat both paupers and private patients and was originally situated on Montrose Links. It was granted a royal charter in 1810. In 1858 it moved to Sunnyside farm at the nearby village of Hillside. Its facilities were expanded several in the next few decades and it underwent various changes in name, finally becoming Sunnyside Royal Hospital in 1962. Sunnyside remained in use for the treatment of people with mental illnesses until its final closure in 2011 when many of its patients and functions moved to the Susan Carnegie Centre at Stracathro Hospital. [22]

In 1785 a subscription library for learned men was formed. [23]

Before World War I the Royal Flying Corps established a base at Montrose (later RAF Montrose). On 26 February 1913, it became the first operational military aerodrome to be established in the United Kingdom. [24]

Between the wars, Montrose was a focus for key figures of the Scottish Renaissance. [25] In 1920, a young Christopher Murray Grieve (later Hugh MacDiarmid) was employed as a reporter on the Montrose Review . By 1922 he had been elected as an Independent Labour Party councillor. The poet and novelist Violet Jacob was brought up at the nearby House of Dun and spent time in Angus during the 'twenties. The sculptor William Lamb was born in Montrose and returned to the town in 1924.

Another native of Montrose, the writer Tom MacDonald (Fionn MacColla) returned to Montrose in 1929, as did his friend the painter Edward Baird. Willa and Edwin Muir lived at her mother's house in Montrose at various times during the 1920s. The poet Helen Cruickshank attended Montrose Academy, though she had moved to Edinburgh by the 1920s. She was a key figure in maintaining the network of contacts between writers and artists of Scotland's inter-war cultural renaissance. [26]

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 RAF 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. Despite its coastal location presenting a danger however, large numbers of children and young mothers from Dundee were evacuated there during the period of the Phoney War. Initially numbers totalled around 2,000 but in a second wave around 1,200 more were sent. [27] As was the case in many other receiving areas, the local population was concerned by the condition of the urban poor and impetigo and vermin were found on some of those evacuated. By June 1940 Montrose could no longer provide shelter. [27]

Montrose was a royal burgh until 1975. [28]

Bamse

Statue of Bamse at Montrose Harbour Bamse - geograph.org.uk - 1721496.jpg
Statue of Bamse at Montrose Harbour
Montrose high street, circa 1980 Montrose - High Street.jpg
Montrose high street, circa 1980

Bamse (meaning 'teddybear' in Norwegian), a St Bernard dog famed for his exploits and popular in local imagination, is buried in the town. Bamse the Norwegian Sea Dog arrived in Montrose on the Royal Norwegian Navy minesweeper Thorodd during World War II with Captain Erling Hafto, his owner, who registered him as a crew member. He saved the life of Lieutenant Commander Olav Nilsen at Dundee Docks and generally protected his fellow sailors. In stories Bamse is said to have got up on his hind legs and, at over 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, clamped his great paws on assailants to end any fight. On his death in July 1944 Montrose schools were closed and 800 children lined the route to his graveside funeral.

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 The Duke of York in October 2007.

Governance

The footpath to the high street is known as the Kirky Steps. Footpath to St. Andrews, Montrose - geograph.org.uk - 1060662.jpg
The footpath to the high street is known as the Kirky Steps.

Montrose is represented within Angus Council by the Montrose & District Ward, from which four councillors are elected. The members elected from this ward are, as of 2022: Bill Duff (Scottish National Party), Tommy Stewart (Independent), Kenny Braes (Scottish National Party) and Iain Gall (Conservative). [29]

The town is part of the Angus and Perthshire Glens constituency of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which returns a Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons, at Westminster. The constituency's MP is Dave Doogan of the SNP who has been the MP since 2019.

Montrose is also part of the Angus North and Mearns constituency of the Scottish Parliament that elects a single MSP and also part of the North East Scotland electoral region which elects seven additional Members of the Scottish Parliament. The constituency's MSP is currently Mairi Gougeon of the Scottish National Party who was first elected in 2016 as Mairi Evans.

Geography and natural features

The Bridge of Dun near Montrose is surrounded by scenic greenery and secluded spots. Bridge of Dun from the riverbank - geograph.org.uk - 959361.jpg
The Bridge of Dun near Montrose is surrounded by scenic greenery and secluded spots.
View towards Montrose from Ferryden View of a northbound train passing over Rossie Island Viaduct, Montrose - geograph.org.uk - 1211158.jpg
View towards Montrose from Ferryden

Montrose occupies a position on the North Bank of Montrose Basin at the mouth of the River South Esk on the East Coast of Scotland, 11 miles (18 km) NNE of Arbroath, [30] 19 miles (31 km) SW of Stonehaven, [30] and 7.2 miles (12 km) ESE of Brechin. [30] The town lies 62.2 miles (100 km) NNE of Edinburgh, [31] and 373.2 miles (601 km) NNW of London. [32] The built-up area occupies a roughly rectangular shape 2 miles (3 km) long by 0.75 miles (1 km) wide, aligned in a north–south orientation. The land is relatively flat, rising gradually to around 15m elevation to the North of the town. [30]

The expanse of the town extends to the villages on its fringes; Hillside and Ferryden. It lies close to the hamlets of Lunan and St Cyrus. The rural location ensures that the air quality is good, with low levels of nitrogen dioxide and PM10. [33]

Montrose Basin

Montrose Basin Montrose Basin.jpg
Montrose Basin

The Montrose Basin is a shallow estuary approximately three miles in diameter. [34] It is situated where the River South Esk meets the North Sea. During the 16th century, local landowners desiring more arable land considered reducing its size, but their plans were never carried out. [35]

In 1981 the Montrose Basin Nature Reserve was created. [36] 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 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 barn swallows inside their nests, and take in the panoramic vista of the rolling Angus countryside and hills.

In October and November there are 38,000 birds using the basin. [36] In winter, 20,000 pink-footed 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 is 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 recent years research published by Scottish Natural Heritage claimed that the population of greylag geese has fallen as a result of climate change. [37]

Montrose Beach

Montrose Beach Montrosebeach.jpg
Montrose Beach
Dunes at Kinnaber, Montrose Dunes at Kinnaber nr Montrose - geograph.org.uk - 117135.jpg
Dunes at Kinnaber, Montrose

The 3-mile-long (4.8 km) sandy beach has been awarded a Blue Flag for its eco credentials. [38] The surrounding Traill Pavilion and Seafront Splash! facilities with an arcade, a playground, a café and an ice-cream stall is popular amongst locals and visitors alike. North of the town the River North Esk enters the North Sea across the beach.

The historically observed average rates of erosion of the beach is between 2.8–7.0 metres (9–23 ft) per year, which has been linked to climate change. [39]

The Save our Sands Campaign (SOS) was set up on 26 March 2009 [40] to raise awareness amidst concerns over the erosion of Montrose beach, caused by the "one million tonnes of sand, swept by the tide into the harbour...removed from the local area over the past 25 years". [41] In 2006 150,000 tonnes was shipped to Aberdeen to fortify its dwindling beach. This was met with opposition from Montrose Golf Links who believed that the golf course built on top of the dunes, as one of the oldest in the world, should be protected. [42] The sand dunes are becoming unstable due to increasing tides which has forced the Montrose Golf Links to consider moving elements of the golf course more inland. A major scheme of engineered coastal protection was discouraged by Scottish Natural Heritage on the grounds that it would be unsustainable and could impact a protected coastal site at St Cyrus. [43]

A film made by local broadcaster Anthony Baxter in January 2009 highlighted the issue and was designed to attract attention for urgent action and put pressure on local politicians. The group are concerned that Angus Council are not acting efficiently to halt the effects of erosion and believe a full study should be carried out. The film won the best short film category in the BFFS Community Cinema Festival in 2009. Since 2009 a team from the University of Dundee has begun assessing the coastline around Montrose in a two-year study to decide the best way of managing coastal erosion. [41] The film titled "SOS Montrose Dredging" has been posted on YouTube in 2009. [44]

In November 2023, during Storm Babet, the beach eroded by three metres, leading to the promenade walkway collapsing. [39]

Demography

The 2001 census gave Montrose's total resident population as 10,845. This makes it the third largest town in Angus, after Arbroath (22,785) and Forfar (14,048) with Carnoustie in fourth place (10,561). [45]

Since the Second World War the population of Montrose has increased. The presence of Dundee families in Montrose during wartime persuaded a number to settle there. [27] This altered the demographics of the town and led to the building of housing estates in the 1960s. A number of people from the Polish community who had served with the British forces at RAF Montrose also settled.

The increase in the elderly population is reflected in the profusion of nursing and residential homes and in recent plans to extend provision for sheltered housing. [46] Data published by Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics in 2008 records the population of Montrose & District as 15,013, which is around 18% of the population of Angus as a whole. Of this total 17.6% are children, 60% are of working age and 22% are pensioners. Around 12% of those who live in the town are unemployed and 14.1% of households are ‘income deprived’. [47]

Historic population of Montrose, Angus [nb 1]
Year18011811182118311841185118611871188118911901
Population7,9758,95510,33812,05513,40214,32814,56314,54814,97312,88312,427
Year19111921193119411951196119711981199120012011
Population10,97410,97910,196 [nb 2] 10,762-10,06311,21411,46710,84511,955

Census: 18012001 [48] [49] [50]

Education

Montrose Academy Montrose Academy - geograph.org.uk - 1310711.jpg
Montrose Academy

Schools include six primary schools - Lochside, Ferryden, Southesk, Rosemount, Borrowfield and St Margaret’s - and one secondary school, Montrose Academy.

Economy

Glaxo Montrose Glaxosmithkline.jpg
Glaxo Montrose

The economy of the town has been expanding since the end of the Second World War. GlaxoSmithKline has been a major source of jobs since the 1950s. [51] Other significant employers include Tesco, Cooperative Group, Petrofac, National Oilwell Varco, Baker Hughes and Argos. The Lochside Distillery, located on Brechin Road north of the town centre, was closed down in the 1990s and the buildings demolished in 2005 after a fire. In 2009 Sainsbury's announced plans to build a new superstore on the edge of the town which was to provide work for an estimated 200 people. Construction of the new Sainsburys store was approved by Angus Council in August 2011 and spokespersons from Sainsburys believed at the time that the store would open in less than a year, unfortunately Sainsburys cancelled these plans and 4 commercial units were built on the site in 2018. BT initially upgraded the local telephone exchange to grant the town access to super fast fiberoptic broadband services one of only three towns to be chosen in Scotland. [52] The average price of housing in the town is between £106,054 and £131,539, [53] a rise on the 1998 average between £42,640 and £51,200. [54]

Tourism

Since 2002 there has been a focus on attracting new visitors to the town with the foundation of the Montrose Town Partnership, the aim of which is to "encourage representatives of the public, private and community sector to act together to develop the economic potential of Montrose to address the needs of local people and visitors alike". [55] Membership includes The Montrose Society, Montrose Heritage Trust, Montrose Community Council, Montrose Golf Links Ltd, MERPRO Leisure, Montrose Business and Retailers Association, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Angus Council, Ferryden & Craig and Hillside, Dun and Logie Pert community councils. [55] Since 2002 they have produced a number of promotional leaflets and have established a weekly Saturday market in the town centre. [56] In 2002 plans were unveiled to renovate the Mid Links. [57] The project was completed in 2003 at the total cost of £1.8million with £1.2million granted by the Heritage Lottery Fund. [58] Plaques have been incorporated to inform visitors of the historical heritage of the town's buildings.

The bridge over the North Esk north of Montrose marks the border between Angus and Aberdeenshire. Bridges over the North Esk near Kinnaber - geograph.org.uk - 512146.jpg
The bridge over the North Esk north of Montrose marks the border between Angus and Aberdeenshire.

Culture

Montrose Library Montrose Library - geograph.org.uk - 1061740.jpg
Montrose Library

Cultural history

Montrose Museum Montrose Museum.JPG
Montrose Museum

Montrose is regarded as the culture and sculpture capital of Angus, [59] with over 20 statues of note scattered around the town. They are a mix of modern and classical works, with many by the local sculptor, William Lamb ARSA, an artist of exceptional talent. 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, Helen Cruickshank and Fionn MacColla. The local weekly newspaper, the Montrose Review , was edited by MacDiarmid.

Music

Since 2008 Montrose has hosted the Montrose Music Festival, or Mo Fest as it has affectionately become known, which takes place each year at the end of May. It has grown in size and stature each year to become Scotland's biggest free live music festival with over 200 free gigs over the three days in more than 26 venues across the town, including an open-air stage on Montrose's historic high street with the dominating Montrose Steeple behind the stage, which draws crowds of all ages from all over the country.

In 2014 the MoFest team took a leap and hosted a gig on Montrose East Links for 5000 revellers on the Friday night. The 7th annual festival kicked off with rock legends Status Quo playing to the sell-out crowd. Other notable headliners have included Average White Band, Deacon Blue, The Proclaimers, Ocean Colour Scene, Toploader, Eddi Reader, Bryan Adams, The Beach Boys & Madness.

Film

The Montrose Playhouse is a community-led cinema and arts venue, which opened in 2021. Originally a historic swimming pool, the building has been transformed into a multi-purpose space that hosts film screenings, live performances and educational events. With the closing of the Belmont in Aberdeen it has now established itself as a leading cultural hub in the region, especially for independent cinema. [60]

Sport

Montrose is also a qualifying course for The Open Championship. Past events hosted on the Montrose Links include:

Links Park is home to three football teams:

Other sports associations include the Montrose Cricket Club, Montrose Tennis Club, Montrose & District SEALS Swimming Club, Montrose & District Athletics, Montrose and District rugby union club, Montrose Sailing Club and several bowls clubs which are part of the Montrose & District Bowling Club Association.

Helen Matthews a suffragette and women's footballer was born in Montrose. She created the first-ever women's football team. This team beat England 3–1 in their second match in May 1881.

Media

Television signals are received from either the Durris [61] or Angus TV transmitters. [62]

The radio stations that cover the area are BBC Radio Scotland which broadcast from the local opt in Dundee on 92.7 FM and Radio North Angus also broadcast on 87.7 FM. [63]

Local newspapers are Montrose Review [64] and The Courier .

Religious sites

Christian groups

There are many churches in Montrose. Three belong to the Church of Scotland: Montrose Old and St Andrew's ('Auld Kirk'), Montrose: South and Ferryden, Dun and Hillside Church. There is one United Free Church: Knox Church. Grace Church Montrose is a new church plant belonging to the Free Church of Scotland. [65] [66] In the Links, there is an Episcopal Church (St Mary's and St Peter's); [67] the United Reformed Church and Methodist Church are nearby. A Quaker group meets in the town. The Roman Catholic community is served by St Margaret's Roman Catholic Church. There is also a Baptist Church situated in Borrowfield.

The most prominent church is the Old and St Andrew's Church, Montrose. Reverend Dr Charles Nisbet who became minister in 1764 described it as a church which "embraced much cultivation and intelligence". [68]

Other groups

In Borrowfield there is a LDS Church and a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses lies on the edge of the town.

Transport

The town is served by Montrose railway station, which is a stop on the Dundee–Aberdeen line. Services to Aberdeen, Glasgow Queen Street, Edinburgh Waverley, Dundee and Perth are operated by ScotRail; [69] some London North Eastern Railway services to Aberdeen, Leeds and London King's Cross stop here. [70]

Local bus services are operated predominantly by Stagecoach East Scotland. Key routes connect the town with Arbroath, Brechin and Dundee; the X7 Coastrider bus route between Aberdeen and Perth runs through the town. [71]

Public services

Montrose and the surrounding area is supplied with water by Scottish Water from the Lintrathen and Backwater reservoirs in Glen Isla. Electricity distribution is by Scottish Hydro Electric plc, part of the Scottish and Southern Energy group.

Waste management is handled by Angus Council. There is a kerbside recycling scheme that has been in operation since March 2005. Cans, glass, paper and plastic bottles are collected on a weekly basis. Compostable material and non-recyclable material are collected on alternate weeks. [72] Roughly two-thirds of non-recyclable material is sent to landfill at Angus Council's site at Lochhead, Forfar and the remainder sent for incineration (with energy recovery) outside the council area. [73]

A recycling centre is located at Broomfield Road. Items accepted include, steel and aluminium cans, cardboard, paper, electrical equipment, engine oil, fridges and freezers, garden waste, gas bottles, glass, liquid food and drinks cartons, plastic bottles, plastic carrier bags, rubble, scrap metal, shoes and handbags, spectacles, textiles, tin foil, wood and yellow pages. Angus council publishes details of where and how each product is processed. [74] There are also glass banks at Tesco in Western Road and Scotmid in New Wynd, as well as a neighbourhood recycling point at Wharf Street. [75] The Angus Council area had a recycling rate of 34.7% in 2007/08. [72]

Healthcare is supplied in the area by NHS Tayside. The nearest hospital with accident and emergency departments is Ninewells Hospital, Dundee. Primary Health Care in Montrose is supplied by Castlegait Surgery, Townhead Practice and Annatbank Practice which are based at the Links Health Centre. Montrose along with the rest of Scotland is served by the Scottish Ambulance Service. [76] Montrose Royal Infirmary, which had served as a community hospital, closed in April 2018. [77]

Law enforcement is provided by Police Scotland, [78] and Montrose is served by Tayside Fire and Rescue Service. [79]

Notable people

Twin towns

Legacy

The town gives its name to the neighbourhood of Montrose in Houston, United States. [83]

Walter Scott's A Legend of Montrose is based during the Earl of Montrose's 1644-5 military campaign in Scotland. Montrose, Colorado, United States takes its name from this book.

In J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter universe, there is a professional Quidditch team from the township of Montrose; The Montrose Magpies.

Two Royal Navy ships have been named HMS Montrose after the Duke of Montrose.

See also

Notes

  1. Early population statistics (1801–1841) include both the Burgh of Montrose and the outlying parish
  2. No census 1941 due to World War II

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dundee</span> City and council area in Scotland

Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland. The mid-year population estimate for 2016 was 148,210, giving Dundee a population density of 2,478/km2 (6,420/mi2), the second-highest in Scotland. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea. Under the name of Dundee City, it forms one of the 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Within the boundaries of the historic county of Angus, the city developed into a burgh in the late 12th century and established itself as an important east coast trading port. Rapid expansion was brought on by the Industrial Revolution, particularly in the 19th century when Dundee was the centre of the global jute industry. This, along with its other major industries, gave Dundee its epithet as the city of "jute, jam and journalism".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arbroath</span> Scottish town in Angus

Arbroath or Aberbrothock is a former royal burgh and the largest town in the council area of Angus, Scotland, with a population of 23,902. It lies on the North Sea coast, some 16 miles (26 km) east-northeast of Dundee and 45 miles (72 km) south-southwest of Aberdeen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forfar</span> County town and administrative centre in Scotland

Forfar is the county town of Angus, Scotland and the administrative centre for Angus Council, with a new multi-million pound office complex located on the outskirts of the town. As of 2021, the town has a population of 16,280.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brechin</span> Town in Angus, Scotland

Brechin is a town and former royal burgh in Angus, Scotland. Traditionally Brechin was described as a city because of its cathedral and its status as the seat of a pre-Reformation Roman Catholic diocese, but that status has not been officially recognised in the modern era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carnoustie</span> Town in Angus, Scotland

Carnoustie is a town and former police burgh in the council area of Angus, Scotland. It is at the mouth of the Barry Burn on the North Sea coast. In the 2011 census, Carnoustie had a population of 11,394, making it the fourth-largest town in Angus. The town was founded in the late 18th century, and grew rapidly throughout the 19th century due to the growth of the local textile industry. It was popular as a tourist resort from the early Victorian era up to the latter half of the 20th century, due to its seaside location, and is best known for the Carnoustie Golf Links course that often hosts the Open Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abernethy, Perth and Kinross</span> Village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland

Abernethy is a village and former burgh in the Perth and Kinross council area and historic county of Perthshire, in the east central Lowlands of Scotland. The village is situated in rural Strathearn, 8 miles (13 km) south-east of the city of Perth, near the River Earn's confluence with the River Tay and on the northern edge of the Ochil Hills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angus (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1997-2024

Angus was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first-past-the-post voting system. It was represented by Dave Doogan of the Scottish National Party who had been the MP since 2019 until 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inverbervie</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Inverbervie is a small town on the north-east coast of Scotland, south of Stonehaven.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montrose Academy</span> Comprehensive school in Montrose, Angus, Scotland

Montrose Academy is a coeducational secondary school in Montrose Angus. The School now teaches people from ages 11–18.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monifieth</span> Town in Angus, Scotland

Monifieth is a town and former police burgh in the council area of Angus, Scotland. It is situated on the north bank of the Firth of Tay on the east coast. In 2016, the population of Monifieth was estimated at 8,110, making it the fifth largest town in Angus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bamse (dog)</span> Dog that became a symbol of Norwegian freedom during WW2

Bamse was a St. Bernard dog that became the heroic mascot of the Free Norwegian Forces during the Second World War. He became a symbol of Norwegian freedom during the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aberdeen Railway</span> Historical railway line in Scotland linking Aberdeen and Guthrie

The Aberdeen Railway was a Scottish railway company which built a line from Aberdeen to Forfar and Arbroath, partly by leasing and upgrading an existing railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scurdie Ness</span> Lighthouse

Scurdie Ness is a headland located on the South side of the River South Esk estuary, Montrose, Angus, Scotland. The River leads from the North Sea into Montrose Harbour and then into Montrose Basin. The headland has also been referred to as Scurdy Ness, Montrose point or Montroseness. The word Scurdie is a local word for the volcanic rock found there and Ness means a promontory, cape or headland. The coastline from Scurdie Ness to Rickle Craig has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angus North and Mearns (Scottish Parliament constituency)</span> Constituency of the Scottish Parliament

Angus North and Mearns is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) covering parts of the council areas of Angus and Aberdeenshire. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the first past the post method of election. It is one of ten constituencies in the North East Scotland electoral region, which elects seven additional members, in addition to the ten constituency MSPs, to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aberdeenshire West (Scottish Parliament constituency)</span> Constituency of the Scottish Parliament

Aberdeenshire West is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood) covering part of the council area of Aberdeenshire. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the first past the post method of election. Also, however, it is one of ten constituencies in the North East Scotland electoral region, which elects seven additional members, in addition to ten constituency MSPs, to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North British, Arbroath and Montrose Railway</span> Railway line in Scotland

The North British, Arbroath and Montrose Railway was a company established by Act of Parliament in 1871 to construct and operate a railway line from north of Arbroath via Montrose to Kinnaber Junction, 38 miles (61 km) south of Aberdeen. The company was originally a subsidiary of the North British Railway but was absorbed into its parent in 1880.

Muriel Craigie, OBE (1889–1971) was a leading Scottish suffragist, honoured by two nations as a major volunteer organiser in both World Wars, and a 'noted educationist' during local authority education reforms.

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Further reading