Forfar
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| County town andadministrative centre | |
 View of Forfar and countryside north of Forfar | |
  Forfar Location withinAngus | |
| Population | 14,120 (2020)[1] |
| Demonym | Forfarian |
| OS grid reference | NO455505 |
| • Edinburgh | 49 mi (79 km) |
| • London | 372 mi (599 km) |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | FORFAR |
| Postcode district | DD8 |
| Dialling code | 01307 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
| 56°38′39″N2°53′18″W / 56.64423°N 2.88842°W /56.64423; -2.88842 | |
Forfar (/ˈfɔːrfər/ ⓘ;Scots:Farfar,[2]Scottish Gaelic:Baile Fharfair) is thecounty town ofAngus, 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 had a population of 16,280.
The town lies inStrathmore and is situated just off the mainA90 road betweenPerth andAberdeen, withDundee (the nearest city) being 13 miles (21 km) away. It is approximately 5 miles (8 km) fromGlamis Castle, seat of theBowes-Lyon family and ancestral home ofQueen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and where the latePrincess Margaret, younger sister ofQueen Elizabeth II, was born in 1930.
Forfar dates back to the temporaryRoman occupation of the area, and was subsequently held by thePicts and theKingdom of Scotland. During theScottish Wars of Independence, Forfar was occupied by English forces before being recaptured by the Scots and presented toRobert the Bruce. Forfar has been both a traditional market town and a major manufacturing centre forlinen andjute. Today the main activities are agriculture and tourism around scenicStrathmore. The local glens are visited by hill-walkers, and there are ski-slopes in the mountains. The town is home to a number of local sporting teams, including theLeague Two football club,Forfar Athletic.
TheForfar bridie, a Scottish meat pastry snack, is traditionally identified with the town.
The exact origin of the nameForfar is uncertain.[3] One suggestion is that the name isGaelic and means "a cold point", involving,fuar meaning "cold, chilly", andbhar meaning "a point".[3]
During one of the Roman invasions of modern-day Scotland, the Romans established a majorcamp atBattledykes, approximately 3 miles (5 km) north of Forfar; this camp was analysed to have held 50,000 to 60,000 men.[dubious –discuss][4] From Battledykes northward the Romans established a succession of camps includingStracathro,Raedykes andNormandykes.[5]
During the Middle Ages, a "claimant" to the throne, the daughter of the leader of theMeic Uilleim, who were descendants of KingDuncan II, had her brains dashed out on Forfar market cross in 1230 while still an infant.[6]
During theFirst War of Scottish Independence, thecastle of Forfar was held by the English. AfterRobert the Bruce's victory over theEarl of Buchan, Philip, the Forester of Platane, together with some of his friends, raised ladders against the wall and, climbing over, surprised the garrison and killed them. He then yielded the castle to Bruce, who rewarded him and gave instructions for itsslighting.[7]
During the 16th and 17th century, severalwitch trials took place in Forfar, the last of which took place in 1662 and in which 52 people were accused. At the time, Forfar was a town of around 1000 inhabitants, with an additional 2000 people residing in the county.[8][9]
Like other parts ofAngus, Forfar was home to a very successful textile industry during and after theIndustrial Revolution. In the late 18th century the firm of William Don & Co. (later William and John Don & Co) was founded in the town. The firm originally bought and sold webs of linen which were woven in local cottages, although it also operated a small weaving shed. In 1865 the firm merged with A J Buist, aDundee based firm, and began construction of St James Works in Forfar. The partnership also operated mills in Dundee and later built Station Works in Forfar, which contained some 300 looms. Workers' housing was built by the firm in Forfar. Don Brothers, Buist & Company Ltd, as the firm was known from 1904, built another works in Forfar, at Strang Street, in 1929. In 1960 it merged with another Dundee firm, Low Brothers & Co (Dundee) Ltd, eventually becoming Don & Low (Holdings) Ltd. By the 1980s the Don & Low group was the United Kingdom's biggest polypropylene textile extrusion and weaving unit. The firm retains premises in Forfar, mainly producing woven and non-wovenpolypropylene industrial textile products and plastic food packaging.[10][11][12][13] In 1958 Don Brothers, Buist & Co Ltd acquired a controlling interest in another Forfar based-textile firm, Moffat & Son Ltd, who operated Haugh Works in South Street.[14] Another important Forfar textile firm was J & A Craik & Company, Linen and Jute Manufacturers, which was based at the Manor Works. Craiks was started in 1863 when James Craik obtained land in Forfar to build the Manor Works and the company survived until 1981, the year in which it became part of the Low and Bonar group.[15] Craiks owned Forfar Fabrics Ltd, incorporated in 1965, which amalgamated with Low & Bonar Textiles Limited in 1981.[16] The jute manufacturers, John Lowson, Jnr & Co Ltd, also operated in Forfar, operating out of Victoria Works.[17][18]
TheMeffan Museum is in the heart of the town. It was built by a daughter of the Provost Meffan as a bequest in 1898. It is home of the Forfar story. It is also an art gallery and a meeting place for local speakers, summer clubs for children and groups. The story of Forfar takes visitors from the history of the little cobbler shops to the burning of the witchHelen Guthrie. There is also a good selection of Pictish stones found in and around Forfar and Kirriemuir. The Large Class IPictish stone, with a rare carving of a flower, is called theDunnichen Stone. It was found in the early 19th century when a farmer from the East Mains ofDunnichen was ploughing. It was initially displayed at a church in the vicinity, then at Dunnichen House. In 1966 it was relocated atSt Vigeans and finally moved toDundee museum in 1972. After the Meffan Institute had been renovated it was brought to Forfar on a long-term loan where it is displayed alongside theKirriemuir Sculptured Stones. There is a canoe, excavated from Forfar Loch, that dates back to the 11th century (one of two that were found).
In 1911 more than 20% of workers in Forfar were employed in thejute industry. Employment levels in this industry generally dramatically declined in other parts ofAngus, including Dundee, during the next four decades. Notably in Dundee, the centre of the British jute industry, more than 40.4% of the working population had worked in the jute industry in 1911, but by 1951 this had fallen to just 18.5%. In Forfar, however this trend was not followed as percentage of the workforce employed in the jute industry had actually risen to 24.4% by 1951.[19]
In the town there is a metal plaque toGeneral Sikorski and the Polish troops commemorating the visit of KingGeorge VI andQueen Elizabeth to the town on 7 March 1941. The plaque is located on a wall on Market Street belowForfar Sheriff Court. It was here on 7 March 1941 that the royal couple, along with General Sikorski, took the salute in the march past of the Polish troops.[20]
Queen Elizabeth II and theDuke of Edinburgh visited the town and surrounding area in 2004 (the first time in around 30 years) and again in 2011. HRH Prince Charles, the Duke of Rothesay, visited the town in April 2012 to take the salute of the Black Watch during the regiment's homecoming parade, marking its return from a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Forfar is a parish, town and former royal burgh. The meeting place of the burgh was theForfar Town and County Hall.[21] It is the county town of Angus, which was officially known as Forfarshire from the 18th century until 1928.[22] The town is represented withinAngus Council by the Forfar & District ward, from which four councillors are elected. The members elected from this ward are, as of 2021; Lynne Devine (Scottish National Party), Braden Davy (Scottish Conservative and Unionist), Colin Brown (Independent) and Ian McLaren (Independent).[23]
The town is located just off the mainA90Dundee toAberdeen road; having once passed through the town centre, the bypass was completed in 1987.
The nearest stations to Forfar areDundee,Carnoustie andArbroath, which are all around 14 miles (23 km) away. Connections to the rest of Scotland are available on theEdinburgh–Dundee line; theGlasgow–Dundee line, viaPerth; and theDundee to Aberdeen line.[24]
The town was once served byForfar railway station, which ran goods and passenger lines until 3 September 1967 when it closed for passenger transport as part of theBeeching cuts; a goods line from Perth continued until 1982. The station was located on the main line of theCaledonian Railway fromGlasgow Buchanan Street toAberdeen, which was the furthest north link in the chain of theWest Coast Main Line fromLondon Euston. Lines also went to Dundee, Arbroath,Brechin and Kirriemuir. The station has since been demolished and replaced by a small housing estate. However, a majorlocomotive shed remains and is in use for vehicle body manufacture. Some bridges and cuttings still survive but the site of the goods station, which was the town's original railway station before the one near theCounty Buildings was built, is now mainly residential properties.
Local bus services are operated predominantly byStagecoach Strathtay, Moffat & Williamson and JP Coaches. Key routes connect the town withDundee,Kirriemuir,Edzell andArbroath.[25]
As with most of theBritish Isles, Forfar has anoceanic climate (Köppen:Cfb). The nearest weather station to Forfar is located around 3 miles (5 km) north of Forfar, and is 91 m (299 ft)above sea level.
| Climate data for Forfar (91 m asl, averages 1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 14.4 (57.9) | 14.8 (58.6) | 21.5 (70.7) | 22.7 (72.9) | 24.0 (75.2) | 28.1 (82.6) | 28.5 (83.3) | 28.2 (82.8) | 25.3 (77.5) | 21.2 (70.2) | 16.7 (62.1) | 14.8 (58.6) | 28.5 (83.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 5.8 (42.4) | 6.6 (43.9) | 8.7 (47.7) | 11.2 (52.2) | 14.3 (57.7) | 17.0 (62.6) | 18.8 (65.8) | 18.6 (65.5) | 16.1 (61.0) | 12.3 (54.1) | 8.5 (47.3) | 5.9 (42.6) | 12.0 (53.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 2.8 (37.0) | 3.5 (38.3) | 5.0 (41.0) | 7.2 (45.0) | 10.0 (50.0) | 12.6 (54.7) | 14.4 (57.9) | 14.2 (57.6) | 12.0 (53.6) | 8.8 (47.8) | 5.3 (41.5) | 2.8 (37.0) | 8.2 (46.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −0.2 (31.6) | 0.3 (32.5) | 1.8 (35.2) | 3.2 (37.8) | 5.6 (42.1) | 8.3 (46.9) | 9.9 (49.8) | 9.7 (49.5) | 7.9 (46.2) | 5.2 (41.4) | 2.0 (35.6) | −0.2 (31.6) | 4.4 (39.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −18.9 (−2.0) | −18.4 (−1.1) | −14.1 (6.6) | −6.9 (19.6) | −3.7 (25.3) | −1.3 (29.7) | 1.8 (35.2) | 1.1 (34.0) | −2.2 (28.0) | −7.6 (18.3) | −13.8 (7.2) | −19.1 (−2.4) | −19.1 (−2.4) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 79.1 (3.11) | 54.8 (2.16) | 57.2 (2.25) | 49.7 (1.96) | 52.9 (2.08) | 66.1 (2.60) | 67.5 (2.66) | 75.5 (2.97) | 61.9 (2.44) | 98.9 (3.89) | 81.0 (3.19) | 74.6 (2.94) | 818.9 (32.24) |
| Average rainy days(≥ 1 mm) | 12.7 | 10.5 | 9.5 | 9.2 | 11.0 | 12.0 | 9.4 | 9.8 | 11.1 | 12.1 | 12.3 | 11.3 | 130.9 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 51.1 | 77.5 | 113.5 | 161.1 | 195.7 | 159.0 | 166.7 | 156.2 | 122.5 | 98.0 | 63.3 | 46.5 | 1,411 |
| Source 1:Met Office (rainy days 1981–2010)[26] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Starlings Roost Weather[27] | |||||||||||||
The town is home to semi-professionalfootball clubForfar Athletic, who are members of theScottish Professional Football League and currently play inLeague Two and twoSJFA clubs,Forfar West End, andForfar United, who both currently play in theMidlands Football League. Forfar Athletic's ground,Station Park, plays host to matches featuringDundee United Reserves.
Youth and women's football is available in the town, with Forfar Boys F.C (boys only), Lochside Boys F.C[28] (boys only) andForfar Farmington F.C[29] (boys, girls and women). All the clubs have SFA Quality Mark Award at some level.[citation needed]
Forfar has aNational League rugby league team, theStrathmore Silverbacks, who share Inchmacoble Park as their home ground with the local rugby union team.
Rugby Union is represented in the town byStrathmore Rugby Football Club, who play their home games at Inchmacoble Park, beside Forfar Loch. The club has men's and ladies' teams.
The Forfar Golf Club,[30] founded in 1871, has the fourth oldest 18 hole course in the world, and is the first club to have an 18-hole course from inception and inauguration. The course was designed byTom Morris Snr, and in 1926 alterations recommended by five timeOpen Championship winnerJames Braid were implemented. The letter with Braid's recommendations is on display in the clubhouse.
The Forfar Golf Club has hosted theScottish PGA Championship twice, once in 1932 and again in 1966.[31]
Strathmore Cricket Club,[32] founded in 1862, has played atLochside Park since 1873.
The town has a dedicated community campus.
There is a skatepark near the Forfar loch. Forfar has an ice rink which was built in the early 1990s and this is home to the local curling club.
There are threebowling clubs in Forfar: Forfar Bowling Club, Canmore Bowling Club and Forfar Indoor Bowling Club. Both Forfar Bowling Club and Canmore Bowling Club have outdoor bowling greens.
Forfar Loch is home to Forfar Sailing Club.[33]
Angus Gliding Club operates at Roundyhill, between Glamis and Kirriemuir.
Forfar has three primary schools:
There is one secondary school in the town:
In 2007, the Forfar-Carnoustie Schools Project made major changes to schools in Forfar, with closure of the following primary schools:
Chapelpark Primary School on Academy Street (the former Forfar Academy) opened in 1967 and was active for 40 years before closing in 2007. The pupils were re-located to Strathmore Primary and Whitehills Primary. The building continued in use as a school, initially by Whitehills Primary until their new school was completed in early 2008. It was then home to Langlands Primary, until the new school on that site was completed in May 2009. In 2016 it was decided that it would be turned into an apartment block, ad work was completed in the summer of 2018.
Kirkriggs Primary School in St. James' Road was closed in 2007. Pupils were re-located to Langlands until the new school on this site (Strathmore Primary) was completed in early 2008.
Wellbrae Primary School closed in 2007. Pupils were sent to Chapelpark Primary School and later to Whitehills Primary School. The play areas of Wellbrae were all concrete. In 2016, it burned to the ground in an arson attack.[34]
The local community hospital, the Whitehills Health and Community Care Centre, was built on the site of the old Whitehills Hospital building (the former hospital for infectious diseases) and opened in Spring 2005. The new hospital replacedForfar Infirmary, formerly the town's main hospital, as well as Whitehills Hospital. The Infirmary has since been completely demolished.[35]
The Fyfe-Jamieson maternity hospital closed some time ago; it was across the road from the Forfar Academy, but the site has since been built over with houses.
Forfar has threeChurch of Scotland congregations:
It had been decided (by a Church of Scotland arbiter) that the East and Old Parish Church would close, and the congregation would move to St. Margaret's Church. This was brought back for discussion at Angus Presbytery due to a large vote against this decision. Now the East and Old and St Margaret's are to remain individual churches as they have always have been.
The East & Old Church is built on the site of the original place of worship that some of the monks of Restenneth Priory built hundreds of years before the one today. The adjoining graveyard has famous 'residents' such as botanist George Don, quite a few scholars and a man who blamed the witches of Forfar for poisoning him after ill words were exchanged between them.
The steeple is a focal point of Forfar, visible when entering the town from any direction. Although abutting the East & Old building, it is owned by the 'Town' and is not formally part of the church property; it is all but certain to be retained following any disposal of the church building.[citation needed]
The town has churches of other denominations, including:
There is a Kingdom Hall ofJehovah's witnesses.
The town is traditionally identified with theForfar bridie, a meat pastry snack. A recipe for the Forfar bridie was featured inMaw Broon's Cookbook.
The Forfar Loch Country Park is visited by locals as a walking venue. It is said that the Forfar Loch extended over much more of Forfar in the 1800s, going as far up as Orchardbank and Wellbrae. A drainage project brought the water level down. In about the same time period the loch was used to dump raw sewage; this practice is no longer continued: it is now treated sewage.
The town holds many events throughout the year such as the bi-annual Forfar Mara-Fun, which raises money for charity, and the annual Forfar Food Festival, highlighting some of the local food. There is also a monthlyfarmers' market.
Forfar is home to the Strathmore Mineral Water Co., Ltd., a bottled mineral water producer now run by AG Barr. The company's products are shipped worldwide.
Forfar is known for the "coo o Forfar". A householder left a tub of beer in the doorway to cool, and a passing cow drank it. When the owner of the cow was charged for the beer, abaillie ruled that if the beer was drunk at the doorway it was "deoch an doras" or "stirrup cup", to charge for which would be an insult to Scots hospitality. This became a byword: "Be like the coo o Forfar, an tak a stannin drink".[36]
Forfar and the surrounding area are supplied with water byScottish Water from Lintrathen andBackwater reservoirs inGlen Isla. Electricity distribution is byScottish Hydro Electric plc, part of theScottish and Southern Energy group.
Waste management is handled byAngus Council. From June 2014, there has been a comprehensiverecycling service in place, succeeding the more limited kerbside recycling scheme introduced in 2005. Recyclable waste (encompassing paper, card, cans, plastics and glass) is now collected fortnightly, on alternate weeks with non-recyclable waste, with households having separate bins for each purpose. Garden andfood waste are also collected for separate processing. Roughly two-thirds of non-recyclable material is sent tolandfill at Angus Council's site at Lochhead, Forfar, and the remainder sent forincineration (with energy recovery) outside the council area.[37]
A recycling centre is located at Queenswell 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.[38] There are also glass banks at the Abbeygate and Tesco car parks.[39] The Angus Council area had a recycling rate of 34.7% in 2007/08.[40]
Healthcare is supplied in the area byNHS Tayside. The nearest hospitals with accident and emergency departments are Arbroath Infirmary[41] andNinewells Hospital, Dundee.[42] Primary Health Care in Forfar is supplied by several practices, based at Ravenswood Surgery on New Road, Academy Medical Centre in Academy Street and Lour Road Group Practice.[43][44][45] Forfar, along with the rest of Scotland, is served by theScottish Ambulance Service.[46]
Since April 2013, law enforcement is provided byPolice Scotland and Forfar is served byScottish Fire and Rescue Service.
The following people and military units have received theFreedom of the Town of Forfar.
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It was last May that the Forfarshire County Council passed a resolution...
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