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Coordinates: 56°40'09?N 3°00'18?W? / ?56.66921, -3.0051
Kirriemuir, sometimes called Kirrie, is a burgh in Angus, Scotland. Though its importance as a market town has diminished, its former jute factories (now manufacturing synthetics) echo its past importance in the 19th century as the centre of a home weaving industry.
The Peter Pan Statue in Kirriemuir.
It is well known as the birthplace of Peter Pan creator J. M. Barrie, who immortalised this "wee red toonie" as "Thrums" in his popular (pre-Pan) novels Auld Licht Idylls, A Window in Thrums, and The Little Minister. "Red" refers to the local reddish sandstone from which the town's older properties are built. The town became a minor Victorian tourism destination in response to Barrie's novels,[1] and his birthplace is now a museum. Kirriemuir is also the birthplace of Bon Scott from AC/DC.[2] Actor David Niven claimed Kirriemuir as his birthplace, but was actually born in London.[3]
The town has a museum of aviation and a camera obscura donated by Barrie on the Hill, which offers views to the south and south-west and of the higher hills to the north. Also on the Hill and offering views from its southern slopes is the town cemetery, where Barrie is buried in a simple grave. There is a silver granite war memorial in the centre of the cemetery, a column surmounted by a kilted soldier looking down across the town and over the broad fields of Strathmore to the Sidlaws.
Kirriemuir has a history of accused witches back in the 16th century. A pond on the outskirts of town known as the Witch Pool was where most of the supposed witches were drowned.[citation needed]
The family estate of Sir Hugh Munro, who created Munro's Tables of Scottish mountains over 3000ft in elevation (and which are now called "munros") is also located near the town, as is Kinnordy House, the seat of the Lyells. The current Lord Lyell is an active member of the House of Lords and frequently refers to his home town in his speeches to the House.
Today, Kirriemuir is a centre of tourism.[citation needed] It sits looking south towards Dundee and the Sidlaws over the Vale of Strathmore (one of the most fertile fruit growing areas in Scotland). Its position at the base of the Angus glens makes it an attractive centre for hill-walking on nearby munros, fishing, partridge, pheasant and grouse shooting and deer-stalking. There is also a 18-hole golf course with views of the northern hills.
The town comprises mainly two areas, Northmuir and Southmuir. Websters High School is situated in the Southmuir, while two primary schools are located in the Northmuir and Southmuir, respectively. The Northmuir school was built after Reform Street Primary school further down the hill from it was demolished.
Historic features near Kirriemuir include a carved Pictish stone known as the Eassie Stone,[4] found in a creek-bed near the village of Eassie.
The town is twinned with French town of Volvic, famous for its mineral water. Kerrimuir, a small area in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, is named after this town.
Kirriemuir is home to the junior football club Kirriemuir Thistle.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- , Chaney, Lisa, Hide-and-Seek with Angels, St. Martin's Press, 2005.
- , Bon Scott Story. Crabsody in Blue. Retrieved on 2008-08-07.
- , Morley, Sheridan (1985). The Other Side of the Moon. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson. ISBN 0-340-39643-1.
- , C. Michael Hogan, Eassie Stone, The Megalithic Portal, ed. Andy Burnham, October 7, 2007
(Source: Wikipedia) |