Town Planning
As
with many Scottish town and cities, the centre of Arbroath has been built
around the twelfth century Abbey, the town's oldest building and religious
heart. The town house, containing a courtroom, a large elegant hall and council
meeting rooms, was built in 1806. The police station and jail, located to the
west of the town house, was built in 1842, while the costly trades' hall was
constructed in 1814. One of Arbroath's most famous landmarks is the Bell Rock
Lighthouse, which is located 11 miles from the town. Completed in 1811, the
lighthouse is considered to be the finest example of the work of Robert
Stevenson, an ancestor of the famous writer, Robert Louis Stevenson.
Trade and Industry
The water-power
provided by the fast-flowing Brothock Burn led to the establishment of
traditional 19th century industries such as bleaching, spinning,
weaving and flax-dressing. The town's ancient harbour has also provided the
townspeople (known as 'Lichties') with employment, mostly in the fishing and
shipbuilding industries. In addition to its three iron foundries, the town also
contained a leather manufacturer, which made a vast range of products,
including equestrian equipment. A weekly market highlights Arbroath's close
proximity to rural areas, with hiring fairs formerly being held at certain
times during the farming year. The town is also famous for its 'smokies', which
are gutted and dry-salted haddock hung out to dry in the hot smoke of oak
chips.
The parish of St.
Vigeans lies to the north of Arbroath, while the parish of Arbirlot lies to the
south and west of the town. The Mearns region is located to the north-east of
the town, and this rich agricultural area would have provided the produce for
Arbroath's weekly market. The picturesque fishing village of Auchmithie also
lies just north of Arbroath, immediately beside the town's famous caves and
cliffs, 'The Deil's Heid' and 'Meg's Crag', at Carlingheugh Bay.
Religious Life
The Arbroath Parish
Church, built in 1791, was the seat of the presbytery in the synod of Angus and
Mearns. The diversity of religious belief is highlighted by the number of
different churches that appear in Wilson's Imperial
Gazetteer of Scotland (1857). Wilson records that, in 1857, the town housed
two Free Churches, three United Presbyterian Churches, an Episcopalian Chapel,
an Independent Chapel, a Baptist meeting-house, a Methodist Chapel, a Berean
meeting-house and a Roman Catholic Chapel.
Arbroath
Academy, built in 1821, is probably the most famous educational establishment
in the town. A public subscription library was formed in 1797, which was
complemented by the setting up of a Mechanics' Institute. There was also a
museum owned by the Natural History, Antiquarian and Scientific Society, which
was open to the public every Saturday. Another museum is located in the Bell
Rock Signal Tower building, which overlooks the harbour. Arbroath Cricket Club
was another famous society that was established during the Victorian era. A
weekly newspaper, the Arbroath Guide (now
known as the Arbroath Herald), was
published every Saturday.
Groome,
Francis H. (ed.), 1894-5. The Ordnance
Gazetteer of Scotland; a survey of Scottish topography, statistical,
biographical, and historical, 2nd ed., (London: William Mackenzie)
Mackay,
George, 2000. Scottish Place Names
(New Lanark: Lomond)
Smith,
Robert, 2001. The Making of Scotland: a
comprehensive guide to the growth of its cities, towns and villages (Edinburgh:
Canongate)
Wilson,
Rev. John Marius (ed.), 1857. The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland or Dictionary
of Scottish Topography (Edinburgh: A. Fullarton & Co.)
Edina
Website – Online Statistical Accounts of Scotland - http://edina.ac.uk/statacc/