Scottish

Towns

Forfar History

The royal burgh of Forfar (formally the county town of Angus) was founded during the reign of King David I and is situated in the flat, fertile plains to the north of the Vale of Strathmore - known as the Howe of Angus. The Fithie Loch is to the eastern boundaries of the town and Forfar Loch to the west. It was here that King Malcolm Canmore's wife (Queen Margaret) had a castle. There is evidence that a 'parliament' was held here where in 1057 King Malcolm Canmore conferred surnames and titles on the nobility of Scotland. There is evidence too that a royal residence existed on the Castlehill area of the town at this time, the location marked by a conical tower which was erected in 1684. The 'King's Cadger's Road' is a track which used to lead directly to the shore at Usan. It was along this 'road' that the east coast fishermen brought fresh supplies of fish to the loch castle of Queen Margaret. In 1770 a goodly number of weapons were brought up from the bed of the loch. These ancient weapons have been associated with the murder of King Malcolm II (which happened at nearby Glamis). His murderers were drowned as they tried to pick their way across the ice covered loch. Forfar gained for itself a reputation of some noteriety during the 17th century. This was due to the very high number of women who were burned here as witches (almost one every year during the decade of 1650). The town retains some particularly gruesome instruments of that period, in particular the Forfar Bridle. This was a hinged metal collar with a metal prong to the front which entered the mouth as the collar was fastened around the victim's neck, it acting as a gag during the execution. The area just north of the town known as The Witches' Hollow bears witness to this gruesome episode in Forfar's history.