Forfar

Forfar, the county town of Forfarshire, 14 miles NNE. of Dundee, stands at the east end of Forfar Loch, on a rising ground in the fertile valley of Strathmore. It was a royal residence as early as the reign of Malcolm Canmore, whose son, David I. (1124–53), made it a royal burgh; but in 1308 Bruce captured and razed the castle—its site is marked now by the town cross of 1684. Forfar, says Boece, was 'brought in 1526 to little more than a country village;' but since the middle of the 18th century it has risen again to a comfortable town, with several good public buildings, among them a striking Episcopal church (1881). The making of brogues by the 'Forfar souters' is a thing of the long past; and linen is now the leading manufacture. With Montrose and three other burghs it returns one member to parliament. Pop. (1841) 8362; (1891) 12,087. Glamis Castle, a stately château-like pile, the seat of the Earl of Strathmore, lies 5 miles WSW.