Editing Forfar (section)

==History==
===Early history===
During one of the Roman invasions of modern-day Scotland, the Romans established a major [[Roman camp|camp]] at [[Battledykes]], approximately 3 miles (5&nbsp;km) north of Forfar; this camp was analysed to have held 50,000 to 60,000 men.{{dubious|date=October 2024}}<ref>Alan Reid, ''The [[Royal Burgh]] of Forfar: A Local History'', 1902, Houlston & sons; 445 pages</ref> From Battledykes northward the Romans established a succession of camps including [[Stracathro]], [[Raedykes]] and [[Normandykes]].<ref>[http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=18037 C. Michael Hogan, ''Elsick Mounth'', Megalithic Portal, ed Andy Burnham (2007)]</ref>

===Middle Ages===
During the Middle Ages, a "claimant" to the throne, the daughter of the leader of the [[Meic Uilleim]], who were descendants of King [[Duncan II of Scotland|Duncan II]], had her brains dashed out on Forfar market cross in 1230 while still an infant.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/chronicondelaner00mait#page/n79/mode/2up|title=Maitland Club, Edinburgh 1839|year=1839|publisher= Lanercost Chronicle|pages=40–41 |language=la}}</ref>

During the [[First War of Scottish Independence]], the [[Forfar Castle|castle of Forfar]] was held by the English. After [[Robert the Bruce]]'s victory over the [[Earl 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 its [[slighting]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Barbour|first=John|title=The Brus|year=1856|publisher=The Spalding club|url=https://archive.org/details/brusfromacollat00barbgoog}}</ref>

===Early modern history===
During the 16th and 17th century, several [[Forfar witch trials|witch 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.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mitchell |first1=Claire |last2=Venditozzi |first2=Zoe |title=How to Kill a Witch |date=2025 |publisher=Hatchett |isbn=9781800961883}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Strachan |first1=Graeme |title=Forfar Witch Trials: Suffering of executed women to be recognised in 'historic' service |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/past-times/3815965/forfar-witches-memorial-service-1661-1662/ |access-date=16 May 2025 |work=The Courier |publisher=DC Thomson Co Ltd |date=26 October 2022}}</ref>

Like other parts of [[Angus, Scotland|Angus]], Forfar was home to a very successful textile industry during and after the [[Industrial 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, a [[Dundee]] 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-woven [[polypropylene]] industrial textile products and plastic food packaging.<ref name="Don & Low Holdings">{{cite web|title=Archive Services Online Catalogue Don & Low (Holdings) Ltd|url=http://arccat.dundee.ac.uk/dserve.exe?dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqCmd=show.tcl&dsqSearch=(RefNo==%27MS%20100%27)|publisher=[[University of Dundee]]|access-date=21 August 2017}}</ref><ref name="Don Brothers, Buist & Co">{{cite web|title=Archive Services Online Catalogue Don Brothers, Buist & Co. Ltd, Spinners and manufacturers, Dundee and Forfar, and Don & Low (Holdings) Ltd|url=http://arccat.dundee.ac.uk/dserve.exe?&dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqCmd=Show.tcl&dsqSearch=(RefNo==%27MS%20100/1%27)|publisher=[[University of Dundee]]|access-date=8 December 2014}}</ref><ref name=Whatley>{{cite book|last=Whatley|first=Christopher A.|title=Onwards from Osnaburgs: the rise & progress of a Scottish textile company, Don & Low of Forfar 1792–1992|year=1992|publisher=Mainstream|location=Edinburgh|isbn=1-85158-509-5}}</ref><ref name="Don&Low">{{cite web|title=Don & Low|url=http://www.donlow.com/|publisher=Don & Low|access-date=14 October 2011}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Moffat">{{cite web|title=MS 100/3 Moffat & Son Ltd, Manufacturers, Forfar|url=http://arccat.dundee.ac.uk/dserve.exe?dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=Show.tcl&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqPos=0&dsqSearch=%28RefNo%3D%27ms%20100%2F3%27%29|website=Archive Services Online Catalogue|publisher=University of Dundee|access-date=22 December 2017}}</ref> 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.<ref name=Craiks>{{cite web|title=MS 74 Craiks Limited, Linen and Jute Merchants and Manufacturers, Forfar|url=http://arccat.dundee.ac.uk/dserve.exe?&dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=show.tcl&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqPos=1&dsqSearch=((text)=%27ms%2074%27)|work=Archive Services Online Catalogue|publisher=University of Dundee|access-date=8 December 2014}}</ref> Craiks owned Forfar Fabrics Ltd, incorporated in 1965, which amalgamated with Low & Bonar Textiles Limited in 1981.<ref name="Fabrics">{{cite web|title=MS 24/13 Forfar Fabrics Ltd|url=http://arccat.dundee.ac.uk/dserve.exe?dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=Show.tcl&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqPos=0&dsqSearch=%28RefNo%3D%27MS%2024%2F13%27%29|website=Archive Services Online Catalogue|publisher=University of Dundee|access-date=22 December 2017}}</ref> The jute manufacturers, John Lowson, Jnr & Co Ltd, also operated in Forfar, operating out of Victoria Works.<ref name="Lowson">{{cite web|title=MS 66/8 John Lowson, Jnr & Co Ltd, Jute Manufacturers, Forfar|url=http://arccat.dundee.ac.uk/dserve.exe?dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=Show.tcl&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqPos=0&dsqSearch=%28RefNo%3D%27MS%2066%2F8%27%29|website=Archives Services Online Catalogue|publisher=University of Dundee|access-date=22 December 2017}}</ref><ref name="Jute&Canvas">{{cite book|title=The Jute & Canvas Trades Year-book & Directory 1946|date=1946|publisher=British Continental Trade Press|location=London|page=89}}</ref>

[[File:Forfar tablica.JPG|thumb|Memorial plaque to the Polish Army in Forfar]]

The [[Meffan Institute|Meffan 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 witch [[Helen Guthrie (Accused Witch)|Helen Guthrie]]. There is also a good selection of Pictish stones found in and around Forfar and Kirriemuir. The Large Class I [[Pictish stone]], with a rare carving of a flower, is called the [[Dunnichen Stone]]. It was found in the early 19th century when a farmer from the East Mains of [[Dunnichen]] was ploughing. It was initially displayed at a church in the vicinity, then at Dunnichen House. In 1966 it was relocated at [[St Vigeans]] and finally moved to [[McManus Galleries|Dundee 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 the [[Kirriemuir Sculptured Stones]]. There is a canoe, excavated from Forfar Loch, that dates back to the 11th century (one of two that were found).

===Modern history===
In 1911 more than 20% of workers in Forfar were employed in the [[jute]] industry. Employment levels in this industry generally dramatically declined in other parts of [[Angus, Scotland|Angus]], 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.<ref name=Carstairs>{{cite book|last=Carstairs|first=A. M.|title=The Tayside Industrial Population 1911–1951|year=1974|publisher=Abertay Historical Society|location=Dundee|pages=33–34}}</ref>

In the town there is a metal plaque to [[Władysław Sikorski|General Sikorski]] and the Polish troops commemorating the visit of King [[George VI]] and [[Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother|Queen Elizabeth]] to the town on 7 March 1941. The plaque is located on a wall on Market Street below [[Forfar 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Polonica in Scotland, Forfar, Angus|url=http://www.ostrycharz.free-online.co.uk/PolonicaForfar.html|publisher=ostrycharz.free-online.co.uk|access-date=11 June 2012}}</ref>

Queen Elizabeth II and the [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Duke 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.