Forfar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Forfar Scottish Gaelic: Baile Fharfair Scots: Farfar
County town and administrative centre
View of Forfar and countryside north of Forfar
Forfar
Population	14,120 (2020)
Demonym	Forfarian
OS grid reference	NO455505
• Edinburgh	49 mi (79 km)
• London	372 mi (599 km)
Council area	Angus
Lieutenancy area	Angus
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	FORFAR
Postcode district	DD8
Dialling code	01307
Ambulance	Scottish
EU Parliament	Scotland
UK Parliament	Angus and Perthshire Glens
Scottish Parliament	Angus North and Mearns
List of places UK Scotland 56°38′39″N 2°53′18″W / 56.64423°N 2.88842°W / 56.64423; -2.88842

Forfar (pronounced FOR-far) is a historic town in Angus, Scotland. It's the main town of Angus and where the local council has its offices. In 2021, about 16,280 people lived there.

Forfar is located in a beautiful valley called Strathmore. It's close to the main A90 road that connects Perth and Aberdeen. The city of Dundee is only about 13 miles (21 km) away. You can also find Glamis Castle nearby, which is famous for being the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Her younger sister, Princess Margaret, was even born there in 1930!

The town's history goes way back to when the Romans were in the area. Later, the Picts and the Kingdom of Scotland lived here. During the Scottish Wars of Independence, English soldiers took over Forfar, but the Scots, led by Robert the Bruce, soon won it back. For a long time, Forfar was a busy market town and a big center for making linen and jute fabrics. Today, farming and tourism are important. People love to visit the nearby glens for hill-walking and even skiing in the mountains. Forfar is also home to several sports teams, including the football club Forfar Athletic.

Don't forget to try a Forfar bridie! It's a tasty Scottish meat pastry that comes from this town.

What Does the Name Forfar Mean?

The exact meaning of the name Forfar isn't completely clear. One idea is that it comes from Scottish Gaelic words. It might mean "a cold point," combining fuar (meaning "cold" or "chilly") and bhar (meaning "a point").

Forfar's Past: A Look Back in Time

Forfar has a long and interesting history.

Roman Times and Early History

During one of the Roman visits to Scotland, they set up a huge army camp near Forfar. This camp, called Battledykes, was about 3 miles (5 km) north of the town. It was big enough for 50,000 to 60,000 soldiers! From Battledykes, the Romans built more camps further north.

In the Middle Ages, a sad event happened in Forfar in 1230. A baby girl, who was thought to have a claim to the Scottish throne, was killed at the Forfar market cross.

Forfar Castle and Robert the Bruce

During the First War of Scottish Independence, the castle in Forfar was controlled by English forces. But after Robert the Bruce won an important battle, a local man named Philip, the Forester of Platane, and his friends bravely climbed into the castle. They surprised the English soldiers and took the castle back. Philip then gave the castle to Robert the Bruce, who rewarded him and ordered the castle to be taken down.

The Meffan Museum: Forfar's Story

The Meffan Museum is right in the middle of Forfar. It was built in 1898 thanks to a gift from the daughter of a local leader named Provost Meffan. The museum tells the story of Forfar, from its small shoemaking shops to the sad tale of Helen Guthrie, who was accused of being a witch.

The museum also has a great collection of Pictish stones found around Forfar and Kirriemuir. One special stone is the Dunnichen Stone, which has a rare carving of a flower. It was found by a farmer in the early 1800s. Today, it's on display at the Meffan Museum, along with other ancient stones. You can also see a canoe that was found in Forfar Loch, which is about 900 years old!

Forfar's Textile Industry

Like many towns in Angus, Forfar was a very important center for making textiles (fabrics) during and after the Industrial Revolution. In the late 1700s, a company called William Don & Co. started in Forfar. They bought and sold linen woven in local homes. Later, they built large factories like St James Works and Station Works, which had hundreds of looms for weaving.

Another big textile company in Forfar was J & A Craik & Company, which made linen and jute. They started in 1863 and continued until 1981. These companies provided many jobs for the people of Forfar. In 1911, more than 20% of workers in Forfar were employed in the jute industry. Even when jute jobs decreased in other areas, Forfar's jute industry continued to grow for a while.

Royal Visits and Polish Soldiers

Memorial plaque to the Polish Army in Forfar.

During World War II, on March 7, 1941, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited Forfar. They were joined by General Sikorski and Polish troops. A metal plaque on Market Street remembers this special visit.

More recently, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh visited Forfar in 2004 and again in 2011. Prince Charles, who is also known as the Duke of Rothesay in Scotland, visited in 2012 to see the Black Watch regiment return from Afghanistan. In 2019, Prince Edward visited Forfar after being given the title of Earl of Forfar.

How Forfar is Governed

Forfar Town and County Hall

Forfar is a parish, a town, and used to be a "royal burgh" (a special type of town). The town's meeting place was the Forfar Town and County Hall. It is the main town of Angus, which was once called Forfarshire. Today, Forfar is part of the Forfar & District ward within Angus Council. Four councillors are elected from this area to represent the local people.

Getting Around Forfar

Roads

Forfar is located just off the main A90 road that goes between Dundee and Aberdeen. The A90 used to go right through the town center, but a bypass road was built in 1987 to make traffic flow better.

Trains

The closest train stations to Forfar are in Dundee, Carnoustie, and Arbroath, all about 14 miles (22 km) away. From these stations, you can catch trains to other parts of Scotland, like Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Forfar used to have its own train station, Forfar railway station, for both people and goods. But it closed for passengers in 1967 as part of the "Beeching cuts," which closed many railway lines in the UK. The station building is gone now, replaced by houses, but some old railway bridges and cuttings can still be seen.

Buses

Local bus services in Forfar are mainly run by Stagecoach Strathtay, Moffat & Williamson, and JP Coaches. These buses connect Forfar to nearby towns like Dundee, Kirriemuir, Edzell, and Arbroath.

Forfar's Climate

Like most of the British Isles, Forfar has an oceanic climate, which means it has mild winters and cool summers. The nearest weather station is about 3 miles (5 km) north of Forfar.

Sports in Forfar

Forfar is a great place for sports!

Football

The town has a semi-professional football club called Forfar Athletic. They play in Scottish League Two. There are also two other local football clubs, Forfar West End and Forfar United. For young players, Forfar has boys' teams like Forfar Boys F.C. and Lochside Boys F.C., and a club for boys, girls, and women called Forfar Farmington F.C.

Rugby

Forfar has a rugby league team called the Strathmore Silverbacks. There's also a rugby union team, Strathmore Rugby Football Club, which has both men's and ladies' teams.

Golf

The Forfar Golf Club, started in 1871, has one of the oldest 18-hole golf courses in the world! It was designed by the famous Tom Morris Snr. The club has even hosted the Scottish PGA Championship twice.

Cricket

Strathmore Cricket Club, founded in 1862, has been playing at Lochside Park since 1873.

Other Sports and Facilities

Forfar has a swimming pool and a leisure center. There's also a new skatepark and an ice rink, which is home to the local curling club. You can find three bowling clubs in Forfar, two of which have outdoor greens. Forfar Loch is used by the Forfar Sailing Club, and the Angus Gliding Club operates nearby.

Schools in Forfar

Forfar has three primary schools and one secondary school.

Primary Schools

• Whitehills Primary School has a special unit where students learn only in Scottish Gaelic.
• Strathmore Primary School
• Langlands Primary School was rebuilt and reopened in 2009.

Secondary School

• Forfar Academy is one of the biggest schools in Angus, with about 1,200 students.

In 2007, some primary schools in Forfar closed as part of a project to improve schools. These included Chapelpark Primary School, Kirkriggs Primary School, and Wellbrae Primary School.

Healthcare in Forfar

The local hospital in Forfar is the Whitehills Health and Community Care Centre. It opened in 2005 and replaced the older Forfar Infirmary. This new center provides healthcare services for the community.

Places of Worship

Lowson Memorial Church

Forfar has several churches.

Church of Scotland

• East and Old Church is the original parish church, with a tall spire and clock in the town center.
• Lowson Memorial Church is a beautiful church built in 1914 with amazing stained glass windows.
• St Margaret's Church

The East & Old Church is built on a very old site where monks once worshipped. Its steeple is a famous landmark in Forfar, visible from all directions.

Forfar East and Old Parish Church

Other Churches

• St John the Evangelist Scottish Episcopal Church
• St Fergus Roman Catholic Church
• Forfar Community Church
• There is also a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's witnesses.

Other Interesting Things About Forfar

The Stag Forfar

• The town is famous for the Forfar Bridie, a delicious meat pastry.
• The Forfar Loch Country Park is a popular place for walks. The loch used to be much bigger and covered more of Forfar.
• Forfar hosts many events, like the Forfar Mara-Fun for charity and an annual Forfar Food Festival. There's also a monthly farmers' market.
• Strathmore Mineral Water Co., Ltd., a company that bottles mineral water, is based in Forfar. Their products are sent all over the world.
• Forfar is known for a funny story about a cow that drank a tub of beer left outside a house. This led to the saying: "Be like the coo o Forfar, an tak a stannin drink" (meaning, take a quick drink while standing).

Public Services

Forfar Reid Hall

• Water: Forfar gets its water from Lintrathen and Backwater reservoirs.
• Electricity: Electricity is supplied by Scottish Hydro Electric plc.
• Waste Management: Angus Council handles waste. Forfar has a good recycling service, with different bins for recyclable and non-recyclable waste. There's also a recycling center at Queenswell Road.
• Healthcare: NHS Tayside provides healthcare. The closest hospitals with emergency departments are Arbroath Infirmary and Ninewells Hospital in Dundee. Forfar has several local doctor's offices.
• Emergency Services: Police Scotland provides law enforcement, and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service handles fires and other emergencies.

Famous People from Forfar

Eilley Bowers

Many notable people have connections to Forfar:

• Patrick Abercromby (1656–1716), a historian and doctor.
• Eilley Bowers, who became one of the richest women in the United States.
• James Cook, a BBC journalist.
• David Don (1799–1841) and George Don (1798–1856), both famous botanists.
• Peter Ritchie Calder (1906–1982), a writer and journalist.
• David Ireland (colonel), a Colonel in the United States Army during the American Civil War.
• Jack Lorimer, a well-known comedian.
• David McLean (1890–1967) and George McLean (1898–1970), famous footballers.
• A. S. Neill (1883–1973), an educator.
• Ian Read, former CEO of Pfizer.
• Enn Reitel, an actor.
• Bon Scott, the rock and roll singer from the band AC/DC.
• David Taylor (1954–2014), a former leader at UEFA and the Scottish Football Association.
• Joseph Wedderburn (1882–1948), a mathematician.

Freedom of the Town

Some special people and military groups have been given the "Freedom of the Town" of Forfar, which is a great honor.

Individuals

• Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother: 1956.

Military Units

• The Black Watch: 1956.

See also

In Spanish: Forfar para niños