Forfar

title: "Forfar" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["forfar", "county-towns-in-scotland", "towns-in-angus,-scotland", "royal-burghs"] topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forfar" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox UK place"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| country | Scotland |
| official_name | Forfar |
| type | County town and administrative centre |
| gaelic_name | Baile Fharfair |
| scots_name | Farfar |
| population | |
| population_ref | () |
| population_demonym | Forfarian |
| os_grid_reference | NO455505 |
| map_type | Scotland |
| coordinates | |
| unitary_scotland | Angus |
| lieutenancy_scotland | Angus |
| constituency_westminster | Angus and Perthshire Glens |
| constituency_scottish_parliament | Angus North and Mearns |
| post_town | FORFAR |
| postcode_district | DD8 |
| postcode_area | DD |
| dial_code | 01307 |
| london_distance_mi | 372 |
| edinburgh_distance_mi | 49 |
| static_image_name | View of Forfar and countryside north of Forfar - geograph.org.uk - 654668.jpg |
| static_image_width | 250 |
| static_image_caption | View of Forfar and countryside north of Forfar |
| :: |
|country= Scotland |official_name= Forfar |type= County town and administrative centre |gaelic_name= Baile Fharfair |scots_name= Farfar | population = | population_ref = () |population_demonym = Forfarian |os_grid_reference= NO455505 |map_type=Scotland |coordinates = |unitary_scotland= Angus |lieutenancy_scotland= Angus |constituency_westminster= Angus and Perthshire Glens |constituency_scottish_parliament= Angus North and Mearns |historic_county= |post_town= FORFAR |postcode_district = DD8 |postcode_area= DD |dial_code= 01307 |london_distance_mi = 372 |edinburgh_distance_mi = 49 |static_image_name= View of Forfar and countryside north of Forfar - geograph.org.uk - 654668.jpg |static_image_width = 250 |static_image_caption= View of Forfar and countryside north of Forfar |area_total_sq_mi=
Forfar (; , ) is the county town of Angus, Scotland, and the administrative centre for Angus Council, with a new multi-million-pound office complex located on the outskirts of the town. As of 2021, the town had a population of 16,280.
The town lies in Strathmore and is situated just off the main A90 road between Perth and Aberdeen, with Dundee (the nearest city) being 13 miles (21 km) away. It is approximately 5 miles (8 km) from Glamis Castle, seat of the Bowes-Lyon family and ancestral home of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and where the late Princess Margaret, younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II, was born in 1930.
Forfar dates back to the temporary Roman occupation of the area, and was subsequently held by the Picts and the Kingdom of Scotland. During the Scottish Wars of Independence, Forfar was occupied by English forces before being recaptured by the Scots and presented to Robert the Bruce. Forfar has been both a traditional market town and a major manufacturing centre for linen and jute. Today the main activities are agriculture and tourism around scenic Strathmore. The local glens are visited by hill-walkers, and there are ski-slopes in the mountains. The town is home to a number of local sporting teams, including the League Two football club, Forfar Athletic.
The Forfar bridie, a Scottish meat pastry snack, is traditionally identified with the town.
Etymology
The exact origin of the name Forfar is uncertain. One suggestion is that the name is Gaelic and means "a cold point", involving, fuar meaning "cold, chilly", and bhar meaning "a point".
History
Early history
During one of the Roman invasions of modern-day Scotland, the Romans established a major camp at Battledykes, approximately 3 miles (5 km) north of Forfar; this camp was analysed to have held 50,000 to 60,000 men. From Battledykes northward the Romans established a succession of camps including Stracathro, Raedykes and Normandykes.
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, had her brains dashed out on Forfar market cross in 1230 while still an infant.
During the First War of Scottish Independence, the 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.
Early modern history
During the 16th and 17th century, several 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.
Like other parts of 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. 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. 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. Craiks owned Forfar Fabrics Ltd, incorporated in 1965, which amalgamated with Low & Bonar Textiles Limited in 1981. The jute manufacturers, John Lowson, Jnr & Co Ltd, also operated in Forfar, operating out of Victoria Works.
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Forfar_tablica.JPG" caption="Memorial plaque to the Polish Army in Forfar"] ::
The 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. 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 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, 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.
In the town there is a metal plaque to General Sikorski and the Polish troops commemorating the visit of King George VI and 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.
Queen Elizabeth II and the 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.
Governance
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/The_Cross_-geograph.org.uk-_405749.jpg" caption="[[Forfar Town and County Hall"] ::
Forfar is a parish, town and former royal burgh. The meeting place of the burgh was the Forfar Town and County Hall. It is the county town of Angus, which was officially known as Forfarshire from the 18th century until 1928. The town is represented within Angus Council by the Forfar & District ward, from which four councillors are elected. The members elected from this ward are, as of 2021; Lynne Devine (Scottish National Party), Braden Davy (Scottish Conservative and Unionist), Colin Brown (Independent) and Ian McLaren (Independent).
Transport
Road
The town is located just off the main A90 Dundee to Aberdeen road; having once passed through the town centre, the bypass was completed in 1987.
Railway
The nearest stations to Forfar are , and , which are all around 14 mi away. Connections to the rest of Scotland are available on the Edinburgh–Dundee line; the Glasgow–Dundee line, via Perth; and the Dundee to Aberdeen line.
The town was once served by Forfar railway station, which ran goods and passenger lines until 3 September 1967 when it closed for passenger transport as part of the Beeching cuts; a goods line from Perth continued until 1982. The station was located on the main line of the Caledonian Railway from Glasgow Buchanan Street to Aberdeen, which was the furthest north link in the chain of the West Coast Main Line from London Euston. Lines also went to Dundee, Arbroath, Brechin and Kirriemuir. The station has since been demolished and replaced by a small housing estate. However, a major locomotive shed remains and is in use for vehicle body manufacture. Some bridges and cuttings still survive but the site of the goods station, which was the town's original railway station before the one near the County Buildings was built, is now mainly residential properties.
Buses
Local bus services are operated predominantly by Stagecoach Strathtay, Moffat & Williamson and JP Coaches. Key routes connect the town with Dundee, Kirriemuir, Edzell and Arbroath.
Climate
As with most of the British Isles, Forfar has an oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfb). The nearest weather station to Forfar is located around 3 miles (5 km) north of Forfar, and is 91 m above sea level.
| width =
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| location = Forfar (91 m asl, averages 1991–2020)
| Jan record high C = 14.4
| Feb record high C = 14.8
| Mar record high C = 21.5
| Apr record high C = 22.7
| May record high C = 24.0
| Jun record high C = 28.1
| Jul record high C = 28.5
| Aug record high C = 28.2
| Sep record high C = 25.3
| Oct record high C = 21.2
| Nov record high C = 16.7
| Dec record high C = 14.8
| year record high C = 28.5
| Jan high C = 5.8
| Feb high C = 6.6
| Mar high C = 8.7
| Apr high C = 11.2
| May high C = 14.3
| Jun high C = 17.0
| Jul high C = 18.8
| Aug high C = 18.6
| Sep high C = 16.1
| Oct high C = 12.3
| Nov high C = 8.5
| Dec high C = 5.9
| year high C = 12.0
| Jan mean C = 2.8
| Feb mean C = 3.5
| Mar mean C = 5.0
| Apr mean C = 7.2
| May mean C = 10.0
| Jun mean C = 12.6
| Jul mean C = 14.4
| Aug mean C = 14.2
| Sep mean C = 12.0
| Oct mean C = 8.8
| Nov mean C = 5.3
| Dec mean C = 2.8
| year mean C = 8.2
| Jan low C = -0.2
| Feb low C = 0.3
| Mar low C = 1.8
| Apr low C = 3.2
| May low C = 5.6
| Jun low C = 8.3
| Jul low C = 9.9
| Aug low C = 9.7
| Sep low C = 7.9
| Oct low C = 5.2
| Nov low C = 2.0
| Dec low C = -0.2
| year low C = 4.4
| Jan record low C = -18.9
| Feb record low C = -18.4
| Mar record low C = -14.1
| Apr record low C = -6.9
| May record low C = -3.7
| Jun record low C = -1.3
| Jul record low C = 1.8
| Aug record low C = 1.1
| Sep record low C = -2.2
| Oct record low C = -7.6
| Nov record low C = -13.8
| Dec record low C = -19.1
|year record low C = -19.1
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 79.1
| Feb rain mm = 54.8
| Mar rain mm = 57.2
| Apr rain mm = 49.7
| May rain mm = 52.9
| Jun rain mm = 66.1
| Jul rain mm = 67.5
| Aug rain mm = 75.5
| Sep rain mm = 61.9
| Oct rain mm = 98.9
| Nov rain mm = 81.0
| Dec rain mm = 74.6
| year rain mm = 818.9
| unit rain days = 1 mm
| Jan rain days = 12.7
| Feb rain days = 10.5
| Mar rain days = 9.5
| Apr rain days = 9.2
| May rain days = 11.0
| Jun rain days = 12.0
| Jul rain days = 9.4
| Aug rain days = 9.8
| Sep rain days = 11.1
| Oct rain days = 12.1
| Nov rain days = 12.3
| Dec rain days = 11.3
| year rain days =
| Jan sun = 51.1
| Feb sun = 77.5
| Mar sun = 113.5
| Apr sun = 161.1
| May sun = 195.7
| Jun sun = 159.0
| Jul sun = 166.7
| Aug sun = 156.2
| Sep sun = 122.5
| Oct sun = 98.0
| Nov sun = 63.3
| Dec sun = 46.5
| year sun = 1411.0
| source 1 = Met Office (rainy days 1981–2010)
| source 2 = Starlings Roost Weather
Local sport
Football
The town is home to semi-professional football club Forfar Athletic, who are members of the Scottish Professional Football League and currently play in League Two and two SJFA clubs, Forfar West End, and Forfar United, who both currently play in the Midlands Football League. Forfar Athletic's ground, Station Park, plays host to matches featuring Dundee United Reserves.
Youth and women's football is available in the town, with Forfar Boys F.C (boys only), Lochside Boys F.C (boys only) and Forfar Farmington F.C (boys, girls and women). All the clubs have SFA Quality Mark Award at some level.
Rugby league
Forfar has a National League rugby league team, the Strathmore Silverbacks, who share Inchmacoble Park as their home ground with the local rugby union team.
Rugby union
Rugby Union is represented in the town by Strathmore Rugby Football Club, who play their home games at Inchmacoble Park, beside Forfar Loch. The club has men's and ladies' teams.
Golf
The Forfar Golf Club, founded in 1871, has the fourth oldest 18 hole course in the world, and is the first club to have an 18-hole course from inception and inauguration. The course was designed by Tom Morris Snr, and in 1926 alterations recommended by five time Open Championship winner James Braid were implemented. The letter with Braid's recommendations is on display in the clubhouse.
The Forfar Golf Club has hosted the Scottish PGA Championship twice, once in 1932 and again in 1966.
Cricket
Strathmore Cricket Club, founded in 1862, has played at Lochside Park since 1873.
Other sports and facilities
The town has a dedicated community campus.
There is a skatepark near the Forfar loch. Forfar has an ice rink which was built in the early 1990s and this is home to the local curling club.
There are three bowling clubs in Forfar: Forfar Bowling Club, Canmore Bowling Club and Forfar Indoor Bowling Club. Both Forfar Bowling Club and Canmore Bowling Club have outdoor bowling greens.
Forfar Loch is home to Forfar Sailing Club.
Angus Gliding Club operates at Roundyhill, between Glamis and Kirriemuir.
Education
Forfar has three primary schools:
- Whitehills Primary School on Service Road contains a Gaelic Medium Unit where pupils are educated exclusively through the medium of Scottish Gaelic. The head teachers are Coureen Peters & Elaine Gallon (acting).
- Strathmore Primary School is on St James' Road. The head teacher is Jennifer Garnes.
- Langlands Primary School is on Glamis Road. The school reopened in May 2009 after the demolishing of the original buildings and an extensive period of rebuilding and landscaping. The head teacher is Jayne McLean.
There is one secondary school in the town:
- Forfar Academy on Taylor Street is one of the largest schools in Angus, with a roll of around 1,200 pupils.
In 2007, the Forfar-Carnoustie Schools Project made major changes to schools in Forfar, with closure of the following primary schools:
Chapelpark Primary School on Academy Street (the former Forfar Academy) opened in 1967 and was active for 40 years before closing in 2007. The pupils were re-located to Strathmore Primary and Whitehills Primary. The building continued in use as a school, initially by Whitehills Primary until their new school was completed in early 2008. It was then home to Langlands Primary, until the new school on that site was completed in May 2009. In 2016 it was decided that it would be turned into an apartment block, ad work was completed in the summer of 2018.
Kirkriggs Primary School in St. James' Road was closed in 2007. Pupils were re-located to Langlands until the new school on this site (Strathmore Primary) was completed in early 2008.
Wellbrae Primary School closed in 2007. Pupils were sent to Chapelpark Primary School and later to Whitehills Primary School. The play areas of Wellbrae were all concrete. In 2016, it burned to the ground in an arson attack.
Healthcare
The local community hospital, the Whitehills Health and Community Care Centre, was built on the site of the old Whitehills Hospital building (the former hospital for infectious diseases) and opened in Spring 2005. The new hospital replaced Forfar Infirmary, formerly the town's main hospital, as well as Whitehills Hospital. The Infirmary has since been completely demolished.
The Fyfe-Jamieson maternity hospital closed some time ago; it was across the road from the Forfar Academy, but the site has since been built over with houses.
Places of worship
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/Lowson_Memorial_Forfar.JPG" caption="Lowson Memorial Church"] ::
Forfar has three Church of Scotland congregations:
- East and Old Church was originally the parish kirk, with a tall slender spire and steeple clock overlooking the town centre. It is a category B listed building and was refurbished in early 2017. The church is situated in the town centre and offers a mixture of traditional and contemporary worship.
- Lowson Memorial Church, off Montrose Road, is a category A listed church in late Scots Gothic style built in 1914 by A Marshall Mackenzie, who also designed Crathie Kirk. The church contains notable stained glass windows by Douglas Strachan. The church serves the east side of Forfar, and provides a mix of traditional and contemporary styles of worship.
- St Margaret's Church, in the West High Street, was originally a free kirk.
It had been decided (by a Church of Scotland arbiter) that the East and Old Parish Church would close, and the congregation would move to St. Margaret's Church. This was brought back for discussion at Angus Presbytery due to a large vote against this decision. Now the East and Old and St Margaret's are to remain individual churches as they have always have been.
The East & Old Church is built on the site of the original place of worship that some of the monks of Restenneth Priory built hundreds of years before the one today. The adjoining graveyard has famous 'residents' such as botanist George Don, quite a few scholars and a man who blamed the witches of Forfar for poisoning him after ill words were exchanged between them.
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/22/Forfar_East_and_Old_Parish_Church.JPG" caption="Forfar East and Old Parish Church"] ::
The steeple is a focal point of Forfar, visible when entering the town from any direction. Although abutting the East & Old building, it is owned by the 'Town' and is not formally part of the church property; it is all but certain to be retained following any disposal of the church building.
The town has churches of other denominations, including:
- St John the Evangelist Scottish Episcopal Church, East High Street, was designed by Sir R Rowand Anderson and consecrated in 1881. Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, later to become Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, was confirmed in this church.
- St Fergus Roman Catholic Church
- Forfar Community Church at Wellbraehead on part of the old school site
There is a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's witnesses.
Other items of interest
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/The_Stag_Forfar.JPG" caption="The Stag Forfar"] ::
The town is traditionally identified with the Forfar bridie, a meat pastry snack. A recipe for the Forfar bridie was featured in Maw Broon's Cookbook.
The Forfar Loch Country Park is visited by locals as a walking venue. It is said that the Forfar Loch extended over much more of Forfar in the 1800s, going as far up as Orchardbank and Wellbrae. A drainage project brought the water level down. In about the same time period the loch was used to dump raw sewage; this practice is no longer continued: it is now treated sewage.
The town holds many events throughout the year such as the bi-annual Forfar Mara-Fun, which raises money for charity, and the annual Forfar Food Festival, highlighting some of the local food. There is also a monthly farmers' market.
Forfar is home to the Strathmore Mineral Water Co., Ltd., a bottled mineral water producer now run by AG Barr. The company's products are shipped worldwide.
Forfar is known for the "coo o Forfar". A householder left a tub of beer in the doorway to cool, and a passing cow drank it. When the owner of the cow was charged for the beer, a baillie ruled that if the beer was drunk at the doorway it was "deoch an doras" or "stirrup cup", to charge for which would be an insult to Scots hospitality. This became a byword: "Be like the coo o Forfar, an tak a stannin drink".
Public services
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Forfar_Reid_Hall.JPG" caption="Forfar Reid Hall"] ::
Forfar and the surrounding area are supplied with water by Scottish Water from Lintrathen and Backwater reservoirs in Glen Isla. Electricity distribution is by Scottish Hydro Electric plc, part of the Scottish and Southern Energy group.
Waste management is handled by Angus Council. From June 2014, there has been a comprehensive recycling service in place, succeeding the more limited kerbside recycling scheme introduced in 2005. Recyclable waste (encompassing paper, card, cans, plastics and glass) is now collected fortnightly, on alternate weeks with non-recyclable waste, with households having separate bins for each purpose. Garden and food waste are also collected for separate processing. Roughly two-thirds of non-recyclable material is sent to landfill at Angus Council's site at Lochhead, Forfar, and the remainder sent for incineration (with energy recovery) outside the council area. |title=Angus Council local plan section 37 |url=http://www.angus.gov.uk/localplan/localplansection37.pdf |publisher=angus.gov.uk |access-date=2008-09-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607014648/http://www.angus.gov.uk/localplan/localplansection37.pdf |archive-date=7 June 2011 |df=dmy
A recycling centre is located at Queenswell Road. Items accepted include, steel and aluminium cans, cardboard, paper, electrical equipment, engine oil, fridges and freezers, garden waste, gas bottles, glass, liquid food and drinks cartons, plastic bottles, plastic carrier bags, rubble, scrap metal, shoes and handbags, spectacles, textiles, tin foil, wood and yellow pages. Angus council publishes details of where and how each product is processed. |title=Angus Council recycling centres |url=http://www.angus.gov.uk/services/view_service_detail.cfm?serviceid=1299 |publisher=angus.gov.uk |access-date=2009-08-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607014659/http://www.angus.gov.uk/services/view_service_detail.cfm?serviceid=1299 |archive-date=7 June 2011 |df=dmy There are also glass banks at the Abbeygate and Tesco car parks. |title = Angus Council neighbourhood recycling points |url = http://www.angus.gov.uk/services/view_service_detail.cfm?serviceid=1062#a3 |publisher = angus.gov.uk |access-date = 2009-08-26 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090605050840/http://www.angus.gov.uk/services/view_service_detail.cfm?serviceid=1062#a3 |archive-date = 5 June 2009 |df = dmy-all The Angus Council area had a recycling rate of 34.7% in 2007/08. |title = Angus Council kerbside Recycling Scheme |url = http://www.angus.gov.uk/services/view_service_detail.cfm?serviceid=1304 |publisher = angus.gov.uk |access-date = 2009-08-26 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110607014629/http://www.angus.gov.uk/services/view_service_detail.cfm?serviceid=1304 |archive-date = 7 June 2011 |df = dmy-all
Healthcare is supplied in the area by NHS Tayside. The nearest hospitals with accident and emergency departments are Arbroath Infirmary | title = Arbroath Infirmary | url = http://www.nhstayside.scot.nhs.uk/patients/hospital/ARBROATH_INF.shtml | publisher = nhstayside.scot.nhs.uk | access-date = 2008-09-07 and Ninewells Hospital, Dundee. | title = Ninewells Hospital | url = http://www.nhstayside.scot.nhs.uk/patients/hospital/ninewells.shtml | publisher = nhstayside.scot.nhs.uk | access-date = 2008-09-07 Primary Health Care in Forfar is supplied by several practices, based at Ravenswood Surgery on New Road, Academy Medical Centre in Academy Street and Lour Road Group Practice. | title = Ravenswood Surgery | url = http://www.gpsites.scot.nhs.uk/t/13195/main.htm | publisher = gpsites.scot.nhs.uk | access-date = 2009-08-26 | title = Academy Medical Centre | url = http://www.gpsites.scot.nhs.uk/t/13231/home.htm | publisher = gpsites.scot.nhs.uk | access-date = 2009-08-26 | title = Lour Road Group Practice | url = http://www.gpsites.scot.nhs.uk/t/13284/home.htm | publisher = gpsites.scot.nhs.uk | access-date = 2009-08-26 Forfar, along with the rest of Scotland, is served by the Scottish Ambulance Service. |title=Scottish Ambulance Service |url=http://www.scottishambulance.com/about_us/default.asp |publisher=scottishambulance.com |access-date=2008-09-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719163318/http://www.scottishambulance.com/about_us/default.asp |archive-date=19 July 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy
Since April 2013, law enforcement is provided by Police Scotland and Forfar is served by Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
Notable people
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Eilley_Bowers.jpg" caption="[[Eilley Bowers"] ::
- Patrick Abercromby (16561716), antiquarian and physician
- Eilley Bowers, in her time, one of the richest women in the United States, and owner of the Bowers Mansion, one of the then-largest houses in the western United States; a Scottish farmer's daughter who emigrated, after converting to the LDS Church as a teenager
- Willie Brown (19282017), footballer
- Peter Ritchie Calder (1906–1982), socialist writer, journalist, and academic
- James Cook, BBC journalist
- Caroline Doig (19382019), paediatric surgeon and the first woman elected to the council of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
- David Don (1799–1841), botanist
- George Don (1798–1856), botanist
- George Duncan (18841965), Church of Scotland minister
- Prince Edward, Earl of Forfar. HRH visited the town in June 2019 after being granted the title in March of the same year. He was presented with an Earl of Forfar tartan
- Kathryn Findlay, architect
- James Simpson Fleming (1828–1899), banking lawyer
- David Ireland, colonel in the United States Army during American Civil War; commanded the 137th New York Infantry Regiment during crucial battles such as the Battle of Gettysburg; born in Forfar
- Reverend Dr John Ker, minister of Forfar 1745–1781, moderator in 1776
- George Langlands, footballer (primarily Dundee F.C.)
- Jack Lorimer, comedian and father of Max Wall
- David McLean (18901967), footballer, played for both Celtic and Rangers, ended his career at Forfar Athletic
- George McLean (18981970), footballer, younger brother of David, ended his career with Forfar Athletic
- A. S. Neill (18831973), educator
- David W. Potter, sports author
- Ian Read, CEO of Pfizer
- Enn Reitel, actor
- Bon Scott, rock n' roll singer from the band AC/DC
- David Taylor (19542014), former Joint General Secretary of UEFA and Chief Executive of the Scottish Football Association (SFA)
- Joseph Wedderburn (18821948), mathematician, modern algebra, born in Forfar
Freedom of the Town
The following people and military units have received the Freedom of the Town of Forfar.
Individuals
Military units
- The Black Watch: 1956
References
References
- {{Scottish settlement population citation
- "Dictionaries of the Scots Language:: SND :: farfar".
- (1843). "Forfarshire Illustrated: Being Views of Gentlemen's Seats, Antiquities, and Scenery in Forfarshire with Descriptive and Historical Notices".
- Alan Reid, ''The [[Royal Burgh]] of Forfar: A Local History'', 1902, Houlston & sons; 445 pages
- [http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=18037 C. Michael Hogan, ''Elsick Mounth'', Megalithic Portal, ed Andy Burnham (2007)]
- (1839). "Maitland Club, Edinburgh 1839". Lanercost Chronicle.
- Barbour, John. (1856). "The Brus". The Spalding club.
- (2025). "How to Kill a Witch". Hatchett.
- (26 October 2022). "Forfar Witch Trials: Suffering of executed women to be recognised in 'historic' service". DC Thomson Co Ltd.
- "Archive Services Online Catalogue Don & Low (Holdings) Ltd". [[University of Dundee]].
- "Archive Services Online Catalogue Don Brothers, Buist & Co. Ltd, Spinners and manufacturers, Dundee and Forfar, and Don & Low (Holdings) Ltd". [[University of Dundee]].
- Whatley, Christopher A.. (1992). "Onwards from Osnaburgs: the rise & progress of a Scottish textile company, Don & Low of Forfar 1792–1992". Mainstream.
- "Don & Low". Don & Low.
- "MS 100/3 Moffat & Son Ltd, Manufacturers, Forfar". University of Dundee.
- "MS 74 Craiks Limited, Linen and Jute Merchants and Manufacturers, Forfar". University of Dundee.
- "MS 24/13 Forfar Fabrics Ltd". University of Dundee.
- "MS 66/8 John Lowson, Jnr & Co Ltd, Jute Manufacturers, Forfar". University of Dundee.
- (1946). "The Jute & Canvas Trades Year-book & Directory 1946". British Continental Trade Press.
- Carstairs, A. M.. (1974). "The Tayside Industrial Population 1911–1951". Abertay Historical Society.
- "Polonica in Scotland, Forfar, Angus". ostrycharz.free-online.co.uk.
- {{Historic Environment Scotland
- (1928-10-24). "Forfarshire's New Name". [[The Times]].
- "Councillors".
- (May 2023). "Timetables". ScotRail.
- (2023). "Forfar Bus Services". Bus Times.
- "Forfar No 3 (Angus) UK climate averages". Met Office.
- "Monthly Temperature Extremes". Roost Weather.
- http://www.lochsideboysfc.co.uk {{webarchive. link. (12 July 2013)
- "Forfar Farmington Football Club – North East's Girl's & Women's Football since 1984".
- "Home".
- "History".
- "Strathmore Cricket Club".
- "FORFAR SAILING CLUB - Home".
- (24 October 2016). "Two boys charged over fire that gutted former primary school". STV News.
- (26 April 2015). "Forfar Infirmary". Historic Hospitals.
- Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
- Brown, Graham. (2 July 2019). "VIDEO: 'Honour' to be named Earl of Forfar says Prince Edward as town welcomes him with bridies, tartan and fiddles".
- "Royal Family".
- "Tartan Details - The Scottish Register of Tartans".
- [http://www.scottishleague.net/archive/archive107.htm SFAQs: Davie McLean], ScottishLeague.net
- John Litster. (October 2012). "A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players". Scottish Football Historian magazine.
- "Scottish Football Association".
- [http://turnbull.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/history/Biographies/Wedderburn.html Entry for Joseph Wedderburn] at the Mactutor History of Mathematics Archive
- (21 July 2015). "QUEEN MOTHER IN FORFAR". British Movietone.
- (13 April 2014). "Queen Mother's Visit To Forfar To Receive Freedom (1956)". British Pathé.
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