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Plaque discovered at Kirrie dentist’s!
David Orr (left) of Kirriemuir Heritage Trust and local developer Mark Guild survey the new panels. photosonlocation.co.uk
PATIENTS at the Kirriemuir Dental Practice are given a fascinating insight into the local history of the area, thanks to information plaques erected by the Kirriemuir Heritage Trust.
The land at the top of the Roods was originally known as the ‘North Muir of Liftie’ with Northmuir not taken into the Kirriemuir Burgh Boundary until 1965.
David Orr of the Trust said: “Being seen as outwith the town, roadblocks were set up here during the war by the LDV - they were removed when the Kinnordy View housing development was built in 2011. These blocks formed part of the World War Two defences and they were manned by the Home Guard.
“To commemorate the development of this last open field on Hillhead Farm between the dormitory of the Northmuir and the town of Kirriemuir, now forming an unbroken line of buildings right up to the golf course, Kirriemuir Heritage Trust felt it was appropriate to tell the story of the Northmuir on six permanent display boards placed in the reception area of the new dentist’s surgery, which was built on the site of the former roadblocks and in the last field to be developed.
“Mark Guild, the developer of the site, and Kirriemuir Dental Practice have co-operated with Kirriemuir Heritage Trust in making this possible and KHT wish to publicly thank both for their help in this project.”
The Trust hopes visitors to the dental practice will appreciate the information on display.
Some of the more unusual facts are recorded on the wall plaques are: the viewpoint on the Hill also gives a clear view west towards the Trossachs, and mountains that can be seen from Hill of Kirriemuir are Ben Lawers and Ben Ledi which are over 70 miles away. So it might be considered that the view from Kirrie Hill is the most distant view from any burgh in Scotland.
The Hill is now the location of the main telephone mast for the four main mobile telephone providers and serves as an important landmark and now overshadows Kirriemuir’s oldest relic, the standing stone.
David continued: “Many folk today will not recall the Northmuir had two auction marts at one time. Strathmore Auction Co. was on the hill and is commemorated in the name Mart Lane. The terrible storm of 1951 tore the roof off part of the mart and when the mart canteen burnt down it was never replaced.
“The Scott and Graham mart on Angle Road is now the site of the Wendyhouse playgroup and the adjacent industrial units.
“Some of the older residents will recall the day some schoolboys let all the sheep out of the pens (to let them get some grass) and all the folk of the Northmuir were out herding sheep well into the night.
“One day in the 1950s the cattle floats parked along both sides of Sheilhill Road when Princess Margaret came to visit, to slow the passing traffic so that the locals could get a good view of the Princess.”
A book on the history of the Northmuir was produced by the Northmuir WRI in the 1970s and a copy is now available at the dentists’ reception desk for anyone who wishes to learn more.
Kirriemuir Heritage Trust have also gifted a copy of the history to the Northmuir school.
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Weather for Kirriemuir
Thursday 23 May 2013
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 6 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 2 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North east
