Kirriemuir

Kirriemuir is a small town in Angus, Scotland, often called "the Wee Red Toon." It is famous for being the birthplace and resting place of the well-known playwright J. M. Barrie. Barrie created the beloved character Peter Pan, and a statue of Peter Pan stands in the town square as a tribute to him. The town has a rich history and is a special place for fans of Peter Pan and Scottish literature. For a town named Kirriemuir in a different part of the world, you can read about Kirriemuir, Alberta.

History

Some old carved stones from Kirriemuir can be seen at the Meffan Institute in Forfar, and others are in the local museum in the Kirriemuir Town House.

In the past, the land around Kirriemuir was owned by a family named Lauder. One of their members was involved in a fight that led to a sad outcome.

The town used to be important for making clothes, especially with a material called jute. Today, the factories make different kinds of fabrics.

Near Kirriemuir, there is a very narrow path called Cat's Close, which is only about 40 centimetres wide—perhaps the narrowest in Western Europe!

The town is also known for a special kind of food called Kirriemuir Gingerbread, created by a local baker named Walter Burnett around the year 1900.

Governance

Kirriemuir is part of Angus Council. It has a special area called the Kirriemuir and Dean ward, where three local leaders, called councillors, are chosen to help make decisions for the town. In 2019, the councillors were Julie Bell from the Scottish National Party, George Meechan who is Independent, and Ronnie Proctor from the Scottish Conservative and Unionist party. The old meeting place for the town's leaders, called Kirriemuir Town Hall, was finished being built in 1885.

Culture

Kirriemuir has three interesting museums: the Gateway to the Glens Museum, Barrie's Birthplace, and the Tayside Police Museum. There used to be a museum about aviation, but its items are now kept at the Richard Moss Memorial Collection at the Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre.

On a hill near the town, you can find a special camera obscura, which was given by the famous writer J. M. Barrie. It shows beautiful views to the south and west, as well as the taller hills to the north. The town cemetery is also on this hill, and Barrie is buried there with his family. In the middle of the cemetery stands a tall silver granite war memorial shaped like a soldier in a kilt, looking out over the town and the fields of Strathmore towards the Sidlaws.

Every August, local musicians hold a fun event called Live in the Den, where guitar bands from the area perform. The festival was not held in 2011 because of flooding.

Setting

Kirriemuir has two main parts called Northmuir and Southmuir. The town looks south toward Glamis and enjoys being close to Strathmore, a very good place for growing fruit in Scotland. Because it is at the bottom of the Angus glens, Kirriemuir is a nice spot for hill walking and other outdoor activities like fishing and grouse shooting. There is also an 18-hole golf course with nice views toward Glen Clova and Glen Doll.

Schools

Webster's High School is in Southmuir, and there are primary schools in both Northmuir and Southmuir. Northmuir’s primary school replaced an older one that was torn down to make space for new housing. Southmuir’s primary school moved to new buildings in 2002, which were added to Webster's High School. The old Southmuir school building was destroyed by a fire in 2006 and was later torn down.

Parks

Kirriemuir has two main parks. One is in the Gairie Burn glen, and the other is on top of Kirriemuir Hill.

The Den park has two parts. It includes a climbing frame and swing set. The Hill park, also called the Peter Pan Play Park, has a fun theme and was created in November 2010. Other smaller parks in the town are Davidson Park and Martin Park.

Sport

Kirriemuir is the home of a junior football club called Kirriemuir Thistle. While the town does not have a senior team, the closest club in the Scottish Football League is Forfar Athletic, located in a nearby town. Kirriemuir also has a sports area in Martin Park and an all-weather pitch at Webster's Leisure Centre, next to Webster's High School.

In the 1880s, Lindertis F.C. from Kirriemuir played in the Scottish Cup for five seasons, and Kirriemuir F.C. played for one season.

Notable people

Kirriemuir has been home to many interesting people throughout history. One of the most famous is J. M. Barrie, who was born here in 1860. He created the beloved character Peter Pan and even called Kirriemuir "Thrums" in some of his stories. You can see a statue of Peter Pan in the town square today, and his birthplace is now a museum owned by the National Trust for Scotland.

Other notable individuals from Kirriemuir include John Ogilby, an early mapmaker who created the first road map of England in 1675, and Scott McKenna, a professional footballer who grew up in the town. The town also remembers Bon Scott, the lead singer of the band AC/DC, who lived here for a part of his childhood.

Twin towns/sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in the United Kingdom

• Volvic, France, is famous for its mineral water.
• Kerrimuir is a place in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. It is named after the town of Kirriemuir.

The Ball of Kirriemuir

The Ball of Kirriemuir is a traditional song that tells a fun story about a dance party. The song has a playful and cheeky tone, describing what happens during the celebration.