Forfar in historic gazetteers

Gazetteer of the British Isles (Edinburgh: Bartholomew, 1887). John Bartholomew

Forfar, co. town, parl. and royal burgh, and par. with ry. sta., Forfarshire, in the Valley of Strathmore, 14 miles NE. of Dundee, 54 NE. of Edinburgh, and 471 NW. of London -- par., 8353 ac., pop. 14,470; royal burgh, pop. 13,579; parl. burgh and town, pop. 12,817; P.O., T.O., 6 Banks, 1 newspaper. Market-days, Wednesday and Saturday. The staple industry is the mfr. of linen, especially of the coarser varieties; in connection with the linen factories are several bleachworks. Forfar was a royal residence of Malcolm Canmore, whose castle stood on the Castle Hill, a conical mound to the NE. of the town. Malcolm's queen, Margaret, lad also a residence on the Inch in Forfar Loch, to the W. of the town, a sheet of water which has been much reduced by draining operations. Forfar was made a royal burgh by David I. (1124-1153). The castle, then occupied by an English garrison, was captured and demolished by King Robert Bruce, 1308; it was never rebuilt, and its site is now marked by the town cross (1648). Forfar unites with Montrose, Bervie, Arbroath, and Brechin in returning 1 member to Parliament.