Kirriemuir
Kirriemuir, sometimes called Kirrie or the "Wee Red Toon" ( (IPA:[anˈkʰʲɛɾəvmoːɾ])), is a burgh in Angus, Scotland. It reaches back to earliest recorded times, when it is thought to have been a major ecclesiastical centre. Later it was identified with witchcraft: some older houses still feature a "witches stane" to ward off evil. In the 19th century, it was a major centre of the jute trade. The playwright J. M. Barrie was born and buried here – a statue of Peter Pan stands in the town square. History. The history of Kirriemuir extends back to the early historical period. It appears  to have been a centre of ecclesiastical importance. The Kirriemuir Sculptured Stones, a series of late Pictish cross slabs, are on display at the Meffan Institute in Forfar and the Gateway to the Glens Museum in Kirriemuir. The lands of Ummarchie lay in the feudal barony of Kirriemure – then in the Sheriffdom of Forfar – and were owned for centuries by the Lauder of the Bass family. Alexander Lauder of Ummarchie, Co. Forfar, born about 1504 and a younger brother of Robert Lauder of the Bass (died 1576), appears in many documents and died at some time in 1580. In October  of this year, his younger son Walter had murdered his father's Roman Catholic brother James in a religious dispute. Walter was found guilty at Edinburgh on 15 December and beheaded. The eldest son, another Alexander Lauder of Ummarchie, stood surety on 22 March 1600 in an Act of Caution in the Privy Council in a principal for 2000 merks for William Rynd of Kers, who was involved in violent armed feuds between the Lindsays and the Ogilvies. Alexander Lauder of Ummarchie was still living in 1608. Kirriemuir has a history of witchcraft accusations dating back to the 16th century . Many older buildings have a witches' stane built in to ward off evil – a hard grey stone set into the local red sandstone of which they were built. A pond on the outskirts, known as the Witch Pool, was where supposed witches were thought to have been drowned, but in fact it was a millpond for the 19th-century Meikle Mill. Local amateur historians tend to think this referred to a "mickle" (small – it in fact means large) mill, but the reference is to one of John Meikle's patented chaff-separating machines, based on ideas he picked up in  the Netherlands. The adjacent "Court Hillock" was shown, during excavations for a housing development, to be no more than a spoil heap left after excavation and cleaning of the pond. Though Kirrimuir's importance as a market town has diminished, its former jute factories (now manufacturing synthetics) recall its 19th-century importance as a centre of a home-based weaving industry. Historic features near Kirriemuir include a carved Pictish stone known as the Eassie Stone. It was found in a burn near the village of Eassie. Kirriemuir claims the narrowest public footpath in Western Europe; Cat's Close, situated between  Grant's Pend and Kirkwynd. It is a mere 40 centimetres (15.75 inches) wide. The family estate of Sir Hugh Munro, who created "Munro's Tables" of Scottish mountains over 3,000 ft. in elevation (which are now called "munros"), is also located near the town. So is Kinnordy House, the seat of the Lyells. Kirriemuir Gingerbread was created by the baker, Walter Burnett, around 1900, though the recipe was sold to what is now Bell's Food Group, located in Shotts, in the 1940s. Governance. Kirriemuir is represented within Angus Council by the Kirriemuir and Dean ward, from which two  councillors are elected. As of 2012 these were: Ian Gaul (Scottish National Party), Ronnie Proctor (Scottish Conservative and Unionist), and Jeanette Gaul (Scottish National Party). Culture. The town has three museums: the Gateway to the Glens Museum, Barrie's Birthplace, and the Tayside Police Museum. There was once a museum of aviation, whose artifacts are now in the Richard Moss Memorial Collection at the Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre. There is a camera obscura, donated by J. M. Barrie, on the hill, offering views to the south and south-west and of the higher hills to the north. Also on  the hill and offering views from its southern slopes is the town cemetery, where Barrie is buried in the family grave. There is a silver granite war memorial in the centre of the cemetery, a column surmounted by a kilted soldier looking down across the town and over the broad fields of Strathmore to the Sidlaws. Every August a local music team holds a music festival, Live in the Den, featuring local guitar bands. In 2011 it was not held due to flooding. Setting. Kirriemuir consists mainly of two areas: Northmuir and Southmuir. It sits looking south towards Glamis and  the Sidlaws over Strathmore (one of the most fertile fruit-growing areas in Scotland). Its position at the base of the Angus glens makes it an attractive centre for hill walking on nearby Munros, and for fishing, partridge, pheasant and grouse shooting, and deer-stalking. There is also an 18-hole golf course with views north to Glen Clova and Glen Doll. Schools. Webster's High School is located in Southmuir; Northmuir and Southmuir each have a primary school. Northmuir's replaced Reform Street Primary School, which was in the town centre and demolished to build the Lyell Court Sheltered  Housing complex. Southmuir's moved to new premises in 2002, which had been built as part of an extension to Webster's High School. The earlier Southmuir building (once the original Webster's Seminary) was destroyed by fire on 29 October 2006 and has since been demolished. Parks. The town's two main parks lie in the Gairie Burn glen and on top of Kirriemuir Hill. The Den can be split into two parts. The east Den lies to the east of Bellies Brae (The Commonty) and the west Den to the west of Bellies Brae. This park has a  climbing frame and swing set. The Den is prone to flooding, as it lies in a deep valley. This last happened in December 2012. In the far west Den, there is a large Den Waterfall and the Cuttle Well. The Hill with Neverland, or the Peter Pan Play Park as it is sometimes called, is located in Northmuir. This play park with a Peter Pan theme was laid out in November 2010. Smaller parks include Davidson Park in Southmuir and Martin Park off Slade Road. Sport. Kirriemuir is home to the junior football club Kirriemuir Thistle. Although Kirriemuir lacks a  senior team side, the nearest club in the Scottish Football League is Forfar Athletic in the neighbouring town, one of several Angus clubs to play in the official league system. Kirriemuir also has a wheeled sports area in Martin Park and an all-weather sports pitch at Webster's Leisure Centre adjoining Webster's High School. Transport. The town was formerly served by the 124 bus route which ran once a day from Monday to Saturday to Forfar. It was withdrawn in 2019.