A Glimpse Of Old Brechin
Brechin by Slezer
Brechin is an ancient town on the banks of the River South Esk in the old county of Angus or Forfarshire. The name Brechin is reputedly derived from the Gaelic for a brae or hill. It aptly describes the town's location on a long sloping hill rising up from the river.
Brechin Cathedral
Brechin was founded upon an early Christian church settlement established around 1,000 years ago. King Kenneth Mac Malcolm (971-995) gave "the great city to the Lord" and founded a church dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The Round Tower attached to the later medieval cathedral was constructed around this time and is one of only two such towers in Scotland. The other Round Tower is in Abernethy. The original church was founded on the Irish model of priesthood. They were known as the Culdees and differed from their Roman Catholic successors in many ways including allowing priests to marry. Later the Cathedral came under the Roman Catholic rule and a bishop was installed. The bishop's burgh was granted the right to hold a weekly market and various other privileges. This reflected its status as the mother church of Angus. In the 11th century Brechin must have been a place of significance as invading Vikings found it a worthwhile target to attack. Over many centuries the Cathedral acquired lands and wealth from patrons such as Sir Walter Stewart, Earl of Atholl and Lord of Brechin. In 1429 Stewart endowed the Cathedral with lands to pay for the maintenance of a Song School to train choristers.
Reformation
Brechin was an important town through out the medieval period but after the Reformation of the Roman Catholic church in the 1560's the Cathedral was reduced to the status of a parish church. For the next hundred years or so bishops were created or demoted as the tide of national politics ebbed and flowed. The town held a weekly market for local commodities such as fish brought in from Montrose. The bishop's market had been held on a Sunday but this was not considered suitable by the Church of Scotland and it was changed to another day. In addition a number of fairs were held, the most important of which was Trinity Fair, or Tarranty Fair, held on the town's muir.
Rise of the merchants
In 1641 King Charles I reconfirmed the former episcopal burgh's rights and privileges as a royal burgh. Despite the upheavals of the 17th century Brechin established a Town Council and began to govern its own affairs, largely unimpeded by a bishop. A Guildry of Merchants was established which boosted trade, both local and, in some cases, internationally. The family of Provost David Doig, who made a fortune in Antigua from their sugar plantations, were not alone in acquiring money and lands from national and international trade. Six trade incorporations were also established for the hammermen, bakers, skinners, tailors, shoemakers and weavers. They regulated trade and offered charity to "decayed" members and their widows and orphans.
18th century
During the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715 Brechin raised an army for the Old Pretender and the burgh was taken over by Jacobite sympathisers. Brechiners took a less active role in the 1745 rising, perhaps as a result of their earlier experiences. Smuggling and illicit distilling were also important activities in the eighteenth century.
By the late eighteenth century many new ventures were launched, fuelled by the growing Industrial Revolution. Linen weaving was a vital part of the local economy and became the largest single employer in the town. The introduction of power loom weaving concentrated production in large factories and employed many women.
Industrial Revolution
River Street flood
By the middle of the nineteenth century Brechin sustained a paper mill, 2 flax mills, 5 linen factories, 2 bleachfields, 2 distilleries, a brewery, 2 saw mills and 2 nurseries. During the 18th century men such as Provost John Molison had built up an industrial base within the town which later manufacturers such as the Duke's exploited more fully. Industrial employment reached a peak in the 1880's and declined slowly thereafter.
Residential growth
Despite this industrial trend Brechin continued to grow as a residential centre during the nineteenth century. Until then, Brechin had remained largely within its medieval boundaries. The density of the population grew as the years past. Most Brechiners lived in 2 or 3 room tenements. Between 1800 - 1850 the population grew from 4,000 to 8,000. The Town Council adopted the General Police and Improvement Act prior to 1871 and began to make progress with public health. The town had a Provost, 2 bailies and a Dean of Guild, a treasurer, a hospital master and a council of 7 members. They began to tackle the problems of overcrowding and unsanitary conditions. New streets were created and fine houses were built, a public park was created and a new hospital built. Water was piped into homes, street lighting provided and the construction of inside toilets encouraged from the late 19th century onwards. Other improvements were made by various private societies such as the building of the Infirmary in 1869.
20th century
During the 1950's and 1960's the work of reducing overcrowding continued with many new houses being constructed on the outskirts of the town to relieve overcrowding. Brechin's industry received a boost during World War Two with the relocation of businesses such as Coventry Gauge and Tool to the town and the setting up of an airbase at Edzell.
In 1975 Brechin Town Council ceased to exist and became part of Angus District Council, and later Angus Council from 1996.
© Angus Council 1998 - 2008