Montrose, Angus
Template:Infobox Scotland place with map The Royal Burgh of Montrose is a minor port and tourist resort in Angus, on the east coast of Scotland.
Early place names appear to show the presence of a Norse settlement in the area of the present harbour. The name Montrose probably stems from 'Mouth Hrossay' due to the location at the outlets of the River Esk near Rossie Island (Norse: horse island). However, the first documentary evidence of the existence of Montrose is the burgh charter issued by David I. Montrose once had a castle located in what is now the high street, it was destroyed in the year 1297 by Scottish Hero William Wallace.
John de Balliol resigned his kingdom to Edward I in Montrose. He was stripped of his arms and knightly dignity in a ceremony which later earned him the nickname "Toom (empty) Tabard."
After the short lived 1715 uprising on 4th February 1716 Prince James Francis Edward Stuart (the Old Pretender) arrived in Montrose, where he spent his last night in Scotland before returning by ship to France.
It is said that Lord James Douglas embarked from here for Jerusalem with the heart of King Robert the Bruce.
At one time it traded regularly with the towns of the Hanseatic League and was, during the 18th century, a major smuggling centre.
Montrose also has the 5th oldest golf course in the world, the Montrose Medal, dating from 1562. It is also a qualifying course for The Open Championship.
Montrose is the most northerly of the Angus coastal towns.
Montrose is an attractive burgh with a wealth of architecture, and is a centre for international trade. It is an important commercial port for the thriving oil and gas industry. The town itself boasts the widest high street in Scotland. This has picturesque closes leading to secluded gardens.
Most impressive of all is the town’s spectacular view of a two-mile tidal lagoon, Montrose Basin, which is considered a nature reserve of international importance. It is also the largest inland salt water basin in the UK, and an important habitat for the mute swan.
Helen Cruickshank, the Scottish poet, grew up in this area.
Today, Montrose is a lively town of around 12,000 inhabitants. It still functions as a port but the major employer in the town is GlaxoSmithKline, recently saved from closure.