Editing Angus, Scotland (section)

==History==
===Etymology===
The name "Angus" indicates the territory of the eighth-century [[Picts|Pictish]] king, [[Óengus I]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=Place-names of Great Britain and Ireland |last=Field |first=John |date=1980 |publisher=David & Charles |isbn=0389201545 |location=Newton Abbot, Devon|oclc=6964610|page=24}}</ref>

===Prehistory===
The area that now comprises Angus has been occupied since at least the [[Neolithic period]]. Material taken from [[posthole]]s from an enclosure at Douglasmuir, near [[Friockheim]], about five miles north of Arbroath has been [[radiocarbon date]]d to around 3500&nbsp;BC. The function of the enclosure is unknown, but may have been for agriculture or for ceremonial purposes.<ref name="Douglasmuir">{{cite journal|last=Kendrick |first=Jill |others=contributions by Barclay, Gordon J.; Cowie, Trevor G.; Saville, Alan; illustrations by Townshend, Angela; Braby, Alan |date=1996 |url=https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-352-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_125/125_029_067.pdf |title=Excavation of a Neolithic enclosure and an Iron Age settlement at Douglasmuir, Angus |journal=Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland |volume=125 |pages=29–67 |doi=10.9750/PSAS.125.29.67 |s2cid=53586923 |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611100003/http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS_2002/pdf/vol_125/125_029_067.pdf}}</ref>

[[Bronze Age]] archaeology is to be found in abundance in the area. Examples include the short-cist burials found near West Newbigging, about a mile to the North of the town. These burials included pottery urns, a pair of silver discs and a gold armlet.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Jervise |first=Andrew |author-link=Andrew Jervise |date=1863 |title=Notice of Stone Cists and an Urn, found near Arbroath, Forfarshire |journal=Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland |volume=5 |pages=100–102 |doi=10.9750/PSAS.005.100.102 |s2cid=253299093 |url=https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-352-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_005/5_100_102.pdf |url-status=live |archive-date=11 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611232404/http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS_2002/pdf/vol_005/5_100_102.pdf}}</ref> [[Iron Age]] archaeology is also well represented, for example in the [[souterrain]] nearby Warddykes cemetery<ref>{{cite journal |last=Watkins |first=Trevor |others=contributions by Barclay, G. |date=1978 |title=Excavation of a settlement and souterrain at Newmill, near Bankfoot, Perthshire |journal=Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland |volume=110 |pages=165–208 |doi=10.9750/PSAS.110.165.208 |s2cid=210268478 |url=https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-352-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_110/110_165_208.pdf |url-status=live |archive-date=11 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611215131/http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS_2002/pdf/vol_110/110_165_208.pdf}}</ref> and at West Grange of Conan,<ref>{{cite journal |last=Jervise |first=Andrew |date=1863 |title=An account of the excavation of the round or "bee-hive" shaped house, and other underground chambers, at West Grange of Conan, Forfarshire |journal=Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland |volume=4 |pages=429–499 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6o0vAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA492 |url-status=live |archive-date=11 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611154458/http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS_2002/pdf/vol_004/4_492_499.pdf}}</ref> as well as the better-known examples at Carlungie and Ardestie.

===Medieval and later history===
The county is traditionally associated with the [[Picts|Pictish]] territory of [[Circin]], which is thought to have encompassed Angus and the [[Kincardineshire|Mearns]]. Bordering it were the kingdoms of [[Cé (Pictish territory)|Cé]] (Mar and Buchan) to the North, Fotla (Atholl) to the West, and Fib (Fife) to the South. The most visible remnants of the Pictish age are the numerous [[Pictish stones|sculptured stones]] that can be found throughout Angus. Of particular note are the collections found at [[Aberlemno Sculptured Stones|Aberlemno]], [[St Vigeans Sculptured Stones Museum|St Vigeans]], [[Kirriemuir Sculptured Stones|Kirriemuir]] and [[Monifieth Sculptured Stones|Monifieth]].

Angus is first recorded as one of the [[provinces of Scotland]] in 937, when [[Dubacan of Angus|Dubacan]], the [[Mormaer of Angus]], is recorded in the ''[[Chronicle of the Kings of Alba]]'' as having died at the [[Battle of Brunanburh]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Woolf |first=Alex |year=2007 |title=From Pictland to Alba 789–1070 |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |location=Edinburgh |isbn=9780748612345 |page=175}}</ref>

The signing of the [[Declaration of Arbroath]] at [[Arbroath Abbey]] in 1320<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.angus.gov.uk/history/features/buildings/arbabbey.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220180351/http://www.angus.gov.uk/history/features/buildings/arbabbey.htm|url-status=dead|title=Angus Council: Arbroath Abbey|archive-date=20 February 2014}}</ref> marked Scotland's establishment as an independent nation. Partly on this basis, Angus is marketed as the birthplace of Scotland.<ref>[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]], [https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12396196.first-kingdom-is-angus-really-the-birthplace-of-scotland-councillors-say-claim-is-historically-valid/ First kingdom: is Angus really the birthplace of Scotland? Councillors say claim is historically valid], published 11 March 2005, accessed 21 June 2023</ref> It is an area of rich history from Pictish times onwards. Notable historic sites in addition to Arbroath Abbey include [[Glamis Castle]], Arbroath Signal Tower museum and the [[Bell Rock Lighthouse]], described as one of the [[Seven Wonders of the Industrial World]].<ref>Wikipedia Foundation, [[Bell Rock Lighthouse]], accessed 21 June 2023</ref>

During the 16th and 17th century, several [[Forfar witch trials|witch trials took place in Forfar]], the last of which took place in 1662 and in which 52 people were accused. At the time, Forfar was a town of around 1,000 inhabitants, with an additional 2,000 people residing in the county.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mitchell |first1=Claire |last2=Venditozzi |first2=Zoe |title=How to Kill a Witch |date=2025 |publisher=Hatchett |isbn=9781800961883}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Strachan |first1=Graeme |title=Forfar Witch Trials: Suffering of executed women to be recognised in 'historic' service |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/past-times/3815965/forfar-witches-memorial-service-1661-1662/ |access-date=16 May 2025 |work=The Courier |publisher=DC Thomson Co Ltd |date=26 October 2022}}</ref>

===Administrative history===
Angus was one of the ancient provinces of Scotland, under the authority of the [[Mormaer]] or [[Earl of Angus]]. From at least the thirteenth century the area formed the basis for a shire (the area administered by a [[Sheriff principal|sheriff]]) based in Forfar: the [[Sheriff of Forfar]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Warden |first1=Alexander |title=Angus or Forfarshire, the land and people, Volume 2 |date=1881 |publisher=Charles Alexander & Co. |location=Dundee |pages=225–226 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7_4HAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA225 |access-date=5 August 2024}}</ref>

Over time, Scotland's shires became more significant than the old provinces, with more administrative functions being given to the sheriffs. The older territory called Angus was therefore gradually eclipsed in legal importance by the shire of Forfar (or Forfarshire) which covered the same area. In 1667 [[Commissioners of Supply]] were established for each shire, which would serve as the main administrative body for the area until the creation of county councils in 1890. Following the [[Acts of Union 1707|Acts of Union]] in 1707, the English term 'county' came to be used interchangeably with the older term 'shire'.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Keith |title=Act of the convention of estates of the kingdom of Scotland etc. for a new and voluntary offer to his majesty of £72,000 monthly for the space of twelve months, 23 January 1667 |url=http://www.rps.ac.uk/trans/1667/1/10 |website=Records of the Parliament of Scotland |publisher=University of St Andrews |access-date=25 February 2023}}</ref>

[[File:Sheriff Courthouse Forfar. - geograph.org.uk - 113484.jpg|thumb|left|[[Forfar Sheriff Court]], built 1871 as the county's main courthouse, also served as the first meeting place of the county council in 1890]]
Elected county councils were established in 1890 under the [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889]], taking most of the functions of the commissioners (which were eventually abolished in 1930). The county's five largest [[burgh]]s, being [[Arbroath]], [[Brechin]], [[Dundee]], [[Forfar]], and [[Montrose, Angus|Montrose]], were deemed capable of managing their own affairs and so were excluded from the administrative area of the county council.<ref>{{cite book |title=Guide to local government in parishes, counties and burghs |date=1892 |publisher=Royal College of Physicians |location=Edinburgh |pages=xxiii–xxx |url=https://archive.org/details/b21905678/page/n29/mode/2up |access-date=31 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The County Council Magazine |date=1890 |publisher=F. Warne and Company |location=London |page=284 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nfAZAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA284 |access-date=31 December 2021 |chapter=Preparing for the elections in Scotland}}</ref> The county council held its first official meeting on 22 May 1890 at the [[Forfar Sheriff Court|County Buildings]] (now known as Forfar Sheriff Court), the county's main courthouse, which also served as the meeting place for the commissioners of supply. [[Robert Haldane-Duncan, 3rd Earl of Camperdown]], a [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] peer, was appointed the first chairman of the county council.<ref>{{cite news |title=Forfarshire County Council |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=5 August 2024 |work=Arbroath Herald |date=29 May 1890 |page=6}}</ref><ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num= LB31610|desc=County Offices, Market Street, Forfar|access-date=18 July 2021}}</ref>

The 1889 Act also led to a review of boundaries, with [[exclave]]s being transferred to a county they actually bordered, and parishes which straddled more than one county being adjusted such that each parish was entirely in a single county. There were several such changes affecting the boundaries of Forfarshire.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Shennan |first1=Hay |title=Boundaries of counties and parishes in Scotland as settled by the Boundary Commissioners under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 |date=1892 |publisher=W. Green |location=Edinburgh |page=188|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_meygAAAAMAAJ/page/n225/mode/2up |access-date=5 August 2024}}</ref>

Dundee was subsequently made a [[county of city|county of itself]] in 1894, also removing the city from Forfarshire for judicial and [[Lieutenancy areas of Scotland|lieutenancy]] purposes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dundee Corporation Act 1894 (57 & 58 Vict. c.lxxiv)|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Vict/57-58/74/contents/enacted |website=legislation.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=5 February 2023}}</ref> Arbroath, Brechin, Forfar and Montrose were brought within the administrative area of the county council in 1930, although Arbroath was classed as a [[large burgh]], allowing its council to continue to deliver most local government functions itself.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government (Scotland) Act 1929|year=1929|chapter=25|accessdate=22 April 2023}}</ref>

In May 1928 the county council resolved to use the name 'Angus' for the area rather than the 'County of Forfar'.<ref>{{cite news |title=Angus displaces Forfarshire: Council decision on county name |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=4 August 2024 |work=Courier and Advertiser |date=3 May 1928 |location=Dundee |page=5}}</ref> The council petitioned the government to officially change the name too. The government responded by directing all departments to use Angus, but noted that the legal name would remain Forfar until such time as it could be changed by statute.<ref>{{cite news |title='Angus' or 'Forfar' - Scottish Office and county name |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=4 August 2024 |work=The Scotsman |date=12 July 1928 |location=Edinburgh |page=15}}</ref> The statutory change of name from Forfar to Angus eventually took place in 1947 under the [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1947]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Local Government (Scotland) Act 1947, Section 127 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo6/10-11/43/part/VI/crossheading/change-of-name/enacted |website=legislation.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=4 August 2024}}</ref>

Angus County Council was abolished in 1975 under the [[Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973]], which replaced Scotland's counties, burghs and landward districts with a two-tier structure of upper-tier regions and lower-tier [[districts of Scotland|districts]]. A new Angus district was created covering most of the pre-1975 county, with the exceptions being that [[Monifieth]] and a number of villages immediately north of Dundee were transferred to an enlarged City of Dundee district, and [[Kettins]] was transferred to [[Perth and Kinross]]. Angus District Council was a lower-tier district level authority subordinate to the [[Tayside Regional Council]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973|year=1973|chapter=65|accessdate=17 April 2023}}</ref> A [[Lieutenancy areas of Scotland|lieutenancy area]] covering the same area as the new district was created at the same time.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Lord-Lieutenants Order 1975|year=1975|number=428|access-date=3 August 2024}}</ref>

Further local government reforms in 1996 under the [[Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994]] saw the regions and districts created in 1975 abolished and replaced with [[council area]]s providing all local government services. Angus district became one of the new council areas, taking on the functions of the abolished Tayside Regional Council. The council area regained Monifieth and the villages north of Dundee as part of the same reforms.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994|year=1994|chapter=39|accessdate=17 April 2023}}</ref> The Angus lieutenancy area was adjusted to match the new council area in 1996. The [[Lord Lieutenant of Angus]] is appointed by the monarch.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Lord-Lieutenants (Scotland) Order 1996|year=1996|number=731|access-date=3 August 2024}}</ref> The boundaries of the historic county of Angus (as it was prior to the removal of Dundee in 1894) are still used for some limited official purposes connected with land registration, being a [[registration county]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ros.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/14921/LandMassCoverageReport2015-proofed.pdf |title=Land Mass Coverage Report |publisher=Registers of Scotland |access-date=2015-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232505/https://www.ros.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/14921/LandMassCoverageReport2015-proofed.pdf |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>