Brechin

Coordinates: 56°43′48″N 2°39′19″W / 56.72994°N 2.65533°W / 56.72994; -2.65533

Brechin
Scottish Gaelic: Breichinn [1]
Scots: Brechin
Brechin  Brechin shown within Angus
Population	7,199 [2] (2001 census) est. 6,950[3] (2006)
OS grid reference	NO600600
Council area	Angus
Lieutenancy area	Angus
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BRECHIN
Postcode district	DD9
Dialling code	01356
Police	Tayside
Fire	Tayside
Ambulance	Scottish
EU Parliament	Scotland
UK Parliament	Angus
Scottish Parliament	North Tayside
List of places: UK • Scotland •

Brechin (Scottish Gaelic: Breichinn) is a former royal burgh in Angus, Scotland. Traditionally Brechin is often described as a city because of its cathedral and its status as the seat of a pre-Reformation Roman Catholic diocese (which continues today as an episcopal seat of the Scottish Episcopal Church), but that status has not been officially recognised in the modern era.^[4][5] Nevertheless the designation is widely used, with examples being the City of Brechin and District Community Council, City of Brechin and Area Partnership, City of Brechin Civic Trust and Brechin City Football Club.^[6]

On the outskirts of Brechin, beside the A90 dual carriageway, is the Pictavia Visitors Centre (covering Pictish culture and displaying several carved stones), a small museum in the former town house, and an Award Winning Tourist attraction the Caledonian Railway (Brechin). Along with the cathedral and round tower, part of the chapel of Brechin's Maison Dieu or hospital survives from the Middle Ages (Historic Scotland).

Brechin Cathedral

Main article: Brechin Cathedral

The town is well known for its cathedral, with eleventh century round tower (Historic Scotland), one of only two of these Irish-style monuments surviving in Scotland (the other is at Abernethy, Perthshire). The tower was originally free-standing, but is now incorporated in the framework of the cathedral.

The cathedral has been much altered, but still contains medieval work of the 13th and 14th centuries, notable a handsome western tower and processional door.

Education

Education in Brechin is managed by the Education Department of Angus Council. There is one secondary school in the area; Brechin High School and six feeder primary schools; Andover Primary school, Edzell Primary School, Lethnot Primary School, Maisondieu Primary School, Stracathro Primary School and Tarfside Primary School.^[7]

Sport

Football

Brechin City Football Club plays Scottish League football and are currently placed in the second division. Their ground is called Glebe Park and is situated off Trinity Road. Brechin is also home to the junior football club Brechin Victoria F.C. who play at Victoria Park.

Notable people

• Robert Watson-Watt, radar pioneer, born in Brechin
• Joseph Fairweather Lamb, academic and former Chandos Chair of Physiology at the University of St Andrews
• Dame Anne Begg, Member of Parliament for Aberdeen South.
• Brian Keany, artist

See also

• List of places in Angus
• Battle of Brechin

Gallery

• 

  The Cathedral and Round Tower.

• 

  Door to Brechin Round Tower

References

1. ^ Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba ~ Gaelic Place-names of Scotland
2. ^ "Comparative Population Profile: Brechin Locality". Scotland's Census Results Online. 2001-04-29. http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Population&mainArea=brechin&mainLevel=Locality. Retrieved 2008-08-31. 
3. ^ "Buplications and Date". General Register Office for Scotland. http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data. Retrieved 23 August 2010. 
4. ^ Beckett, J V, City status in the British Isles, 1830–2002, Historical urban studies. Aldershot 2005
5. ^ "UK Cities". Department for Constitutional Affairs. 2002. http://www.dca.gov.uk/constitution/city/citygj.htm#part6. Retrieved 2008-08-15. 
6. ^ City of Brechin & District Area Partnership. "Members". http://www.brechinpartnership.org.uk/members.cfm. Retrieved 2008-08-15. 
7. ^ "Schools in Brechin". http://www.schools-search.co.uk/school-search-town.php?town=BRECHIN. Retrieved 30 June 2008. 

External links

• Brechin Online Local Community Website for Brechin.
• Caledonian Steam Railway Steam railway in the heart of Brechin.
• Brechin - entry in Undiscovered Scotland
• Brechin Advertiser - local newspaper
• Brechin Darts
• Brechin Arts Festival
• Brechin Town House Museum
• Brechin Environment
• Brechin Pool
• Maisondieu Primary's page on Scottish Schools Online