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History of Forfar (potted)

Forfar was settled by the Picts  but the Romans displaced the Picts. A while later, the Picts returned and replaced the Romans. The Picts were then replaced by the Northumbrians (i.e. Northern English). Then the Picts returned and tribal warfare has gone on ever since.

North of Forfar, is a farm called Battledykes.  This was a temporary camp for the Romans during the campaigns of Septimius Severus.

In 1057 the Scottish Parliament met in Forfar and the early Scottish Kings were regular residents of the castle of Forfar. Yes, Forfar had a castle but not now. The castle was a contentious building and was often used by usurpers.  Allegiances to the English continuously swayed this way and that. The castle was either used for the English or against the English.

 East of Forfar is Restenneth Priory.  The original building was erected by the Picts in the 7^th century. The main work was done on the Priory about 1200. The church was dedicated by David  de Bernham the bishop of St Andrews in1243.  The church had a royal connection in the form of  Robert 1^st (Robert the Bruce) when he buried his son there in 1322.  David II confirmed earlier royal grants in 1344. But the Restenneth Priory did not really develop into a major Priory and became at one point the parish Church for Forfar.

In 1302 Robert Bruce swore allegiance with the English. He was in residence at the castle at that point and  it was said that Robert the Bruce destroyed the castle. But this is not true as the local toon’s men with the aid of their carts and their lifting equipment ( i.e. the women), dismantled the castle and used the stone to build their houses and kirks. By doing this, the castle was now more a point for contention and the town drifted out of history books and prospered as a market town.

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