Visit Arbroath
Map of this area

Arbroath is the largest town in Angus with a population of, roughly, 25,000. It is a fishing port and resort town. It's original name was more descriptive of it's origin- Aberbrothock, "at the mouth of the Brothock" (Burn). Probably most well known for it's abbey which was completed in 1233 and was the setting of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1320 from which the Americans based their Declaration of Independence. In 1446 the area in front of the abbey was the scene of a bloody battle. Arbroath became a royal burgh on the 23rd November 1599. Here is the wording of the Charter. The base for the building of the Bell Rock lighthouse (completed in 1811) was in Arbroath.

In the 18th and 19th centuries Arbroath became a centre for linen weaving, spinning, bleaching and tanning with mills dotted all the way down the Brothock valley and, it is believed, Arbroath mills supplied the sails for the "Cutty Sark". It is also famous for it's delicacy, the "Smokie", which was really an Auchmithie invention.

The modern economy depends, mainly, on engineering (parts for some models of Rolls Royce were made in Arbroath), oil-related industries, fishing, boat building and, to a lesser extent, tourism.