Monifieth

Coordinates: 56°28′51″N 2°49′11″W / 56.480865°N 2.819644°W / 56.480865; -2.819644

Monifieth
Monifieth shown within Scotland
Population	est. 8,180[1] (2006)
OS grid reference	NO496323
Council area	Angus
Lieutenancy area	Angus
Constituent country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	MONIFIETH
Postcode district	DD5
Dialling code	01382
Police	Tayside
Fire	Tayside
Ambulance	Scottish
European Parliament	Scotland
UK Parliament	Dundee East
Scottish Parliament	Angus North East Scotland
List of places: UK • Scotland

Monifieth (pronounced /mɒnifiθ/) is a town and former police burgh in the council area of Angus, Scotland.

History

Early History

The area surrounding Monifieth has been occupied continuously since the Mesolithic period. Midden pits of that age have been found nearby at Stannergate, and worked flints apparently of that age have been found at Balmossie. More tangible evidence for settlement can be found from the Neolithic period, for example with the Cursus monument, identified from cropmarks near Woodhill, between Monifieth and Carnoustie.^[2] This cursus is of a similar scale to the well characterised, mid 4th century BC enclosure found nearby at Douglasmuir near Friockheim.^[3] Numerous stones incised with cup and ring marks have also been found in the surrounding area.^[4][5][6]

Approximately 1 mile to the north of Monifieth lies Laws hill, on which lies the Iron age ruins of a Broch and vitrified fort.^[7] These ruins are much reduced as the stone from their walls has been used on the estate for construction of dykes and drains, well into the 19th century,^[8] and while very little remains of the structure today^[9] tradition recorded in 1842 attests to the walls being 5 foot tall at the beginning of the 19th century.^[10] Artefacts found at and around the site include a quantity of gold coins, iron spear heads and a stone lamp.^[11]

Domestic remains from the late Prehistoric period can also be found in abundance in the area. Perhaps most well known are the souterrains at Carlungie and Ardestie,^[12] but cropmarks point to other settlements of that age, for instance at Woodhill.^[13]

Medieval History

Prior to the thirteenth century, the land to the south of St Rule's church was owned by the Culdee monastic order. This land was gifted to Arbroath Abbey in 1242-1243 by Matilda, Countess of Angus.^[14] A hoard of 700 coins dating to the reigns of Edward I and Edward II were found in this area in 1854.^[14]

In the 19th century, the present building of St Rule's Church (built 1812) incorporated three Class II Pictish standing stones, including one that had been part of the pre-reformation building it replaced.^[15] These, along with a fourth stone found in an adjoining garden, were donated to the National Museums of Scotland in 1871^[15][16] and indicate that the site was important in the early Christian Church.

Modern History

In the early eighteenth century, the main industries included quarrying, weaving within the home and the start of manufacturing of linseed oil at a water-powered mill by the mighty Dighty burn, later named as Milton of Monifieth. Although Monifieth had no harbour, a considerable amount of cargo from coastal vessels was off-loaded on the sands at low tide and moved by horse-drawn vehicles to nearby destinations.

Monifieth railway station opened on 6 October 1838.

Until the 19th century, Monifieth was a tiny village, but the rise of the local jute industry and the revival of the foundry, saw workers pouring into the town and the population grew from 558 in 1861 to 2,134 in 1901. In 1895 Monifieth was registered at Forfar Sheriff Court as a burgh. With the formation of a Council and Officials, it progressed into the next century as a reasonably desirable place to live.

A tramway service was introduced in 1905, with cars journeying into Dundee City centre at regular intervals. This service was welcomed by the many who travelled daily either from the Burgh into the City on business, or the many hundreds who commuted daily to work in the factories and mills.

Moves were made by the council of Dundee to annex the burgh into Dundee's boundaries. In 1913 a petition signed by the residents of Monifieth was presented before Parliament in London and successfully retained Monifieth's independence. The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 redrew the council boundaries and Monifieth became part of Dundee City Council in 1975.

In 1996, after Local government reorganisation, Monifieth became part of the Angus council area, after being part of Dundee District in the Tayside region for 21 years.

Monifieth Today

The town centre of Monifieth

There is a non-24 hour Tesco store, several newsagents, B&Bs and three nursing homes. Monifieth boasts one of the best links golf courses in the area which is used as an Open Championship qualifying course when the Open is at nearby Carnoustie Golf Links. The local youth centre is also host to a vibrant local music scene in the town. 2006 has seen an expansion of housing to the North side of Monifieth, in part due to the upgrading of the A92 to a dual carriageway providing better access to Dundee and Angus. The beach front has also been revitalised with a new children's play area and skateboard bowl. The sand dunes which were one of the town's main features until the 1980s, have disappeared due to coastal erosion, although efforts have been made to recreate these.

Education

There are three schools in Monifieth: Grange Primary School, Seaview Primary School and Monifieth High School. The three schools are operated by Angus Council. Between them, they have just over 1700 pupils attending the schools each day.

Public Services

Monifieth and the surrounding area is supplied with water by Scottish Water. Water was supplied from Crombie reservoir until 1981.^[17] Since then, along with Dundee and parts of Perthshire, Angus has been supplied from Lintrathen and Backwater reservoirs in Glen Isla. Electricity distribution is by Scottish Hydro Electric plc, part of the Scottish and Southern Energy group.

Waste management is handled by Angus Council. There is a kerbside recycling scheme that has been in operation since May 2006. Cans, glass, paper and plastic bottles are collected on a weekly basis. Compostable material and non-recyclable material are collected on alternate weeks.^[18] Roughly two thirds of non-recyclable material is sent to landfill at Angus Council's site at Lochhead, Forfar and the remainder sent for incineration (with energy recovery) outside the council area.^[19]

A recycling centre is located at Riverview Drive. Items accepted include, steel and aluminium cans, cardboard, paper, electrical equipment, engine oil, fridges and freezers, garden waste, gas bottles, glass, liquid food and drinks cartons, plastic bottles, plastic carrier bags, rubble, scrap metal, shoes and handbags, spectacles, textiles, tin foil, wood and yellow pages. Angus council publishes details of where and how each product is processed.^[20] There is also a glass bank at the Tescos car park.^[21] The Angus Council area had a recycling rate of 34.7% in 2007/08.^[18]

Healthcare is supplied in the area by NHS Tayside. The nearest hospitals with accident and emergency departments are Arbroath Infirmary^[22] and Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.^[23] Primary Health Care in Monifieth is supplied by Monifieth Medical Practice which is based at the Health Centre on Victoria Street^[24] Monifieth, along with the rest of Scotland is served by the Scottish Ambulance Service.^[25]

Law enforcement is provided by Tayside Police^[26] and Monifieth is served by Tayside Fire and Rescue Service.^[27]

References

External links