We had meant to visit Edzell Castle, which lies just north-west of Brechin in Angus, for some time now. It is famous for its walled garden with box hedging arrangement. Last August we managed to book a visiting slot. The castle is now in the care of Historic Scotland. The present castle is on a site somewhat removed from the old motte and bailey castle.

Edzell Castle from motte and bailey site:-

From the castle grounds:-

A corner tower:-

Entrance and square tower:-

Doorway:-

Castle entrance from east:-

Castle tower from southwest:-

Part of castle with walled garden to left:-

The mound of the old motte and bailey Castle is easily seen from the south wall:-

Edzell is a village in Angus, Scotland, about six miles from Brechin. We stopped there on our way down from Aberdeenshire hoping to go to Edzell Castle but it was shut for the winter.

I did however find a Boer War Memorial standing in a railed enclosure just off the road through the town. It takes the form of a Celtic cross inscribed, “To the memory of gallant soldiers belonging to Edzell & District who fell in the Great Boer War 1899-1900-1901-1902. ‘Decorum est pro patria mori.'”:-

From south, remembering Lt Colonel D T Laing, killed near Lindley, 3/1/1901, aged 41:-

Reverse, dedicated to Private James Paterson, killed Magersfontein, 11/12/1899, aged 21; Private James Candy, killed at Paarderberg, 18/2/1900, aged 30, and Private William Walker, died of wounds, Wyndberg, 22/3/1900, aged 21:-

From north, dedicated to Colour Sergeant David Christison, killed Magersfontein, 11/1/2 1899, aged 30, and Trooper W A Mcnab, died at Kroonstad, 23/2/1902, aged 21:-

Again, I’ve passed this countless times on my way to and from Brechin but only stopped to photograph it in August last year.

From road – complete with skip:-

From access road – skip again:-

The entrance doors are decoish too:-

Side view:-

Rear:-

Monikie is on the B961 road between Dundee and Brechin.

On the way back from the game at Brechin on 25/8/18 I stopped to photograph its Memorial Hall.

There is an inscribed Memorial in the grounds of the Hall but it is of relatively recent construction, perhaps for the 100^th anniversary of the Great War:-

Names and dedication, “The Great War 1914 -1918.”

Western aspect. Inscribed, “In Flanders Fields the Poppies Blow.”

Eastern aspect. Inscribed, “Between the Crosses Row on Row.”

On the Hall’s external wall is a Great War 100^th anniversary memorial plaque:-

I photographed two of the names of the fallen attached to trees in the small park area within which Monikie’s War Memorial stands.

L/Cpl James Spalding, Black Watch, killed in action, France, 16/6/1915, aged 22:-

Pte John Irons, Royal Scots Fusiliers, killed in action France, 12/8/1916, aged 24:-

From the path to the park which contains Brechin’s War Memorial there is a good view of the reverse of the beech hedge which forms the western boundary of Glebe Park. You can also see the David Will Stand in this photo:-

The following two photos were taken of Sons new strip for 2018-19 (now superseded again) at the game on 25/8/18, a game we should have won.

After all those visits to Brechin to see the mighty Sons of the Rock play away against Brechin City last year in August in preparation for yet another visit I finally looked up where Brechin’s War Memorial is located. It turned out it’s very near the football ground in a pleasant park area.

It’s an impressive sandstone column:-

Side view:-

World War 2 Dedication. “To the glory of God and in grateful remembrance of those who gave their lives in the Second World War 1939 – 1945.” Below the names, “Greater love hath no man than this.”

Great War Dedication, “To the undying memory of the men of the City and Parish of Brechin who gave their lives in the Great War 1914 – 1919. Their name liveth for evermore,” and names Ada – Cla:-

Great War names Cob – Hod:-

Great War names Hoo-Pai:-

Great War names Pet – You:-

Other Conflicts; Kenya, Northern Ireland, Korea, Malaya. Plus additional names for France 1916, Burma 1945, and Mediterranean 1942:-

For years on my way up to Brechin to see the mighty Sons of the Rock play at Glebe Park against Brechin City I have been passing this War Memorial – a granite pillar by the side of the B961 seemingly in the middle of nowhere at a junction with an unnumbered minor road (to the left in the first photo below.) There’s not really a place to park but on making that same trip in August 2018 I made sure to stop.

As you can see it’s beautifully kept.

The inscription reads, “In proud and loving memory of men from Carmyllie District who fell in the Great Wars 1914 – 1918. 1939 – 1945.” Great War names are below, plus one for World War 2.

A memorial bench is set behind the pillar:-

Great War names, plus one for World War 2:-

Again Great War names, plus one for World War 2:-

The lack of Second World War names on these rural memorials may be due a combination of the loss of men in the Great War and the decline in numbers of men involved in farming which occurred between the two wars as a result of mechanisation.

SPFL Tier 2, The Rock, 28/11/17.

I suppose a point against a team above us is not to be sniffed at but that’s two games in a row now we’ve failed to see the game out from a winning position. Then again we’re part-time and they’re full-time and we ussually don’t do as well in midweek fixtures.

It was good to see Greg Morrison get his name on the score sheet. He’s looked a bit lacking in confidence recently. A goal should help with that.

Pity Inverness C T thumped Brechin though. A draw there wouldn’t have been a calamity.

Since they’re top of the league I’m not expecting anything from Saturday’s game at St Mirren.

SPFL Tier 2, The Rock, 28/10/17.

Seems like this was a bad one.

If only they hadn’t punted their manager during the week….. We did well against him when he was in post.

And Inverness CT’s sudden discovery of form has put us down a place.

I now have the fear for next Saturday at Brechin. Even this early it looks like a crunch game. If we lose it gives them heart and makes our job of ending above them more problematic. They’ll be targetting this, I have no doubt.

Abernethy is a village in Perth and Kinross. It contains one of only two intact Pictish towers left in Scotland. (The other is in Brechin.)

Tower from street:-

A view from the tower. Graveyard just below:-

Tower from graveyard:-

War Memorial from Tower:-

War Memorial from ground level:-

Original inscription carved into plinth:-

War memorial names. Great War names above, 1939-45 below:-