Carnoustie

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For other uses, see Carnoustie (disambiguation).

Carnoustie
Càrn Fheusda (Gaelic)
Carnoustie (Scots)


OS grid reference:	NO56653422



Population:	13,000



Council area:	Angus
Constituent country:	Scotland
Sovereign state:	United Kingdom

Police force:	Tayside Police
Lieutenancy area:	Angus
Former county:	Angus

Post town:	CARNOUSTIE
Postal:	DD7
Telephone:	01241


Scottish Parliament:	Angus North East Scotland
UK Parliament:	Dundee East
European Parliament:	Scotland

Carnoustie (Gaelic: Càrn Fheusda) is a town and former police burgh in the council area of Angus, Scotland. It is a small town at the mouth of the Barry Burn on the east coast of Scotland. It is best known for its associations with golf, which is recorded as having been played there in 1527^[1]. This is a quarter century earlier than the first record of golf at St Andrews, dating from 1552.

1 History
2 Early history
3 Schools
4 Churches
5 Trivia
6 References
7 External links

[edit] History

The town of Carnoustie was founded only towards the end of the 18th century. In 1890, the Earl of Dalhousie, who owned the land, sold the links to the people of the town, to remain available for their recreation in perpetuity. While the townspeople are the owners, today the links are administered on their behalf by Angus Council.

The Open Championship was staged at Carnoustie Golf Links six times during the twentieth century (1931, 1937, 1953, 1968, 1975 and 1999). It will be played there again in 2007.

[edit] Early history

In the early 11th century when Scotland as we know it now was the Kingdom of Alban most of England had been overtaken by the Danes. The Danes were making ongoing attempts at conquering the remainder of the country and had gained considerable territory in Scotland by attacking from the north (through Moray). With the support of warriors from nearby territories the King of Alba (Malcolm II,King of Scots) engaged and defeated a major Danish invasion near Lochty Burn in the Battle of Barry (or Barrie). This battle was instrumental in the reunification of the people of Scotland and the eventual creation of the Kingdom of Scotia^[2]. After considerable losses on both sides, the Captain in charge of the Danes (Camus) and his remaining men were pursued to nearby Monikie and slain. The scale of which was such that one legend recounts that the waters of Lochty Burn ran with blood for three days^[3]. This is unlikely, as no battle remains have been found near the short length of the Lochty Burn. Camus Cross on the Panmure Estate is said to have been erected at the place where Camus fell^[4], however some of its markings appear to be Christian, which is a point for discussion since the 11th Century also saw the very early beginnings of Christianity in Scotland.

A settlement (Camuston) was named in honour of the Captain. No trace on maps remains today of a Camuston in this area, and the nearby Panbridge mentioned in the chronicles which was thought to be derived from the Latin "fanus" Bridget or the Church of St. Bridget, is now known as Panbride. The name Carnoustie is widely believed to mean "the cairn (resting place) of the heroes"^[5] and may have been the site of the original Camuston, but this may be speculation.

There is a Camus Street in Carnoustie. Lochty Burn, which is a stream of around 3 km in length, runs through the middle of Carnoustie and empties into the sea not far from the main railway station.

[edit] Schools

The town is served by an eponymous High School, and currently by four primary schools, Barry, Kinloch, Panbride and Carlogie. Carnoustie High School's teaching block is being replaced, along with the building of two new primary schools in new sites to replace Barry, Kinloch and Panbride, and the refurbishment of Carlogie, all of which is part of a large Public Private Partnership schools plan in Angus.

[edit] Churches

The Church of Scotland has three congregations: Barry linked with Carnoustie, and Carnoustie: Panbride. All of them represent unions between former Free Church of Scotland and Old Parish congregations: Barry Church now uses the old Free Church of Barry, Carnoustie Church uses the church of the former Carnoustie Old congregation in the centre of Carnoustie, and Panbride uses the former old parish building in Panbride village during the four summer months and the Free Church building in Newton of Panbride during the remaining months of the year. The Scottish Episcopal Church has a small congregation in a delightful Church in Holyrood Street. The Roman Catholic Church meets in the modern (built 2000) building of St Anne's Church in Thomas Street. The United Free Church has a small Church and Halls on Kinloch Street. The Carnoustie Christian Fellowship is an independent congregation meeting in a converted former Co-op building opposite the War Memorial. The Churches all have their leaders appointed to the local Carnoustie Ministers' Council, which promotes joint Church events and has responsibility for the leadership of the town Boys' and Girls' Brigades. The Boy Scouts and Girl Guides are also strongly supported by local congregations.

[edit] Trivia

Actor Ian McDiarmid was born in Carnoustie
Current industries in the town include jam making (though this industry is set to move to neighbouring Arbroath^[6])
Carnoustie was mentioned in Taysiders in Space, a sketch about a Star Trek parody also known as Scottish Star Trek, which appeared in the TV program Chewin' the Fat