Glamis

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Glamis
Angus

Glamis parish church
Location
Grid reference: NO385467
Location: 56°36’29"N, 3°0’13"W
Data
Post town: Forfar
Postcode: DD8
Dialling code: 01307
Local Government
Council: Angus
Parliamentary
constituency:
Angus

Glamis (pronounced ˈɡlɑːmz) is a small village in Angus, to be found four miles south of Kirriemuir and five miles southwest of Forfar. The name of Glamis is world-famous for its appearance in Shakespeare's Macbeth, and also it is the location of Glamis Castle, the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

History

Glamis, with the Grampians beyond

The vicinity of Glamis has prehistoric traces - within the village there stands an intricately carved Pictish stone known as the Glamis Manse Stone. There are various other Pictish stones nearby the village, such as the Hunter Hill Stone, and the Eassie Stone, which stands in the nearby village of Eassie.[1] In 1034, King Malcolm II was murdered at Glamis.[2]

Sights about the village

  • Glamis Castle hosts various events throughout the year, notably the Proms evening when thousands of turn out with picnics, ranging from the small to the elaborate.
  • Angus Folk Museum run by the National Trust for Scotland is a museum of days past, recreating scenes of rural life such as a minister's parlour; a schoolroom; a laundry; and an agricultural area, along with displays of tools, everyday artefacts, and old crafts. It is housed in an adapted row of single storey stone cottages.

Glamis is a well preserved conservation village. The parish church, dedicated to St Fergus, was founded in the early mediæval period (probably the 8th century AD). The present building is 18th-century with restoration in the 1930s but retains a vaulted 15th-century aisle from the mediæval church which preceded it.

Glamis in Shakespeare

In the tragedy play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Macbeth is Thane of Glamis. In the first Act, Macbeth is introduced as Thane of Glamis, and is soon elevated to become Thane of Cawdor also, the former holder having been executed for treason. He learns of his new title through the witches' prophecy, and later commits regicide to fulfill the third line of the address by the weird sisters:

"All hail Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!"
"All hail Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!"
"All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!"

Forfar Bridies

The Forfar Bridie, a meat pastry snack popular with locals and visitors, is believed to have originated here, rather than in the nearby county town of Forfar.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Glamis)

References

  1. C.Michael Hogan, Eassie Stone, The Megalithic Portal, ed. Andy Burnham, Oct. 7, 2007
  2. Black's Picturesque Tourist of Scotland, Adam and Charles Black, Published 1861, Scotland, 635 pages