The Den, Kirriemuir Page 1 of 20

THE GARDEN HISTORY SOCIETY IN SCOTLAND

SURVEY OF GARDENS & DESIGNED LANDSCAPES

RECORDING FORM

A. GENERAL SITE INFORMATION (Expand boxes as necessary)

A1 SITE NAME:

The Den, Kirriemuir

A2 ALTERNATIVE NAMES OR SPELLINGS:

A3 ADDRESS AND POSTCODE:

The Den

Kirriemuir

DD8 4JJ

A4 GRID REFERENCE:

NO 380 530

A5 LOCAL AUTHORITY:

Angus Council

A6 PARISH:

Kirriemuir

A7 INCLUDED IN AN INVENTORY OF GARDENS & DESIGNED LANDSCAPES IN

SCOTLAND: NO

A8 TYPE OF SITE: (eg. Landscaped estate, private garden, public park/gardens,

corporate/institutional landscape, cemetery, allotments, or other – please specify)

Public park

A9 SITE OWNERSHIP & CONTACT: (Where site is in divided ownership please list all

owners and indicate areas owned on map if possible)

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Angus Council

A10 SIZE IN HECTARES OR ACRES:

By mapping software approx. 15 acres.

A11 PUBLIC ACCESS ARRANGEMENTS/OPENING TIMES (If any):

Open at all times

A12 NATIONAL & LOCAL AUTHORITY DESIGNATIONS: (eg. Conservation Area,

Green Belt, Tree Preservation Order(s), Nature Conservation Area, etc.

None

A13 LISTED STRUCTURES:

None

B. HISTORICAL SURVEY INFORMATION: MAPPED,

DOCUMENTARY & PUBLISHED SOURCES B1 MAPPED SOURCES: (please list maps below in date order and attach copies where

possible. Give the description or title, date, maker’s name if known, and for Ordnance

Survey maps give the date of survey, edition number and sheet number)

1862 OS 1

st edition 25” to mile sheet XXXI.16 surveyed 1862 published 1865. (Before

The Den was established.)

http://maps.nls.uk/os/25inch/view/?sid=74946700&zoom=5&lat=9352&lon=11120.5&la

yers=B

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1862 OS 1

st edition 6” to mile sheet XXXI surveyed 1862 published 1865. (Before The

Den was established.)

http://maps.nls.uk/os/6inch/view/?sid=74426909&zoom=6&lat=2956&lon=14252&layer

s=B

1901 OS 2

nd edition 25” to mile sheet 031.16 revised 1901 published 1902.

http://maps.nls.uk/os/25inch-2nd-and-

later/view/?jp2=82883142&zoom=5&lat=9030&lon=10908&layers=B

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1901 OS 2

nd edition 6” to mile sheet XXXI.SE revised 1901 published 1902

http://maps.nls.uk/os/6inch-2nd-and-

later/view/?sid=75534479&zoom=6&lat=3298.5&lon=6969&layers=B

1922 OS 2

nd edition 25” to mile sheet 031.16 revised 1922 published 1924

http://maps.nls.uk/os/25inch-2nd-and-

later/view/?jp2=82883145&zoom=5&lat=9262.5&lon=11064&layers=B

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1922 OS 2

nd edition 6” to mile sheet XXXI.SE revised 1922 published 1927

http://maps.nls.uk/os/6inch-2nd-and-

later/view/?sid=75534479&zoom=6&lat=3298.5&lon=6969&layers=B

1938 OS 3

rd edition 6” to mile sheet XXXI.SE revised 1938 published c.1950

http://maps.nls.uk/os/6inch-2nd-and-

later/view/?sid=75534473&zoom=5&lat=3171.5&lon=7096&layers=B

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Pre 1959 (From 1937) OS 1:25,000 published 1959

http://maps.nls.uk/os/25k-gb-1937-

61/view/?jp2=91617233&zoom=6&lat=3754.5&lon=5704&layers=B

B2 PRIMARY & DOCUMENTARY SOURCES: (plans, manuscript documents and

other estate records) Please list material consulted in date order and attach copies where

possible. Give description of material, and location and reference number of archival

holding.

1814-1894 – Angus Archives TD/43 Title Deeds. (As at March 2013, these were

being digitized.)

1867 Plan of The Den at the scale of 100 feet to one inch; copied and enlarged

from the 1st edition OS map; annotated with the names of the original trustees.

(part of TD/43 Title Deeds).

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1867 Plan of the Den

1953 Disposition by Angus Milling Company (part of TD/43 Title Deeds).

2010 Angus Council Report No 869/10 undated? Proposed disposal of The Den

House.

2012 Angus Council Report No 291/12 dated 12 June 2012. Planned work

programme incudes ‘The Den – Rebuild Gairie Burn walls Phase 1’.

B3 HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS & PICTORIAL SOURCES: (drawings, paintings,

photographs, aerial photographs etc. Include type, subject, artist, source or reference

location, and date if known)

Many of these are postcards mostly from the early 20th

century. Generally, the date of the

image is not known.

University of Aberdeen Photographic Archive. 1853-1908 George Washington

Wilson – GB 0231 MS 3792/C6892. ‘The Den Kirriemuir, View across

countryside to town with woman and child seated in front.’

Angus Archives MS/747/45/706 PF 1985 3417 The Gairie Burn

Angus Archives MS/747/45/708 Gairie Burn, Bridge

Angus Archives MS/747/45/726 PF 1985 3057 Aerial of The Den, Muckle Fair

Angus Archives MS/747/45/56 Old pasteboard postcard; The Den Kirriemuir

Angus Archives MS/747/45/132 Skating in the Den

Angus Archives MS/747/45/146 The Den shows the bridge

Angus Archives MS/747/45/192 1923 The Den shows the bridge

Angus Archives MS/747/45/252 1908 The Den shows footpaths

Angus Archives MS/747/45/254 1911 The Den shows bridge

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Angus Archives MS/747/255/352? KG IV? 19?4 the Den Aerial

Angus Archives MS/747/255/256 1913 The Den

Angus Archives MS/747/255/277 Public Park Kirriemuir

Angus Archives MS/747/255/275 The Den Kirriemuir

Angus Archives MS/747/255/290 Photograph The Den flooded

1909 Illustration of the Cuttle Well in The Regality of Kirriemuir by Alan Reid.

Refer B4 Bibliography of Published Sources

Various old but undated photographs in Old Kirriemuir by Fiona Mackenzie.

Refer B4 Bibliography of Published Sources

19-20th

century - Old postcards

http://www.vintagekirriemuir.com/2012/01/den.html by Iain Henderson on Flickr

(last seen March 2013)

Modern c.2010 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/661853 photo of The Den (last

seen March 2013)

B4 BIBLIOGRAPHY OF PUBLISHED SOURCES: (Statistical Accounts, Gazetteers,

Directories, Travel Accounts etc.) Please list publications consulted in alphabetical

order. Include details of author, title, journal or periodical, and date, volume/edition and

page numbers where relevant.

Barrie, J. 1896. Sentimental Tommy London, Cassell and Company, various

pages.

Kirriemuir Observer 12 December 1884 – fundraiser for The Den

Kirriemuir Observer 17 April 1936 – replacement of bridge.

Mackenzie, F. 2002 Old Kirriemuir Catrine, Ayrshire, Stenlake Publishing,

4,5,34.

Mills, J.F. 1896 Through Thrums Kirriemuir, The Observer (Reprint 1996

Kirriemuir, Sandra Affleck Publications), 27-28.

Orr, D.G 2009. Kirriemuir Its Streets & Place Names Friends of Kirriemuir

Gateway to the Glens Museum, 24.

Reid, A. 1909. The Regality of Kirriemuir Edinburgh, John Grant, 321-324.

B5 PRINCIPAL PERIODS OF DEVELOPMENT:

1867 The community of Kirriemuir acquired that part of The Den on the south

side of the Gairie Burn (D.Orr) from Sydney Wilkie, an Australian from

Kirriemuir (A. Reid).

1867 & 1883 They also acquired properties extending from the road leading to

Meikle Mill to the Burn of Gairie. (D.Orr)

1870 Death of ‘Sydney’ Wilkie who was part benefactor of The Den ie south side.

(D. Orr)

1882 Agreement made with Kinnordy Estate regarding the north side

(implemented 1909). (D. Orr)

1884 Fundraising for The Den.

1908 The above properties transferred to the Provost, Magistrate and Councillors

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of the Burgh of Kirriemuir on behalf of the community. (D.Orr)

1909 The Den on the north side of the Burn of Gairie was acquired in feu from

Kinnordy Estate. (D. Orr)

1936 The bridge by the park keeper’s house was replaced by a concrete bridge.

Further remedial work carried out.

2010 The Den House for sale.

2012 Plan to rebuild the walls of the Gairie Burn within The Den.

B6 PRINCIPAL ARCHITECTS/DESIGNERS ASSOCIATED WITH SITE: (please

reference source of information)

None.

B7 ORAL RECORDS/REMINISCENSES Please include a list of any people interviewed

during the course of research/survey work. Include name and role of interviewee (eg.

family member, former employee, local resident), date of conversation and major dates,

features or events recalled. Attach a transcript of the conversation if possible.

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C. SITE SURVEY Use map provided to mark positions and boundaries. Take

photographs where possible.

C1 ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS Note the materials used, the dates and styles

of various phases of development, and category of listing if appropriate

C1A PRINCIPAL HOUSE OR BUILDING:

The Den House, 94 Glengate, DD8 4JG. Previously the park-keeper’s cottage. Two

storey red sandstone with gable ends; slated roof; chimneys at both ends.

As at October 2012, the house is for sale by Angus Council.

Den Cottage

C1B OFFICES (stables, outbuildings, etc):

None

C1C HOME FARM OR MAINS:

None

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C1D BOUNDARIES (External & internal; estate walls, ha-has, park fences etc.):

The main boundaries around the park are wooden posts with wooden rails. Boundaries

along the Gairie Burn vary according to the adjacent properties on the north of the burn.

C1E GATES/GATE LODGES:

The main entrance gate is on Tannage Brae at the south west of the park with double

wrought iron gates and a matching pedestrian gate. There is no lodge.

A single pedestrian entrance is on Cortachy Road at the north east end of the park. There

are additional pedestrian entrances at the town and Southmuir boundaries. The entrance

by Lochmill has a turnstile.

Entrance near Lochmill

C1F GARDEN BUILDINGS (Summer houses, view houses, temples, grottoes etc):

Bandstand – wooden structure on a stone base with hipped roof in corrugated iron. There

is a front veranda with steps.

Public toilets – concrete structure.

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C1G CHAPELS/MAUSOLEUMS/BURIAL GROUINDS:

None

C1H CONSERVATORIES/FERNERIES:

None

C1J GARDEN STATUARY (Fountains, statues, sundials, monuments etc.) Note any

inscriptions:

Cuttle Well. This is a natural spring; there is a rock-built surround with concrete

additions.

C1K BURIAL GROUNDS/CEMETERIES (Note principal memorials and headstones

with inscriptions where possible):

None

C1L BRIDGES:

The road bridge at the south east takes the Gairie Burn out of the Den. Next to it is a

pedestrian underpass.

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The road bridge at the north west is strictly outside of the Den but brings the Gairie Burn

from Kinnordy Loch via the Muckle Drain and into the Den.

Coffin Bridge at the north west.

The High Bridge near Lochmill

Bridge by Den Cottage, vehicle access.

Several bridges cross the Gairie Burn along its length in the Den.

Various small bridges across the Gairie Burn give access to the park from adjoining

properties.

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C1M TERRACES (Including steps & stairways):

At the north end, there are steps on the footpaths around the High Bridge.

There are steps on to the veranda of the bandstand.

C1N WALLED GARDENS (Including potting sheds, bothies, glasshouse ranges etc.):

None

C1P AVENUES, CARRIAGE DRIVES, ORNAMENTAL WALKS, SERVICE DRIVES

ETC:

The main drive runs through the park from the main gate on the south-east. This runs

alongside the Gairie Burn and exits the park by the Coffin Bridge on the north-west. At

the south-east end, it is wide enough to admit a vehicle but reduces to pedestrian width

towards the centre of the park. At this point there are cast-iron bollards.

Several lanes and footpaths run from the town into the park on the north. The principal of

these is the vehicle access to Den Cottage from the Glengate.

Similarly, from the south side there are footpaths into the Den.

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C1Q ROCKERIES:

None other than natural formations.

C1R WATER FEATURES (natural & man-made including rivers, cascades, lochs, pools

etc.):

The Gairie Burn runs through the park from north-west to south-east.

At the north end, a waterfall on the Gairie Burn runs underneath the High Bridge.

Part of the park may be flooded to allow skating or curling although this has not

happened for a number of years.

The Cuttle Well near the High Bridge is a natural well.

Cuttle Well

C1S ANY OTHER FEATURES NOT INCLUDED ABOVE (Include any historic or

modern feature and indicate use where possible):

There is a childrens’ play area behind Den Cottage.

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C2 PLANTED ELEMENTS: The garden or park should divide up naturally and

historically into different areas, e.g. ornamental gardens, parkland, walled garden,

policy planting. Each area should be delineated on a plan and current use noted.

C21. ORNAMENTAL GROUNDS

C21A GRASSED AREAS (Lawns, meadows, terraces):

Refer C23 Parkland.

C21B FLOWER BEDS (Indicate theme or type – parterres, perennial herbaceous

border/annual bedding where possible. Note whether significant plant collection):

There are a number of flower beds within the park, mostly circular.

C21C SHRUBBERY INCLUDING HEDGES & TOPIARY (Include details of height,

species etc. if possible):

There are small areas of shrubs.

Shrubs beside Den Cottage.

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C21D ORNAMENTAL TREE PLANTING (Single specimens, groups – include details

of age and species if possible):

Refer C23 Parkland.

C21E AVENUE PLANTING (May also cross parkland and policy planting. Note

predominant species and whether single or double planted if possible:

None

C21F ANY OTHER ORNAMENTAL PLANTING FEATURE NOT COVERED

ABOVE:

None

C22. KITCHEN GARDENS AND ORCHARDS

C22A KITCHEN GARDENS (walled, hedged or other boundary. Note any other

historical features and current use)

None

C22B ORCHARDS (walled, hedged or other boundary. Note any other historical features

and current use)

None

C23. PARKLAND

C23A GRASSED AREAS (Note current use, amenity grassland, agricultural use –

grazing, cultivation etc.):

The park is mostly laid to grass.

C23B TREE PLANTING (Individual specimens, clumps, belts, roundels etc. Note

species if possible, and whether fenced):

There are trees at random through the south part of the grassy area.

C23C ANY OTHER PARKLAND FEATURE NOT INCLUDED ABOVE:

The north end of the Den is allowed to retain a wilder state.

C24. POLICY WOODLAND PLANTING

C24A COMPOSITION (Note composition of woodland; deciduous/coniferous/mixed,

and principal species if possible. Note current use eg. commercial timber

cropping/amenity woodland):

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None.

C24B ANY OTHER POLICY WOODLAND FEATURE NOT INCLUDED ABOVE:

None.

C25. VIEWS, VISTAS, BORROWED LANDSCAPE & PERIPHERAL AREAS,

C25A KEY VIEWS (please note views inwards to the house, outwards from the house,

and internally within the landscape):

The view into the Den can be seen from the higher surrounding areas. In particular,

adjacent properties look directly over it.

As the Den is elongated, the view along the main drive shows much of the park with the

view changing along the length of the park.

View along the main drive

C25B BORROWED LANDSCAPE (please note any features, natural or man-made, lying

outside the designed landscape which act as eye-catchers or contribute to the outward

views):

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None

C25C PERIPHERAL AREAS (please note any features lying outside the main landscape

but which are clearly designed eg. regularly spaced roadside/field boundary trees, estate

walls etc.):

None

C3 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON CURRENT CONDITION OR CARE OF

THE LANDSCAPE

C4 SURVEY DRAWINGS AND/OR PHOTOGRAPHS

Please include a list and copies where possible of any drawings, photographs

made/taken during the ground survey.

D. SUMMARY HISTORY OF THE SITE

This section should be set out in chronological form and should include information

on the way the site has developed and changed since it was first recorded, using

dates and maps where possible. The names of owners, architects or designers

involved, and relevant historical events should be recorded, and the sources noted

1867 The community of Kirriemuir acquired that part of The Den on the south

side of the Gairie Burn (D.Orr) from Sydney Wilkie, an Australian from

Kirriemuir (A. Reid).

1867 & 1883 They also acquired properties extending from the road leading to

Meikle Mill to the Burn of Gairie. (D.Orr)

1870 Death of ‘Sydney’ Wilkie who was part benefactor of The Den ie south side.

(D. Orr)

1882 Agreement made with Kinnordy Estate regarding the north side

(implemented 1909). (D. Orr)

1884 Fundraising for The Den.

1908 The above properties transferred to the Provost, Magistrate and Councillors

of the Burgh of Kirriemuir on behalf of the community. (D.Orr)

1909 The Den on the north side of the Burn of Gairie was acquired in feu from

Kinnordy Estate. (D. Orr)

1936 The bridge by the park keeper’s house was replaced by a concrete bridge.

Further remedial work carried out.

2010 The Den House for sale.

2012 Plan to rebuild the walls of the Gairie Burn within The Den.

The Den, Kirriemuir Page 20 of 20

Name:

Alice Bremner

Signature:

Dates of ground survey work:

October 2012

Date research completed:

March 2013