Kirkton of Craig

A line of trees marking field edges by Redmire and leading to Montrose Basin.

Trees marking field edges by East Mains of Dysart.

Road works on the A934, Montrose to Forfar Road.

Water flowing from Rossie Castle pond plunges over volcanic rocks as a waterfall in woods at Rossie. The stream then flows into the Basin. A rainbow can be seen in the photo. This is formed by sunlight being split in the spray from water falling on rocks in the plunge pool. (Rossie Castle was designed by Richard Crichton and occupied by Hercules and Henrietta Ross in 1800. The castle, which had become ruined, was demolished by army sappers c1957.)

This view of Rossie Castle pond is taken from the east side closest to the site of the former Rossie Castle. Rossie Castle was demolished in the 1950's. The pond is smaller in size than it was originally as it was partly filled in with agricultural waste during the 1950' and 60's. The sluice gate for the pond is in the top, far corner of the photo as viewed. The Mill House and buildings known locally as 'the kennels', both of which were close to the sluice gate, have been demolished. Water flowing through the sluice goes into a lower pond locally known as 'the dam' before flowing over two waterfalls. The stream then flows to its mouth in the Montrose Basin.

This photo shows detail of raspberry bushes growing in a field near the site of Rossie Castle. During the 1950's and 60's, the region was renowned for the quantity and quality of its raspberry production and in the late 1950's a steam train known as the "Raspberry Special" took fruit to Covent Garden in London. Much of the fruit from the Montrose area was taken by tractor load to the Chivers jam factory in Montrose. The fruit was mostly picked by local people including many women and children. The pickers were paid by the weight of fruit they produced. Rev W. M. Diack, M.A., the minister of Craig and Maryton parishes during the 1950's and 60's, often worked with his parishioners to harvest the fruit at that time. After the main commercial crop had been picked, gleaning was permitted. Although the main land use in Craig and Maryton at the present time is still agricultural, changes in the choice of crop or type of livestock to be farmed have resulted in greatly reduced quantities of raspberries and other soft fruits being grown.

The foreground of this photo shows the site of the former Rossie Castle near Montrose in Angus. The castle was built for Hercules and Henrietta Ross ; they took possession in 1800. The surrounding grounds had an American garden, ornamental trees, rhododendron bushes, a trout lake and a dovecot dating back to 1695. The last day of the castle came when George Ogilvie, the landowning farmer, set off a detonation at 3.00 pm on Sunday 29th September 1957. The blast reduced the once magnificent three storey, 150 foot long building to 20,000 tons of stone and rubble. With the consent of Mr Oglivie, who was an elder of Craig Parish Church, Rev William M Diack, M.A., used a little of the stone for paving at the nearby Manse of Craig. Most of the stone was used for widening the road between Montrose and Arbroath.

The row extends northwards on the other side of the road too.

Barley stubble above Montrose Basin.

A field near Dysart.

Passing some bales and a field of carrots.

A crossroads on the long straight minor road from Rossie.

The crop has been defoliated prior to lifting.

Up to the late 1960's the fields along the Rossie Braes, such as the one in the photo, were typically used for growing raspberries. Since that time, the crops grown here have been more varied.

This photo shows potatoes growing in a field at Rossie. The farmland surrounding Montrose has long been famous for growing potatoes.

Approaching Montrose.