Newburgh History Timeline

700BC to 50AD (approx.)

Iron Age hill fort

6^th to 8^th Centuries AD

Clatchard Craig Hill Fort occupied. Late in 20^th Century it was destroyed by quarrying. At same time – Abdie Stone , with Pictish symbols, set in place.

11^th Century

MacDuff’s Cross built

1191

Lindores Abbey founded on land gifted by Earl David, grandson of King William I

1266

Newburgh elevated to Burgh status by King Alexnder III

1298

Battle of Blackearnside fought nearby -a victory for Wallace’s troops

1494

James IV orders eight bolls of malt to be made into Aqua Vitae – the first recording of distilling in Scotland

1559

Lindores Abbey sacked by John Knox as part of Protestant Reformation

1749

Growth of linen handloom weaving industry – 30 Newburgh men registered as Master Weavers

1848

First Newburgh Railway station opened, later moved – closed 1955. Active campaign ongoing for its reopening

1855

First torchlight procession of the Newburgh Caledonian Lodge of Oddfellows, founded 1827. Ongong – last of its kind in Scotland.

1891

Establishment of Tayside Floorcloth factory (as linen weaving declined). Closed in 1980 following a fire.

1899

Establishment of Tay Salmon Fisheries Company, developing from a robust salmon netting and fishing industry which was recorded in mid 1700s as exporting to many countries. Net fishing was a major industry until stocks began to decline in 1980s. The final net was pulled in on 20^th August 1996

Pre WW1

Establishment of Oilskin factory – closed late 1980s.

1939

172 evacuees arrived at Newburgh railway station from Edinburgh as part of government’s WW2 ‘Operation Pied Piper’.

2016

Establishment of Lindores Abbey Distillery on site of first recorded distilling, by the monks at Lindores in 1494.