Angus Archives and its local libraries are an invaluable resource, with an incredible array of research materials, from family histories and photographs to historical books and documents spanning over 800 years.
Staff are on hand to help you make the most of your search for family who may have lived or worked in Angus, and you can visit this treasure trove completely free of charge.
The collections cover key areas, including Arbroath, Brechin, Carnoustie, Forfar, Kirriemuir, Montrose, Monifieth, and many rural parts of Angus. Tools like the WW1 Heritage Trail can provide more insights and prove useful in your search for your family tree.
One of the most historically significant towns in not only Angus but Scotland, Arbroath has several museums and art galleries to explore.
The Arbroath Abbey Visitor Centre lets you uncover the origins of the most famous document in Scottish history – the Declaration of Arbroath – alongside detailed information about what life was like in the town at the time.
The Signal Tower Museum provides insight into the area’s rich fishing heritage, while Hospitalfield House and Arbroath Art Gallery are home to impressive visualisations of 19th and 20th century life.
Experience a slice of life in 1857 and see what life was like for your Angus ancestors at Davidson Legacy Cottage. This is the restored home of William C Davidson, who was father to the founders of Harley Davidson.
The Inglis Memorial Hall and Library in Edzell is a fantastic resource to develop a greater understanding of Victorian life. The library’s collection provides a fascinating glimpse into Victorian society, with both fiction and non-fiction titles that were considered important and of interest at the time.
Loan records from the first half of the twentieth century can also show what the public liked to borrow at that time. A digitised catalogue is available to assist with your research if you’re curious to find out whether your reading tastes have been inherited.
For a more literal experience of following in your ancestor’s footsteps, Forfar’s Meffan Museum and Art Gallery takes you back in time as you stroll through The Vennel, the museum’s recreation of an old, narrow cobbled street.
Peer inside several traditional shops, including Peter Reid’s sweet shop, a knockmaker’s workshop where you can witness linen being woven, and a baker’s shop with bread and bridies on display. A one-of-a-kind experience and a unique way to connect with the past and your ancestry in Angus.
The Cateran Ecomuseum is a fascinating way to connect with your Angus ancestry.
This open-air museum spans breathtaking landscapes and reveals the hidden stories of the people, places, and traditions that shaped this little-known part of Scotland.
Whether your ancestors farmed, travelled, or stayed in these glens, exploring these outdoor sites can provide a sense of the world they once lived in.
Kirriemuir, known as the Gateway to the Glens, has a rich history that may tie into your family tree.
Discover the heritage of two of Kirriemuir’s most famous figures: J.M. Barrie, author of Peter Pan, and Bon Scott, legendary lead singer of AC/DC.
Visit J.M. Barrie’s Birthplace, where the writer spent his childhood in a small, whitewashed cottage. With just two upstairs rooms shared by his seven siblings, the house offers a snapshot of life in 19th-century Angus.
The Montrose Museum and Art Gallery was one of the first purpose-built museums in Scotland. Visit to hear the full story of Montrose and its people, from the earliest archaeological finds and the Jacobite uprisings to the harbour and maritime trade.
The Air Station in Montrose played a significant part of life in the town for many years. It was Britain’s first operational military airfield, established by the Royal Flying Corps in February 1913. The Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre has a unique collection of contemporary photographs, artefacts, memorabilia and planes that can take you on a journey back in time.
Cemetery research is a crucial family history research skill. Tombstones are monuments to our ancestors’ lives and may hold key genealogical clues to help your search. One of the greatest benefits of researching in a cemetery is discovering other ancestors in nearby plots. And, of course, there’s something undeniably special and moving about visiting our ancestors’ final resting places.
You can use an online service like Find a Grave to try and establish where your ancestor may be buried before visiting. The main burial grounds across Angus are located in Arbroath, Carnoustie, Monifieth, Forfar, Brechin, Montrose, and Kirriemuir.
Be sure to check the cemetery records first before you visit a graveyard. Many records are now held online and can provide valuable information
If you discover that you do have roots here, we recommend you visit Angus in person to see for yourself where your ancestor lived. It will help you paint a vivid picture of who they were and what they did.
Visiting the area really is the best way to learn how your ancestor’s experiences and decisions shaped their own family and the generations who followed. You can form a great understanding of what your ancestors did during their lifetime, the conditions they lived in, the struggles they faced, how they contributed to or were affected by the historic events at that time.
There’s something special about exploring the places your ancestors lived, so why not arrange to visit Angus today.
