Tags
Angus, Arbroath, declaration of arbroath, declaration of independence, football, inventions, scotland, smokie, tartan day, virtual journey
Arbroath
Day 5. 37.8 miles.
We end today’s virtual traipse with with a question. What do smokies, waterbeds, hot air stoves, enameled bathtubs, overhead valve engines and adhesive postage stamps have In common?
They were all invented by folks from our latest stop – Arbroath.
All I need to do now is explain what an Arbroath smokie is and mention the Declaration of Arbroath and I’m done for the day.
What? You want more?
OK then. But first let me explain what an Arbroath smokie is and mention the Declaration of Arbroath.
An Arbroath smokie is – simply put – a kippered haddock limited by International Law to being produced within 4 km of Arbroath. A protected species, if you like, that is guaranteed already dead.
The Declaration of Arbroath is the document on which the American Declaration of Independence was based. It predates the US document by a while – it was written and addressed to the Pope in 1320. It basic message was an assertion of the right of Scottish people to remain independent. This is why the US Congress has recognized Tartan Day as a national holiday but not, unfortunately, one we get off work.
And as for the extra information you clamoured for, when the church of St. Vigeans opened its doors in the 17th Century, communion was not held there for several years because villagers believed it was cursed and that communion would cause it to sink into an underground lake. The church is also notable because when it was being restored it was discovered that some of its foundation stones had been plundered from Pictish ruins and were inscribed with their runes. These had been the folk, if you recall, that sent he Romans packing.
Finally, in the realm of sports, the Arbroath Football Club not only hold the world record for playing in a stadium closest to the sea (5 metres at high tide), it also holds the world record among senior professional teams for the largest ever winning margin. This was against Aberdeen Bon Accord in 1885 (the team I support). The score was 36 – 0, which sounds more like an American football score. To cap it all, several goals were disallowed for offsides and one because the ref wasn’t sure it went in.
OK then. As Aberdeen fans we’ll hang our heads and scurry off for our next destination – Carnoustie.