Welcome to WWW.MONIKIE.SCOT, from Scotland

INDUSTRY IN MONTROSE

a.k.a. 'The Kindred Industries of Montrose'
A fascinating book
by James G Low (1855 - 1944)

(This page has been put on this website on behalf of AJG mentioned below.)
The book is no longer in print but copies can be sent by EMAIL attachment for a small charge - please ask.

Just over fifty years ago this year, James Gray Low, a renowned historian in Montrose, Scotland, died aged 89 years. He was a prolific writer about the history of the town, and at the time of his death left several unpublished books. To commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of his death in 1944, his great-grand niece, A. J. Gough decided to publish one of these books, "Industry in Montrose".

Written in 1943, during World War II, when he was 88, the original manuscript was written on an array of scrap paper and envelopes, as paper was in short supply due to war-time restrictions. Transcribing from the original proved a rather daunting task, partly because the handwriting itself was somewhat illegible and partly because there were gaps in the text which the author obviously intended to complete later. His death prevented him from completing the book or filling in the missing gaps. An attempt has been made to fill such gaps, such as historical dates, but this has not been possible in every instance.

It is obvious from the original manuscript that James Low had intended to write more chapters, including one on the timber trade. Unfortunately, no such manuscripts have ever been found, and were probably never written. Although the book is not as complete as James Low would have intended, it is still a fascinating document.

The original chapter headings of the book, listed below, fail to describe the rich picture that the author paints of life in Montrose in bye-gone days, including some his personal recollections. That the book was written over fifty years ago, by a local historical expert, aged in his late eighties, is a wonderful glimpse into times gone by.

Published with the permission of the Montrose Society, this book has already proved to be of great interest to those wishing to find out more about Montrose's industrial past and others generally interested in the works of James G. Low.

• March 2001 - Supplies of this book are now very limited.

INDUSTRY IN MONTROSE

Chapter headings -

1. Linen, bleaching, cotton and rope-making.
2. Soap, salt, starch and lime works.
3. Salmon fishing.
4. Herring fishing and whaling.
5. Banking, brewing, freemasonry, inns, horse racing, and MPs.

The Old Seal of Montrose

Details of purchase arrangements of this book, and of other publications, appear on the Tay Valley Family History Society website.
It is understood that there are no copies of this book still available.  Ask the Webmaster about DIGITAL copies.

Enquiries about the content (but not availability or the purchase) of this book can be made by Email to - montrose @ stratton18.fsnet.co.uk , mentioning this page.  (See email page first).

(This page appears on the Monikie, Scotland Website as the webmaster was involved with the publication of this book.  Otherwise, there is no connection with the Monikie area.)