Arbroath

Arbroath is a historic coastal town and former royal burgh in Angus, on the North Sea coast of eastern Scotland, about 26 kilometres east-northeast of Dundee and 72 kilometres south-southwest of Aberdeen. It is the largest town in the Angus council area, and Scotland's 2022 census reported a resident population of 23,481. The town's recorded history as a settlement of consequence begins with the founding of Arbroath Abbey in 1178 by King William the Lion, who also made it a burgh of regality; James VI raised it to royal burgh status in 1599. The earliest recorded name was Aberbrothock, after the Brothock Burn that runs through the town to the sea. It grew through the Industrial Revolution on flax, jute and sailcloth manufacture and engineering, and a new harbour opened in 1839, making it one of Scotland's larger fishing ports by the twentieth century. Arbroath is best known for the Declaration of Arbroath, the Arbroath smokie, a smoked haddock, and its football club, which holds the world record for a professional match, a 36 to 0 win in 1885.