Elgin (Moray)

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Elgin
Scottish Gaelic Eilginn
The destroyed cathedral
The destroyed cathedral
Coordinates 57 ° 39 ′  N , 3 ° 19 ′  W Coordinates: 57 ° 39 ′  N , 3 ° 19 ′  W
Elgin (Scotland)
Elgin
Elgin
Residents 23,128 2011 census
administration
Post town ELGIN
ZIP code section IV30
prefix 01343
Part of the country Scotland
Council area Moray
British Parliament Moray
Scottish Parliament Moray

Elgin [ˈɛlɡɪn] ( Scottish Gaelic : Eilginn, also Eilginn Mhoireibh , which means Elgin in Moray ) is the largest city in Moray , Scotland and at the same time its administrative seat with about 23,128 inhabitants .

history

Macbeth ( Mac Bethad mac Findlàich , 1005-1057) was military leader of the Scottish King Duncan I and killed him on August 14, 1040 in the Battle of Pitgaveney, a mile northeast of the modern city of Elgin. This is the first written mention of the city. David I. (1080-1153), sixth son of Malcolm III. reigned as the Scottish King from 1124 until his death, he raised Elgin to Royal Burgh in 1136 . Pope Honorius III. decided in 1224 that the cathedral of Moray should be built east of the city on the banks of the river Lossie , and declared Elgin a cathedral city. From 1230 Elgin also had a royal castle, which was built on the foundations of a former fortress Duncan I.

Edward I chose Elgin Castle as his main base in 1296. He cruelly put down the riots sparked by the Scots under William Wallace and Robert the Bruce . However, Edward's military actions in Scotland were unsuccessful; the country slipped more and more from British control. Edward I died on a campaign against Robert Bruce at Burgh by Sands near Carlisle . Remains of the castle can be found on Lady Hill with an outstanding view. Since 1839 the site has been crowned by the 25-meter-high Duke of Gordon Monument . Alexander Stuart, 1st Earl of Buchan (1343-1394), notorious as the "Wolf of Badenoch", married Euphemia Ross, Countess von Ross, in 1382. However, he later left because of a lover. However, his wife did not submit to her fate, but turned to the Church in the person of the Bishop of Moray . She was right by him, Alexander was excommunicated. The "Wolf of Badenoch" took revenge and burned the cities of Forres and Elgin, later also the Cathedral of Elgin. His father the king forced him to make amends, as a result of which the excommunication was finally lifted.

In 1390, 1402, 1452 and 1568, Elgin was attacked by looters from the Highlands. In the spring of 1568, after an uprising in Scotland , the Scottish Queen Mary Stuart fled across the border to England, where she asked Elizabeth for support against the rebellious Scottish nobles. In the course of the following conflict, the roof of the restored cathedral was destroyed under Murray's leadership, as a result of which the main tower collapsed in 1711. In 1645 the royalists under Duke William Graham, 2nd Duke of Montrose , sacked the city, and in 1686 the episcopal Spynie Palace was abandoned. Spynie Palace is a castle about two miles north of Elgin on the south bank of Spynie Loch .

In the late 18th century, travelers were unflattering about Elgin. The Scottish writer and lawyer James Boswell (1740–1795) describes Elgin as a sparsely populated place with small trade; his companion Dr. Johnson mentions the worst meal he's had in Scotland . The English poet and historian Robert Southey complained about the appearance and decay of Elgin in 1819 . From 1820 onwards, Elgin developed into a great neo-classical city, particularly due to the Scots returning from India. The whiskey distillation made an ever greater contribution to the economic development of the region. In 1852 a railway line was built to connect Elgin to its port at Lossiemouth. From 1858 Elgin was a stop on the four-hour route from Aberdeen to Inverness .

Attractions

Pictish symbol stone in Elgin Cathedral

Elgin is still considered a city with great character. Imposing buildings are on the high street. A labyrinth of alleys leads away from the High Street in the south.

Until the time of the Reformation , Elgin was an important episcopal city. The cathedral , founded in 1224, was popularly known as "The Lantern of the North" and was then the largest cathedral in Scotland. It was destroyed in the turmoil of the Reformation, although significant remains have survived. The associated chapter house is better preserved.

Architecturally, Elgin has a lot to offer, such as St. Giles Church , built by Archibald Simpson 1825–1828 , which dominates the High Street.

The Thunderton House was a pub, to the 1500s as a Royal Residence back. It was used by the king to stay in Elgin. It later became the town house of the Counts of Moray and later the Lords of Duffus, and in 1746 served as the home of Bonnie Prince Charlie .

Southwest of Elgin is Pluscarden Abbey , a medieval monastery that is now inhabited by Benedictines .

economy

A variety of whiskey distilleries can be found around Elgin : Benriach , Coleburn , Glen Elgin , Glenlossie , Glen Moray , Linkwood , Longmorn , Mannochmore and Miltonduff . The independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail is also headquartered here. The family-run company was founded in 1895. A visitor center has now been created at the Elgin Glen Moray Distillery . Also known is a spinning and weaving mill that processes cashmere wool . After the closure of a large Royal Air Force base near Elgin in 2010, there was an economic slump and many retail vacancies.

Sons and daughters

Twin cities

Web links

Commons : Elgin  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

swell

  1. ↑ Iain Mac Tàilleir: Place-names. (PDF) In: Scottish Parliament. P. 46 , accessed on November 25, 2019 (English).
  2. ↑ 2011 census
  3. ↑ Elgin accessed September 4, 2012
  4. ↑ Information about Elgin accessed September 4, 2012