Just ahead of you, you’ll spot a bold, reddish-brown stone building with a grand arched doorway and a rather eye-catching clock above-it sits right on the edge of the street, proudly perched up a few steps on your left.
Now, imagine standing here back in November of 1879. The street would be buzzing with marching boots, clicking rifles, and the sharp snap of military orders echoing off these solid stone walls. This was the nerve centre for Brechin’s very own 7th Forfarshire Rifle Volunteers-a local team of part-time soldiers ready to defend Queen and country. The building itself was soon upgraded with those stylish offices at the front, thanks to architect Thomas Martin Cappon, giving it an air of real military pride. You can almost picture young lads in crisp uniforms, looking rather serious-they probably never guessed they’d be whisked away from this quiet Scottish street to the chaos of the Western Front during World War I. The Black Watch, as they became known, were true legends-mixing local spirit with global heroics! Over time, the hall saw reunions, tearful goodbyes, and the sounds of determined footsteps, as battalions changed and regrouped again and again. But don’t worry, there’s nothing too spooky here today-unless you’re afraid of curtains! Now decommissioned, this historic drill hall is home to Angus Classic Interiors, where the only marching orders are fabric samples. Isn’t it wonderful how the past finds new ways to stay part of the present?
