Meigle

The name Meigle, Migdele or Migdol is of Pictish origin and probably refers to Mig - meaning swamp - and Dol or Dele - meaning field or meadow - due to the Meigle burn passing through the village and its proximity to the River Isla and surrounding marshland. 

The location marks the natural convergence of ancient Stone Age trading routes from the north, south and west, that led to the creation of a settlement which was eventually to become Meigle.  

Meigle was in the Pictish region known as Circin which covered Strathmore, Gowrie and the Mearns and the Pictish presence in Meigle is evident in the collection of 26 surviving Pictish carved stones dating from the eighth to tenth centuries found near the church grounds and now preserved in Meigle Museum. 

The collection points to Meigle being an important Pictish centre, possibly even a school of sculpture, while a Christian cross appearing on one of the earliest Pictish stones in Meigle is consistent with a church being established in the village from as early as the seventh century.

Meigle has a long history as a strategic transport hub. The village lies on the edge of the Sidlaw Hills and the marshy grounds of the Isla and Dean waters, so ancient trade routes converged on the firmer ground of the settlement. 

Centuries later, two turnpike roads were built in Meigle to replace what had previously been rough tracks. These were the Perth to Forfar turnpike, which was joined in Meigle by the turnpike from Dundee; the development of the village was heavily influenced by its location at the convergence of these roads. Then in the 19th century the railway arrived, with various routes intersecting in the Meigle. 

The land around Meigle is fertile and productive, and as a result, agriculture has always been the main industry in the area. However, the low-lying fields are prone to flooding, and during the 18th and early 19th centuries the lands around Meigle were enclosed and subdivided, sheep were removed from arable ground, marl was spread to restore fertility and drainage systems were introduced in a feat of enterprise that was at the same time both ruthless and remarkable. 

Today, Meigle boasts a local shop, two popular cafés, a pub, a primary school, a museum, a community shed, an outdoor education centre, village and church halls, a thriving top-level county cricket team, and a plethora of volunteer-run groups and organisations, demonstrating that the community spirit of this historic village is alive and well in the 21st century.