Mugdrum Island

View of the island from the south side of the Tay

Mugdrum Island lies in the Firth of Tay on the east coast of Scotland, opposite the town of Newburgh in Fife. It is low-lying and reedy, and covers an area of 55.7 acres (22.5 ha).[1] It is the only significant island in the firth.[2] The Tay splits into two channels here, known as the North Deep and the South Deep.

History

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The island was once a possession of Lindores Abbey, and is referred to under the name Redinche (meaning either "red island" or "reed island") in the abbey's foundation charter.[3] In the 17th century, it became attached to the Mugdrum estate near Newburgh.[4] The island was formerly run as a farm, growing cereals, potatoes, and turnips (as well as reeds, which were harvested for thatch). The last tenant left in 1926.[5] It is now a nature reserve under the stewardship of the Tay Valley Wildfowlers' Association.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Ordnance Survey (1866). "Perthshire, Sheet CXI". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Firth of Tay". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  3. ^ Taylor, Simon; Markus, Gilbert (2010). The Place-Names of Fife. Vol. 4. Donington: Shaun Tyas. p. 63. ISBN 978-1-907730-06-1.
  4. ^ Laing, Alexander (1876). Lindores Abbey and its Burgh of Newburgh. Edinburgh: Edmonston & Douglas. p. 212 f.
  5. ^ "The Jacksons of Mugdrum Island". The Courier. 15 November 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Wildfowlers take over river island to create bird haven". The Herald. 5 October 1994. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
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Media related to Mugdrum Island at Wikimedia Commons

56°21′22″N 3°15′21″W / 56.35606°N 3.25578°W / 56.35606; -3.25578