A
Roman marching camp has been discovered at Stracathro. This camp is one day's march from the next camp, at
Raedykes to the north. The gate design of the Stracathro Roman Camp is a distinctive bell-shaped indentation of the rampart perimeter. Stracathro was the site of the
Battle of Stracathro in 1130. This was the culmination of an invasion into southern Scotland led by
Angus, ruler of the partially independent "kingdom" of
Moray. He wanted to expand his territory and obtain recognition as a ruler independent of the Scottish kings. Angus was met by the royal army, led by the
Constable of Scotland in the absence of
King David, who had pressing business in England. The result was a decisive victory for the king's men. Four thousand Moravians were killed, including Angus, and Moray became wholly part of the kingdom of Scotland. At Stracathro on 7 July 1296,
John Balliol publicly admitted the errors of his ways and confirmed his reconciliation with
Edward I, King of England. John Balliol abdicated on 10 July, the arms of Scotland were formally torn from his surcoat, and he was held for three years in the Tower of London. After that he was allowed to flee to France, where he died in 1314. His abdication and surrender of the Royal Crown and Seal of the Kingdom of Scotland to Edward I of England led to the
First War of Scottish Independence.
Late 19th century to present Construction of a railway to this area connected it to other villages. The station here was opened as Inchbare and then briefly renamed Dunlappie before finally being named Stracathro. From 1896 to 1964,
Stracathro railway station served the sparsely populated rural area around the villages of Stracathro and Inchbare, as well as Dunlappie and other estates on the
Brechin and Edzell District Railway. ==Stracathro House==