Mugdrum Island
{{Short description|Island in the Firth of Tay, Scotland}}
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File:Mugdrum Island - geograph.org.uk - 5832625.jpg
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 {{convert|55.7|acre}}.{{cite web|url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/74428190|title=Perthshire, Sheet CXI|author=Ordnance Survey|date=1866|publisher=National Library of Scotland|accessdate=2024-01-28}} It is the only significant island in the firth.{{cite web|url=https://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst1122.html|title=Firth of Tay|publisher=Gazetteer for Scotland|accessdate=2024-01-28}} The Tay splits into two channels here, known as the North Deep and the South Deep.
History
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.{{cite book|title=The Place-Names of Fife|last1=Taylor|first1=Simon|last2=Markus|first2=Gilbert|date=2010|location=Donington|publisher=Shaun Tyas|volume=4|page=63|isbn=978-1-907730-06-1|url=https://archive.org/details/placenamesoffife0004tayl/page/63}} In the 17th century, it became attached to the Mugdrum estate near Newburgh.{{cite book|title=Lindores Abbey and its Burgh of Newburgh|last=Laing|first=Alexander|date=1876|location=Edinburgh|publisher=Edmonston & Douglas|page=212 f.|url=https://archive.org/details/lindoresabbeyits00edin/page/212}} 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.{{cite news |author=|date=2012-11-15|title=The Jacksons of Mugdrum Island|url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-courier-advertiser-perth-and-perthshire-edition/20121115/282123518786218|work=The Courier|access-date=2024-01-28}} It is now a nature reserve under the stewardship of the Tay Valley Wildfowlers' Association.{{cite news |author=|date=1994-10-05|title=Wildfowlers take over river island to create bird haven|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12669531.wildfowlers-take-over-river-island-to-create-bird-haven/|work=The Herald|access-date=2024-01-28}}
References
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External links
{{commons category-inline|Mugdrum Island}}
{{coord|56.35606|N|3.25578|W|region:GB_source:enwiki-osgb36(NO225189)|display=title}}
Category:Nature reserves in Scotland
Category:Protected areas of Fife
Category:Uninhabited islands of Fife
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