Cumberland Close: Angus Council launches public consultation over street name linked to 'butcher' duke of Cumberland

Angus Council have launched a public consultation on whether or not a street name linked to the Duke of Cumberland should be changed.

Cumberland Close in Kirriemuir is connected to Augustus, the Duke of Cumberland, who ordered the killing of hundreds of soldiers, ending the Jacobite Uprising in the 18th century.

The duke – branded the ‘butcher’ of the 1745 rising – was sent to crush the Jacobite uprising as commander of the government forces.

Cumberland reportedly stayed there during his military campaign.

Scott McFarlane lodged the petition to change the name of the street, which attracted nearly 1,000 signatures.

He told STV News: “My inspiration (for the petition) was how distasteful and extremely distressing it is to have a location in our lovely wee town of Kirriemuir named after a mass murderer; the ‘butcher Cumberland’, the Duke of Cumberland who instructed his men to leave no semblance of life in Scotland.

“And it’s extremely offensive that we use him here and we honour him with these signed in Cumberland Close in Kirriemuir.

Scott McFarlane lodged a petition to change the street name

“I want it to be named after some that is good and brought joy to our wee town.

“The Visocchis who were Italian immigrants who came here in the 1930’s.

“They went onto to serve the public and became a very popular family in town, and I would like it to be called Visocchis Close.”

For some small businesses changing their address is causing concern.

Annie McLean’s gallery supports artists and customers from across the UK.

She told STV News changes are likely to have a financial impact on her small business.

Battle of Culloden, 16 April 1746 (18th century).(Photo by Ann Ronan Pictures/Print Collector/Getty Images) Getty Images

She said: “We feel duty bound to tell our customers why the name has changed and some customers will not always see advertisements from Royal Mail or the Council saying Cumberland Close has changed to whatever it’s going to be.

“We need to be able to explain to them we haven’t moved especially to the ones who aren’t local because we have customers throughout the whole of the UK.

“I would urge them to please consider a plaque or a history board, detailing it and keep the name Cumberland Close because this is going to cost this little company an awful lot of money to try and put things right.

“We will have to decide, is it viable to keep going?”

Members of the public have until April 21 to respond to the public consultation.