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Local
Info
Taj
Mahal Indian Restauraunt & Takeaway is located in
Elgin,
Elgin,
the administrative and commercial capital of Moray,
has a long and fascinating history, still reflected
today in the buildings and layout of the town. It grew
up on a low ridge between the loops of the River
Lossie, and by the thirteenth century, when it was
created a Royal Burgh by Alexander II, was a thriving
town with its castle atop Lady Hill to the west, and
the great Cathedral to the east.
The
Cathedral was founded in 1224 as the seat of the
Diocese of Moray, which had previously been at
Kinneddar, Birnie and Spynie. In 1390 the notorious
"Wolf of Badenoch", son of King Robert II,
quarrelled with Bishop Alexander Bur, who
excommunicated him. In revenge he burned the Cathedral
and the towns of Elgin and Forres. The Cathedral was
rebuilt and continued in use until reformation. In
1567 the lead was stripped from the roof by order of
the Privy Council and Regent Moray and the process of
decay began. On Easter Sunday 1711 the great central
tower fell, and by the end of the eighteenth century
the once-magnificent Cathedral was being used as a
quarry for building stone. In 1825, however, the
Exchequer assumed responsibility for the preservation
of the structure, and restoration work is still going
on.
The
mediaeval street plan of Elgin is well preserved. The
main street widens to the old cobbled market place,
now known as the Plainstones, and is linked to
parallel streets by a series of narrow wynds and pends.
A few buildings still retain the arched facades which
were typical of early eighteenth century Elgin.
Much
has been done and is being done to invigorate the
centre of the town while retaining and restoring the
old buildings. The relief road, Alexandra Road, built
to free the High Street of heavy and through traffic,
has cut a swathe through the area behind the shops on
the north side of the high street, opening up new
vistas towards the Cathedral and Lady Hill. The
landscaping along Alexandra Road is of interest to
gardeners, and new housing developments at each end of
the road show how modern council housing can be fitted
into the environment of a historic town.
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