Oldmeldrum

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Oldmeldrum
Scottish Gaelic: Meall Druim
Oldmeldrum is located in Aberdeen
Oldmeldrum
Oldmeldrum
 Oldmeldrum shown within Aberdeenshire
Population 2,187 (2006)[1]
OS grid reference NJ808272
Council area Aberdeenshire
Lieutenancy area Aberdeenshire
Country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town INVERURIE
Postcode district AB51
Dialling code 01651
Police Scottish
Fire Scottish
Ambulance Scottish
EU Parliament Scotland
UK Parliament Gordon
Scottish Parliament Aberdeenshire East
List of places
UK
Scotland

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Oldmeldrum (commonly known as Meldrum) is a village and parish in the Formartine area of Aberdeenshire, not far from Inverurie in North East Scotland. With a growing population of over 2000, Oldmeldrum falls within Scotland's top 300 centres of population.[2] The A947 road from Aberdeen to Banff runs through the centre of the village. Oldmeldrum has a primary school[3] and a secondary school, the Meldrum Academy,[4] which also includes the local library. Local industries are agriculture and engineering services connected to the oil industry in Aberdeen.

Oldmeldrum at sunrise
Oldmeldrum town centre
Oldmeldrum residential street
Garden at Meldrum House Hotel

Attractions

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. On the third Saturday of June, Oldmeldrum is host to the popular "Meldrum Sports,"[5] which features highland games, highland dancing, piping, five-a-side football, displays, stalls, and a beer tent. The Sports were first held in 1930, when a group of residents got together to raise funds to provide cocoa to the local children. Over the years thousands of pounds have been donated to local causes and charities.[citation needed]

An Arts and Music Festival has been held in March 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2009 by the Rotary Club to promote local singers, musicians, artists, and photographers.[6]

To the north of the village is Meldrum House, a mansion and castle built in the 13th century, now a hotel and golf course.[7] It is said to be haunted by a 'White Lady'.[8]

To the east of the village is the Oldmeldrum Golf Club. Founded in 1885, its 14th fairway contains a rock where John Comyn, Earl of Buchan is said to have lain and lamented his loss to Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Barra.[9] In 2006, a 72-year-old golfer died in a bunker on the first hole.[10]

Also to the east of Oldmeldrum is the ruined Tolquhon Castle. Noted for its highly ornamented gatehouse,[11] the castle was built between 1584 and 1589. It is maintained by Historic Scotland and is open to the public during summer months.[11]

Oldmeldrum is home to one of the oldest whisky distilleries in Scotland, Glen Garioch. Built in 1797, Glen Garioch's visitor centre is open year round and includes tours of the working distillery.

The remains of a prehistoric hill fort are at Barra Hill, 2 miles south of Oldmeldrum, and Sheldon Stone Circle is about 3 miles to the south-east. The hill fort on Barra Hill was excavated by Murray Cook of Rampart Scotland http://www.rampartscotland.co.uk/. Results indicated that it has had at least three phases of fortification: before 500 BC, after 500 BC and again by the Picts around AD 400. This project formed part of the Hill forts of Strathdon Project[12]

Haddo House, a stately home run by the National Trust for Scotland, is 7 miles north-east of Oldmeldrum.

From Oldmeldrum, there are good views of nearby Bennachie (mountain).

There is also a skatepark that was built in June 2009 within Oldmeldrum Pleasure Park, a community park to the east of the main Banff to Aberdeen Road.

History

The Battle of Barra was fought in May 1308 near the Hill of Barra between the armies of Scots King Robert Bruce and John Comyn, 3rd Earl of Buchan.

Oldmeldrum was made a burgh of barony in 1672. The parish of Meldrum was known as "Bethelnie" until 1684. It was a centre of the hosiery trade in the 18th century.

Oldmeldrum Burgh had a population of 1,110 in 1911 and 1,103 in 1951.[13] By the 2001 census the population was 2003.

Old Meldrum railway station served Oldmeldrum on a line from Inverurie through Lethenty and Lochter until 1965.

Famous residents

References

  1. ↑ http://www.aberdeenshireleader.org/Document_Library/documents/AberdeenshireLAGPartnershipDetailsupdated15Oct07_000.pdf
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Scotland the What? trio to open Sports
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Ross, Donna. Trick or treat. Aberdeen Press & Journal, 31 October 2006
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Dow, Bob. AL DIES IN BUNKER Daily Record, Jun 23 2006
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ [1]
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ A History of Barra Castle
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Beaton, Alistair. Evergreen entertainer congratulates garden volunteers The Press & Journal
  18. ↑ http://www.leopardmag.co.uk/feats/76/a-salute-to-doric-heroes

External links

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