Kintore, Aberdeenshire

The Town House, Kintore.

Kintore (/kɪnˈtɔːr/; Gaelic: Ceann Tòrr) is a town and former royal burgh near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, now bypassed by the A96 road between Aberdeen and Inverness. It is situated on the banks of the River Don. Its Town House dates from 1747.

The name Kintore comes from the Gaelic, Ceann Tòrr. Ceann means the head, or the end, and Tòrr means a round hill. So the name signifies that the town was at the head or end of a round hill. This probably refers to Tuach Hill to the south of the town.

Established in the ninth century AD as a royal burgh, Kintore had its royal charter renewed by King James IV in 1506. But the area has clearly been a popular settlement since prehistoric times. Recent archaeological excavations show Neolithic finds dating to at least 5000 BC.

Nearby are the remains of Hallforest Castle, former stronghold of the Earls of Kintore.

Kintore is said to be the fastest growing town in Aberdeenshire in percentage terms. The population in the 2001 census was 1696. By 2001 Aberdeenshire Council's figures gave the population as 2170, with a predicted 2521 in 2006. The 2011 census recorded the population of Kintore at 4,476.

NECR

NECR (North East Community Radio) is a local radio station based in School Road in Kintore (opposite the Torryburn Hotel).

Roman camp

Kintore is the site of Deers Den Roman camp and is thought to relate to Agricola's campaigns into Scotland; moreover, Deers Den is associated with the Severan invasion.Archaeologists say that the Kintore camp was definitely occupied in 120 AD and may have been occupied on as many as three occasions during the Scottish campaigns before lack of resources and more pressing matters elsewhere in the Roman Empire induced consolidation and retreat.

The Romans, it is believed, were attracted by the belief that Scotland was rich in natural resources, including gold, silver and tin. The Deer's Den camp could have been involved in the preparations for the decisive battle of Mons Graupius; however, most researchers argue that the site of Mons Graupius was further south in Aberdeenshire, possibly near Raedykes at Kempstone Hill or Megray Hill.

Arriving from the south, Roman legions marched from Raedykes to Normandykes Roman Camp through the Durris Forest as they sought higher ground, evading the bogs of Red Moss and other low-lying mosses associated with the Burn of Muchalls. That march used the Elsick Mounth, one of the ancient trackways crossing the Mounth of the Grampian Mountains, lying west of Netherley.

People associated with Kintore

James Park, 1857-1946, studied science in London, worked as sheep farmer in New Zealand, became professor of geology in Dunedin then Auckland. Father of Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park, "Defender of London" Battle of Britain 1940.

Alexander Keith, 1895-1878, writer and local historian.

Andrew Lamb Greig, 1859-1915, Golf Starter at The Old Course located at St. Andrews Golf Course.

Andrew Lamb Greig was born in Kintore on the 13 January of 1859 and was the son of John Greig and Martha Irvine. In 1894 he was appointed Golf Starter at the Old Course, St. Andrews. An article about the death of Andrew went as follows - We regret to announce the death of Andrew Greig, the well-known starter at the Old Course of St. Andrews, which occurred with tragic suddenness on Thursday forenoon. He was mowing grass near his starting-box when he was seen to fall to the ground. He was removed in an unconscious condition to the house of Dr. Hamilton Kyle, near at hand, where, though everything possible was done to revive him, he gradually sank and died about 12 o'clock. Heart failure has been certified to be the cause of his death. Not since the death of old Tom Morris has St. Andrews golf sustained such a loss, for since Tom passed away Greig was the personality at St. Andrews links. He had indeed a great reputation as a starter - not only was he well known to golfers who had played over the classic golf course, but his personality was known to devotees of the game all over the world. This about Andrew is from Golf Illustrated, dated May 7th 1915 - He was what may be termed a man with strongly independent views, and when acting in his capacity in the starting box at the first tee, he exhibited scant respect for personalities, as was evidenced by the well-known tale told about him in connection with H.I.M. the Grand Duke Michael of Russia and Countess Torby. When the turn of this distinguished couple arrived, Mr Greig announced the fact in his usual formula, "Michael and Torby, tee your ba's." Another yarn told in connection with Greig is in relation to a player with a name of foreign extraction, which as the player himself pronounced it, proved a little beyond the comprehension of the burly Scot. Greig did not waste time in searching for further information; he merely remarked, "I can no' catch your name, so you'll start under the name of Fergusson."

Andy Beattie, played for Inverurie Locos FC and Preston North End.

James Garden Taylor - 1897-1974 - MA, DSc, Aberdeen University, Author of the acclaimed The Behavioral Basis of Perception published by Yale University Press, taught Psychology at Cape Town University from 1926 till 1962. Married to Dora Taylor, MA, (nee Anderson), author of Kathie, Don't Tread on My Dreams and Rage of Life published by Penguin, and winner of the South African Posthumous Literary Award, 2008.

See also

• Normandykes

External links

• Kintore in the Gazetteer for Scotland
• Community website
• Parish Church
• Map sources for Kintore, Aberdeenshire