Gourdon, Aberdeenshire
Gourdon
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|---|---|
 Gourdon overlook | |
  Gourdon Location within Aberdeenshire | |
| Population | 850 (2020)[1] |
| OS grid reference | NO825707 |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MONTROSE |
| Postcode district | DD10 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
Gourdon (/ˈɡʊərdən/) nicknamed Gurdin by the population, is a coastal fishing village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, south of Inverbervie[2] and north of Johnshaven, with a natural harbour.[3] Its harbour was built in 1820.[4] It was formerly in Kincardineshire. It is known for its close community and unique local dialect. It is a picturesque harbour village that boasts lovely views along the pathway to Inverbervie.
History
[edit]Fishing
[edit]Gourdon was a thriving fishing community.[5] While most of the fishing has moved to other ports, there is still a fishouse in Gourdon, as well as some small fishing vessels at the harbour.
Mills
[edit]The last surviving flax mill in the United Kingdom was located at Selbie Mill in Gourdon. It had formally been owned by the Sidlaw group of companies, but was latterly owned by London-based company G and F Spinners. It had opened in 1902, and it closed on 30 May 1997. At its peak, it had employed over 200 people, but was down to about 40 when it shut its doors.[6]
At one point there had been a number of textile factories in and around Gourdon, and neighbouring Inverbervie. They had produced flax, as well as linen and jute for UK markets.
Railway
[edit]Gourdon was served by Gourdon railway station, on the Montrose and Bervie Railway from 1865 to 1951. Much of the former line of the track to Bervie has largely been turned into a tarmac path, popular with locals to walk along the beach front. The path southwards to Montrose is largely a dirt and gravel track. The site of the former Gourdon station is now part of a housing development.
Local community
[edit]Gourdon contains many prominent community groups:
Gourdon Mission Hall
Gourdon Mission Hall [7] is linked to Arbuthnott, Bervie and Kinneff Church. Services are held every Sunday at 6pm during the summer months, and from October - March at 3pm. The parish minister, Rev Andrew Morrison, service once a month - usually the first Sunday of the month - with guest speakers, from a variety of church backgrounds, taking the other weeks. In 2018, the Mission Hall celebrated its 150th anniversary.
Gourdon Primary School
Gourdon Primary School serves the community of Gourdon, with a school roll of 56 pupils (Aug 2025). Due to its relatively small size, it has three classes, a P1/2/3 class, a P3/4/5 class & a P6/7 class.[8]
Maggie Law Museum
Local amenities
The last corner shop in Gourdon closed in 2022. It also served as the local Post Office.[9] It has since been converted into a Chinese takeaway. Furthermore, there is the award winning Quayside Restaurant & Fish Bar[10], as well as the Harbour Bar - both located at the Gourdon Harbour.
Notable residents
[edit]- John Ritchie Cargill, 1892–1981, able seaman on the RMS Carpathia during the rescue after the sinking of the Titanic.
- Reg Morrison, 1932–2006. Aberdeen Football Club goalkeeper.
Local radio
[edit]Alongside the commercial enterprise of the local newspaper, The Mearns Leader, Gourdon has a Local Community Radio Station in Mearns FM. Broadcasting from nearby Stonehaven in the Townhall, Mearns FM helps to keep Gourdon up to date with local and charity events, as well as playing a wee bit of music. Staffed completely by volunteers, Mearns FM is run as a not for profit organisation, broadcasting under a Community Radio licence, with a remit to provide local focus news events and programming. Jointly funded by local adverts and local and national grants. Mearns FM has one of the largest listening areas of any Community Radio Station owing to the Mearns' distributed population, Mearns FM was set up to try to bring these distant communities together.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ "Population estimates for settlements and localities in Scotland: mid-2020". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ Gourdon. Gazetteer for Scotland.
- ^ Gourdon at Undiscovered Scotland.
- ^ Aberdeenshire Council: Gourdon Harbour Archived 2007-04-04 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Gourdon from The Gazetteer for Scotland". www.scottish-places.info. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ "Last flax mill to close down | HeraldScotland". 16 February 2023. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
- ^ "ABK Church | You Belong Here |".
- ^ "GOURDON PRIMARY SCHOOL - About our School". www.gourdon.aberdeenshire.sch.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
- ^ Topp, Kirstie; Reporter, Local Democracy (16 February 2022). "North-east fishing village to lose Post Office and shop to make way for new takeaway". Press and Journal. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
- ^ Gourdon, Quayside. "Quayside Gourdon". Quayside Gourdon. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
- ^ "Mearns FM - From Mountain To Sea".
External links
[edit]- Gourdon at Knowhere
- Photographs of Gourdon
Media related to Gourdon, Aberdeenshire at Wikimedia Commons
Settlements and places of interest in Kincardine and Mearns, Aberdeenshire | ||
|---|---|---|
| Primary settlements |  | |
| Other settlements | ||
| Places of interest | ||
Areas and primary settlements in Aberdeenshire (see also: Aberdeen City) | ||
|---|---|---|
| in Banff and Buchan |  | |
| in Buchan | ||
| in Formartine | ||
| in Garioch | ||
| in Kincardine and Mearns | ||
| in Marr | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
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