Oldmeldrum
Encyclopedia
Oldmeldrum 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. The A947 road
from Aberdeen
to Banff
runs through the centre of the village. Oldmeldrum has a primary school and a secondary school, the Meldrum Academy
, which also includes the local library. Local industries are agriculture and engineering services connected to the oil industry in Aberdeen.
, highland dancing, piping
, five-a-side football
, displays, stalls and a beer tent.
The Sports were first held in 1930 when a group of local men got together to raise funds to provide cocoa to the local children. Over the years thousands of pounds have been donated to local good causes and charities. The Sports are on Saturday 18th June 2011.
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.
To the north of the village is Meldrum House, a mansion and castle built in the 13th century, and now a hotel and golf course. It is said to be haunted by a 'White Lady'. There is another golf course to the east of the village, the Oldmeldrum Golf Club, founded in 1885. A 72-year old golfer died in a bunker on the first hole in 2006.
Glen Garioch
distillery is one of the oldest in Scotland. It was built in 1797, and has a visitors centre.
Tolquhon Castle
is about 5 miles to the east of Oldmeldrum.
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.
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 the nearby Bennachie
hills.
There is also a skatepark that was built in June 2009.
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. By the 2001 census the population was 2003.
Old Meldrum railway station
served Oldmeldrum on a line from Inverurie until 1965.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the Formartine
Formartine
Formartine is a committee area in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. This district has a long history and extends north from the River Don. It has a population of 36,478 ....
area of Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
, not far from Inverurie
Inverurie
Inverurie is a Royal Burgh and town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, approximately north west of Aberdeen on the A96 road and is served by Inverurie railway station on the Aberdeen to Inverness Line...
in North East
North East Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)
North East Scotland is one of the eight electoral regions of the Scottish Parliament which were created in 1999. Nine of the parliament's 73 first past the post constituencies are sub-divisions of the region and it elects seven of the 56 additional-member Members of the Scottish Parliament...
Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. With a growing population of over 2000, Oldmeldrum falls within Scotland's top 300 centres of population. The A947 road
A947 road
The A947 is a single-carriageway road in Scotland that links Aberdeen to Banff via several towns in Aberdeenshire, including Newmachar, Oldmeldrum, Fyvie and Turriff.Approximately half a mile before Oldmeldrum are remarkable views of Bennachie.-References:*...
from Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
to Banff
Banff, Aberdeenshire
Banff is a town in the Banff and Buchan area of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Banff is situated on Banff Bay and faces the town of Macduff across the estuary of the River Deveron...
runs through the centre of the village. Oldmeldrum has a primary school and a secondary school, the Meldrum Academy
Meldrum Academy
Meldrum Academy is a modern secondary school in Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It educates around 900 pupils aged 11–18.It was established in 2002 and teaches the sciences, modern languages, modern arts, English, mathematics, technical, social subjects, ICT and art and design. The school also...
, which also includes the local library. Local industries are agriculture and engineering services connected to the oil industry in Aberdeen.
Attractions
Each summer on the third Saturday in June the village is host to the popular "Meldrum Sports", which began in 1930 and features highland gamesHighland games
Highland games are events held throughout the &Highland games are events held throughout the &Highland games are events held throughout the &(-è_çà in Scotland and other countries as a way of celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage, especially that of the Scottish Highlands. Certain...
, highland dancing, piping
Bagpipes
Bagpipes are a class of musical instrument, aerophones, using enclosed reeds fed from a constant reservoir of air in the form of a bag. Though the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe and Irish uilleann pipes have the greatest international visibility, bagpipes of many different types come from...
, five-a-side football
Five-a-side football
thumb|240px|alt=Men playing football on artificial grass pitch.|Five-a-side game on astroturf pitch.Five-a-side football is a variation of association football in which each team fields five players , rather than the usual eleven on each team. Other differences from football include a smaller...
, displays, stalls and a beer tent.
The Sports were first held in 1930 when a group of local men got together to raise funds to provide cocoa to the local children. Over the years thousands of pounds have been donated to local good causes and charities. The Sports are on Saturday 18th June 2011.
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.
To the north of the village is Meldrum House, a mansion and castle built in the 13th century, and now a hotel and golf course. It is said to be haunted by a 'White Lady'. There is another golf course to the east of the village, the Oldmeldrum Golf Club, founded in 1885. A 72-year old golfer died in a bunker on the first hole in 2006.
Glen Garioch
Glen Garioch
Glen Garioch Highland Single Malt Whisky |Doric]] dialect of Aberdeen), is one of the oldest whisky distilleries in Scotland, dating back to 1797.-History:...
distillery is one of the oldest in Scotland. It was built in 1797, and has a visitors centre.
Tolquhon Castle
Tolquhon Castle
Tolquhon Castle is located in Aberdeenshire, about 20 miles northwest of Aberdeen. The current castle was built by William Forbes from 1584-1589 to replace an earlier towerhouse known as Preston's Tower, which is still partly intact, forming the left-hand tower when viewed from in front of the...
is about 5 miles to the east of Oldmeldrum.
The remains of a prehistoric hill fort
Hill fort
A hill fort is a type of earthworks used as a fortified refuge or defended settlement, located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. They are typically European and of the Bronze and Iron Ages. Some were used in the post-Roman period...
are at Barra Hill, 2 miles south of Oldmeldrum, and Sheldon Stone Circle
Sheldon Stone Circle
Sheldon Stone Circle is a prehistoric stone circle, located at grid reference , to the south-east of Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.- Description :...
is about 3 miles to the south-east.
Haddo House
Haddo House
Haddo House is a Scottish stately home located near Tarves in Aberdeenshire, approximately 20 miles north of Aberdeen . It has been owned by the National Trust for Scotland since 1979....
, a stately home
Stately home
A stately home is a "great country house". It is thus a palatial great house or in some cases an updated castle, located in the British Isles, mostly built between the mid-16th century and the early part of the 20th century, as well as converted abbeys and other church property...
run by the National Trust for Scotland
National Trust for Scotland
The National Trust for Scotland for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, commonly known as the National Trust for Scotland describes itself as the conservation charity that protects and promotes Scotland's natural and cultural heritage for present and future generations to...
, is 7 miles north-east of Oldmeldrum.
From Oldmeldrum, there are good views of the nearby Bennachie
Bennachie
Bennachie is a range of hills in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It has several tops, the highest of which, Oxen Craig, has a height of 528 m...
hills.
There is also a skatepark that was built in June 2009.
History
The Battle of Barra was fought in May 1308 at Barra Hill between the armies of Scottish King Robert BruceRobert I of Scotland
Robert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and...
and John Comyn, 3rd Earl of Buchan.
Oldmeldrum was made a burgh of barony
Burgh of barony
A burgh of barony is a type of Scottish town .They were distinct from royal burghs as the title was granted to a tenant-in-chief, a landowner who held his estates directly from the crown....
in 1672. The parish of Meldrum was known as "Bethelnie" until 1684. It was a centre of the hosiery
Hosiery
Hosiery, also referred to as legwear, describes garments worn directly on the feet and legs. The term originated as the collective term for products of which a maker or seller is termed a hosier; and those products are also known generically as hose...
trade in the 18th century.
Oldmeldrum Burgh
Burgh
A burgh was an autonomous corporate entity in Scotland and Northern England, usually a town. This type of administrative division existed from the 12th century, when King David I created the first royal burghs. Burgh status was broadly analogous to borough status, found in the rest of the United...
had a population of 1,110 in 1911 and 1,103 in 1951. By the 2001 census the population was 2003.
Old Meldrum railway station
Old Meldrum railway station
Old Meldrum railway station was a railway station in Old Meldrum, Aberdeenshire.-Previous services:-Sources:* -External links:*...
served Oldmeldrum on a line from Inverurie until 1965.
Famous residents
- Nicholas Bogdan, archeologist and architectural historian, lived at Barra Castle.
- George ChrystalGeorge ChrystalGeorge Chrystal was a Scottish mathematician.He was born in Old Meldrum and educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and the University of Aberdeen, moving in 1872 to study under James Clerk Maxwell at Peterhouse, Cambridge, where he graduated Second wrangler in 1875, joint with William Burnside, and...
, a mathematician. - Douglas Scott FalconerDouglas Scott FalconerDouglas Scott Falconer FRS FRSE was a British geneticist known for his work in quantitative genetics. Falconer's book Introduction to quantitative genetics was written in 1960 and became a valuable reference for generations of scientists. Its latest edition dates back to 1996 and is coauthored by...
, a geneticist. - William Forsyth, a botanist and ancestor of Bruce ForsythBruce ForsythSir Bruce Joseph Forsyth-Johnson, CBE , commonly known as Bruce Forsyth, or Brucie, is an English TV personality...
. The William Forsyth Community Garden opened in Oldmeldrum in 2008. - Donald GordonDonald Gordon (Canadian businessman)Donald Gordon, was a Canadian businessman and the former President of the Canadian National Railways from 1950 to 1966....
, a Canadian businessman. - William KeithWilliam Keith (artist)William Keith was a Scottish-American painter famous for his California landscapes.-Early life:Keith was born in Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and emigrated to the United States in 1850. He lived in New York City, and became an apprentice wood engraver in 1856...
, a California landscape artist - Sir Patrick MansonPatrick MansonSir Patrick Manson was a Scottish physician who made important discoveries in parasitology and was the founder of the tropical medicine field....
, the founder of the field of tropical medicineTropical medicineTropical medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with health problems that occur uniquely, are more widespread, or prove more difficult to control in tropical and subtropical regions....
, was born at Cromlet Hill, now a guesthouse. - George Smith MorrisGeorge S. Morris (musician)George Smith Morris, The Buchan Chiel, was born in Aberdeen in 1876 and died in 1958. He is best known as a singer and writer of Doric comic songs. His father was a farrier with his own business and in due time George too became a blacksmith...
and Willie KempWillie KempWillie Kemp, King of the Cornkisters, was born in Oldmeldrum in 1888 and died in 1965. He is best known as a singer and writer of Doric comic songs...
, DoricDoric dialect (Scotland)Doric, the popular name for Mid Northern Scots or Northeast Scots, refers to the dialects of Scots spoken in the northeast of Scotland.-Nomenclature:...
musicians related by marriage. - Sir George Watt, botanist in India