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Coordinates: 57°17'N 2°23'W? / ?57.28, -2.38
Inverurie is a burgh in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, approximately 16 miles north west of Aberdeen along the A96 road.
The burgh is served by Inverurie railway station.
[edit] Geography
Inverurie straddles the River Don and the River Ury. Although the part of the town south of the Don is actually called Port Elphinstone, it is however common to hear the title "Inverurie" used to refer to both Inverurie and Port Elphinstone as a single town.
[edit] Etymology
The word "Inverurie" comes from the Scottish Gaelic Inbhir Uraidh meaning "Mouth of the Ury" after the river which joins the Don just south of the town.
It was commonly spelt "Inverury" until the late 1800s when it was altered to avoid confusion with Inveraray in Argyll, on the south west coast of Scotland because it was felt that "a" and "u" were particularly hard to distinguish in handwritten addresses.
[edit] History
Inverurie is said to have been founded by David of Huntingdon, Earl of the Garioch, brother of Malcolm IV and great-great-grandfather of Robert the Bruce who defeated the Comyns nearby at the Battle of Barra on Christmas Eve 1307. The town's earliest known charter dates from 1558, but its modern development occurred after the building of the Aberdeenshire Canal linking Port Elphinstone with Aberdeen Harbour in 1806. The Inverurie Locomotive Works (1905-1969) led to a modest increase in size and prosperity, but it was not until the "Oil Boom" of the last quarter of the 20th century that the town developed into much of its present form. The nearby Easter Aquorthies recumbent stone circle is a fine example of the rich history of the North East of Scotland, an ancient monument dating back to the 3rd Millennium BC. There have been two well known battles in the town: The Battle of Inverurie (1308) and the Battle of Inverurie (1745).
[edit] Industry
Inverurie is a thriving market town, with many small shops, businesses and services. Its main industries other than service and commerce are agriculture, oil and paper manufacture. Agriculture continues to be a mainstay of Inverurie's economy, as it has done since the town's inception. Thainstone Mart, to the south east of the town, is the biggest livestock market in Scotland, and rents out commercial units to various agricultural support services. Lying beside Thainstone Mart, the paper mill is also a big employer.
Following the discovery of North Sea oil in the mid 1970s, several oil service companies appeared in Inverurie. Many residents who work in this sector do so on offshore oil installations in the North Sea on a "two week on- two week off" basis in addition to those who work in the town itself.
In recent years, Inverurie has also seen increasing numbers of Aberdeen commuters going to live there.
[edit] Language
Inverurie natives speak the Aberdeenshire Doric dialect of Scots.
Inverurie Doric has become weaker in recent years due to an influx of residents from England and central Scotland to the area, and the state curriculum, yet it has survived. The Doric Festival which is held in Inverurie every October, helps to promote and keep alive this vital part of the North East identity, however, the range of the Doric vocabulary in Inverurie is more limited than in the more rural parts of Aberdeenshire.
Historically, Pictish is the ancient language of the area, which can be found in many placenames. It appears to have been a Brythonic language. The Book of Deer originates from a few miles to the north east.
[edit] Religion
The oldest church in Inverurie is St Andrews' Parish Church, a Church of Scotland. Formally known as the Inverurie Parish Church, a split in the congregation over the appointment of a minister in the mid 1800s led to the creation of the West Parish Church which was founded as a Free Church (a church free from Edinburgh control)this causing the Inverurie Parish Church to change it's name. In the mid 20th Century, the West Church elected to return to the Church of Scotland, however, the two churches stayed separate due to the burgeoning growth in the town. The West Church is currently undergoing a massive refurbishment and are currently worshiping in the nearby Inverurie Academy whilst St Andrews' Church, which sits just back from the High Street, continues to hold services in it's buildings every Sunday. St Andrews' Church is still seen as the "Town Church" and the colours of the local youth organisations and Royal British Legion proudly hang inside. Other Churches and places of worship in Inverurie include St Marys' Church (Episcopal), The Roman Catholic Chapel, The Baptist Church, The Gospel Hall and the Salvation Army Meeting Hall.
[edit] Sports
Inverurie Loco Works F.C., which play their matches at Harlaw Park, are the local Highland League football team and Aberdeen F.C. are the nearest Scottish Premierleague team. Rugby Union is played by the Garioch Rugby Football Club.
Inverurie is also a member of the Aberdeenshire Cricket Association.
Former World Squash Number One Peter Nicol, was born in Inverurie.
Colony Park Football Club are the towns juvenile team, and are the largest juvenile club in Scotland with over 400 members after being founded by Dod Reid MBE in 1978.
[edit] Education
There are four primary schools, one secondary school and one Special School within Inverurie:
- Inverurie Market Place School[1]
- Kellands School[2]
- Port Elphinstone School[3]
- Strathburn School[4]
- Inverurie Academy[5]
- St Andrews School
[edit] Divorce Rate
At 10.4% Inverurie has Scotland's lowest divorce rate Source: Claritas, 2002.
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Settlements and Places of Interest in Garioch, Aberdeenshire |
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| Other Settlements |
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(Source: Wikipedia) |