Kintore, Aberdeenshire

The Town House, Kintore.

Kintore (/kɪnˈtɔər/; 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,^[1] 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).^[2]

Roman camp

Kintore is the site of Deers Den Roman camp^[3] and is thought to relate to Agricola's campaigns into Scotland; moreover, Deers Den is associated with the Severan invasion.^[4]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,^[5] 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.

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

References

External links

Map sources for Kintore, Aberdeenshire

Settlements and places of interest in Garioch, Aberdeenshire

Primary settlements	Blackburn Insch Inverurie Kemnay Kintore Newmachar Westhill

Other settlements	Auchleven Blairdaff Colpy Daviot Dunecht Echt Elrick Garlogie Hatton of Fintray Kinmuck Old Rayne Oyne Pitcaple Sauchen Skene

Places of interest	Bennachie Chapel of Garioch Castle Fraser Dunnideer Maiden Stone

Areas and primary settlements in Aberdeenshire (see also: Aberdeen City)

in Banff and Buchan	Aberchirder Banff Fraserburgh Gardenstown Inverallochy and Cairnbulg Macduff Portsoy Rosehearty Sandhaven Whitehills

in Buchan	Boddam Crimond Cruden Bay Fetterangus Hatton Longside Maud Mintlaw New Deer New Pitsligo Peterhead St Combs St Fergus Strichen Stuartfield

in Formartine	Balmedie Cuminestown Ellon Fyvie Newburgh Oldmeldrum Pitmedden Potterton Rothienorman Tarves Turriff

in Garioch	Blackburn Insch Inverurie Kemnay Kintore Newmachar Westhill

in Kincardine and Mearns	Drumoak Fettercairn Gourdon Inverbervie Johnshaven Laurencekirk Newtonhill Portlethen St Cyrus Stonehaven

in Marr	Aboyne Alford Ballater Banchory Braemar Huntly Lumphanan Tarland Torphins

Coordinates: 57°14′10″N 2°20′46″W / 57.23604°N 2.34621°W / 57.23604; -2.34621

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