Auchenblae

Auchenblae (/ˌɔːxənˈbleɪ/, Scottish Gaelic: Achadh nam Blàth) is a village in the Kincardine and Mearns area of Aberdeenshire, formerly in Kincardineshire, Scotland. It is featured in Lewis Grassic Gibbon's novel, Sunset Song, as well as being mentioned in the thrash metal song "Hotel Blast Terror" by Thrashist Regime,[1] based on the tragic 2009 incident.[2] The name is a derivation from the Gaelic for "Field of Flowers" possibly due to the growing of flax in bygone times.[3] The village was known for its weavers, a whisky distillery and the annual Paldie's Fair horse market.

Auchenblae
Auchenblae
Location within Aberdeenshire
OS grid referenceNO7278
Council area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament

The current parish church, on the opposite side of the Luther Water was built next to an older chapel dedicated to St. Palladius and was formerly known as Fordoun Parish Church. This location, known as at Kirkton of Fordoun was the birthplace of the chronicler John of Fordun (before 1360 – c. 1384) and has been a religious site since the 7th century. The bones of St Palladius were brought to Auchenblae.[4] There is a Pictish cross slab, the Fordoun Stone, in the kirk's vestibule. In the graveyard is the ancient ruin of St Palladius' Chapel and there is a memorial to Scotland's first Protestant martyr George Wishart,[4] born at Mains of Pittarrow in the old parish of Fordoun and burnt at the stake under the orders of Cardinal Beaton in St Andrews.

Looking down into Auchenblae from the kirkyard

See also

Bibliography
  • A. Grove, The History of Auchenblae, Scottish Women's Rural Institutes, Auchenblae Branch, Angus, Scotland (1967)
  • George Robertson (1810) A General View of Kincardineshire, Or, The Mearns, R. Phillips (Originally published by Oxford University), 576 pages
  • Ronald P.A. Smith, Stonehaven/Portlethen Street Plan: Including Auchenblae, Drumlithie, Gourdon (1998) ISBN 1-85812-904-4

References
  1. "Hotel Blast Terror on YouTube". Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  2. "Three are seriously hurt as gas explosion rocks hotel". The Scotsman. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  3. "Auchenblae: Conservation Area Appraisal" (PDF). Aberdeenshire Council. p. 8. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  4. "Overview of Auchenblae". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 10 December 2017.


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