Aberchirder

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Aberchirder
Scottish Gaelic: Obar Chiardair
Aberchirder (Scotland)
Aberchirder

Aberchirder shown within Scotland
Population est. 1,230 (2004) [1]
OS grid reference NJ624522
Council area Aberdeenshire
Lieutenancy area Banffshire
Constituent country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town HUNTLY
Postcode district AB54 7xx
Dialling code 01466 780
Police Grampian
Fire Grampian
Ambulance Scottish
European Parliament Scotland
UK Parliament Banff and Buchan
Scottish Parliament Banff and Buchan
List of places: UKScotland

Coordinates: 57°33′30″N 2°37′48″W / 57.55832, -2.63004

Aberchirder (Gaelic: Obar Chiardair), known locally as Foggieloan or Foggie, is a village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, situated on the A97 road six miles west of Turriff.

[edit] History

Main Street, Aberchirder
Main Street, Aberchirder

There is some uncertainty as to where the nickname "Foggie" originated from There are various theories; the most likely is that there is a stretch of moorland north of where the farm town existed (and, now, north of the village) which was named Foggieloan Moss from two Gaelic words foidh (peat moss) and lòn (meadow), so Foggieloan means peaty or boggy meadow.

Aberchirder was originally a small Royal Burgh but the main town was founded in 1764. Kinnairdy Castle, belonging to the Crichton family is 2 miles to the south west, where the River Deveron joins the Auchintoul Burn.

Aberchirder, which has several church buildings, was associated with the Disruption of 1843 that created the Free Church of Scotland. Saint Marnan (d. 620) is supposedly buried here.

Notable musician Irvin Duguid was born in the village in the Police Station house on the 18th December 1969.

[edit] References

  • AA Touring Guide to Scotland (1978)

[edit] External links