Aberlour (Scottish Gaelic:
Obar Lobhair), is the name of a place in
MorayMoray is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It lies in the north-east of the country, with coastline on the Moray Firth, and borders the council areas of Aberdeenshire and Highland....
,
ScotlandScotland 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...
, 12 miles south of
ElginElgin is a former cathedral city and a former Royal Burgh in Moray, Scotland and is the administrative and commercial centre for Moray. The city originated to the south of the River Lossie on the higher ground above the flood plain. Elgin is first documented in the Cartulary of Moray in 1190...
on the road to Grantown. A
burn (stream)In Scotland, North East England and some parts of Ireland and New Zealand, burn is a name for watercourses from large streams to small rivers. The term is also used in lands settled by the Scots and Northern English in other countries, notably in Otago, New Zealand, where much of the naming was...
, a tributary of the River
SpeySpey may refer to:*Spey River*Spey casting, a fly fishing technique developed on the River Spey*Rolls-Royce Spey, an early turbofan engine*HMS Spey, the name of seven ships of the Royal Navy...
, and surrounding
parishA parish is a territorial unit that was usually historically served by a local church. This administrative unit is typically found in Roman Catholic, Anglican Communion, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Church of Sweden, United Methodist, and Presbyterian churches...
, are both named Aberlour, but the name is most commonly used in reference to the village which straddles the stream and flanks the Spey – although the full name of the village is
Charlestown of Aberlour.
A site noted as Abirlaur is shown in this location on maps in the
Blaeu Atlas of Scotland, of 1654.
Aberlour (Scottish Gaelic:
Obar Lobhair), is the name of a place in
MorayMoray is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It lies in the north-east of the country, with coastline on the Moray Firth, and borders the council areas of Aberdeenshire and Highland....
,
ScotlandScotland 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...
, 12 miles south of
ElginElgin is a former cathedral city and a former Royal Burgh in Moray, Scotland and is the administrative and commercial centre for Moray. The city originated to the south of the River Lossie on the higher ground above the flood plain. Elgin is first documented in the Cartulary of Moray in 1190...
on the road to Grantown. A
burn (stream)In Scotland, North East England and some parts of Ireland and New Zealand, burn is a name for watercourses from large streams to small rivers. The term is also used in lands settled by the Scots and Northern English in other countries, notably in Otago, New Zealand, where much of the naming was...
, a tributary of the River
SpeySpey may refer to:*Spey River*Spey casting, a fly fishing technique developed on the River Spey*Rolls-Royce Spey, an early turbofan engine*HMS Spey, the name of seven ships of the Royal Navy...
, and surrounding
parishA parish is a territorial unit that was usually historically served by a local church. This administrative unit is typically found in Roman Catholic, Anglican Communion, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Church of Sweden, United Methodist, and Presbyterian churches...
, are both named Aberlour, but the name is most commonly used in reference to the village which straddles the stream and flanks the Spey – although the full name of the village is
Charlestown of Aberlour.
History
A site noted as Abirlaur is shown in this location on maps in the
Blaeu Atlas of Scotland, of 1654. The current village, Charlestown of Aberlour, was "founded by Mr. Charles Grant of Elchies in 1812 - with the name of Charlestown of Aberlour after his son Charles." It is commonly referred to simply as Aberlour. The three locations are close enough in definition, for there to be little distinction between them.
According to the 1846
A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland, "This parish, formerly called Skirdustan, signifying, in the Gaelic tongue, 'the division of Dustan,' its tutelary saint, derived its present name from its situation at the mouth of a noisy burn, which discharges itself into the river Spey."
Aberlour once was the site of an
orphanageOrphanage is the name to describe a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable to care for them...
which was founded by a minister called Charles Jupp. It is said by many who were brought up in the orphanage, that Canon Jupp 'walked' the buildings on 30 November. His
tombA tomb is a repository for the remains of the dead. It is generally any structurally enclosed interment space or burial chamber, of varying sizes...
lies in St Margaret's
Episcopal ChurchThe Scottish Episcopal Church is a Christian denomination in Scotland and a member of the Anglican Communion, although it itself has pre-Anglican origins. It consists of seven dioceses in Scotland. Like all Anglican churches, it recognises the primacy of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who does not...
which was the church used by the children of the orphanage. The orphanage was split into two separate units - one for the girls and the other for the boys. Between the two buildings was the
schoolA school , is an institution designed to allow and encourage students to learn, under the supervision of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
where the children were taught.
Aberlour Child Care Trust is now one of Scotland's main children's charities with services throughout Scotland.
Aberlour also is the place where the famous
WalkersWalkers Shortbread is a Scottish manufacturer of shortbread, biscuits, cookies and crackers. The company is Scotland's biggest exporter of food...
.
shortbreadShortbread is a type of biscuit which is traditionally made from one part white sugar, two parts butter, and three parts oatmeal . Shortbread is so named because of its crumbly texture...
is made. This shortbread is known around the world, and many a
New Year's EveNew Year's Eve or Old Year's Night is on , the final day of the Gregorian year, and the day before New Year's Day.New Year's Eve is a separate observance from the observance of New Year's Day...
celebrationCelebration may refer to:*Party, a social gathering*The celebration of the Eucharist*The observance of a feast day or holidayCelebration may also be:*"Celebration" , a song by Kool & The Gang, notably covered by Kylie Minogue...
is brought in with the brand
Walkers. Walkers own the woods behind the factory - Fisherton woods.
Until 2004, Aberlour was the site of the
prep schoolIn English language usage in the former British Empire, the present-day Commonwealth, a preparatory school is an independent school preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen for entry into fee-paying, secondary independent schools, some of which are known as public schools...
for
GordonstounGordonstoun is a co-educational independent school in Moray, Scotland, famed for having educated three generations of British royalty.-History:...
. Aberlour House educated pupils from age 7 to 13. The links between Aberlour House and Gordonstoun were very close. They shared the same school song and school flag (purple and white). Furthermore, they shared the same school motto - "plus est en vous", a contraction of "plus est en vous que vous pensez" meaning, "there is more in you than you think". They were both founded by the German educationalist Dr.
Kurt HahnKurt Martin Hahn was a German educator whose philosophies are considered internationally influential.-Biography:Born in Berlin of Jewish parents, Hahn studied in Oxford, Berlin, Heidelberg, Freiburg and Göttingen...
. His bust was prominently displayed in Aberlour House's front hall for many years. The prep school was founded at Wester Elchies in 1936 - three years after Gordonstoun. Wester Elchies expanded such that in 1947 a modest stately home - Aberlour House - was bought. Aberlour House had been occupied by the Army during the Second World War and is three miles from Wester Elchies. The younger boys attended Wester Elchies until the age of about 10. Then they proceeded on to Aberlour House. They moved on to Gordonstoun at the age of 13. Wester Elchies got dry rot and had to be pulled down in the early 1960s. A dormitory at Aberlour House was named Wester Elchies in memory of the old school building. Other dormitories took their names from local castles such as Cawdor, Spynie, Darnaway, Gaudwell, Balvenie, Duffus, Lochindorb, Auchindoun, Towie Barclay, Kilvarock, Findlater, Brodie and Glamis. Because of Wester Elchies' foundation date Aberlour House celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 1986. The school went mixed in 1974 - the same year as Gordonstoun took girls. Sir Toby Coghill, Bart., was headmaster of Aberlour House 1964-89. He was an old boy of Gordonstoun and a graduate of Pembroke College, Cambridge where he read Architecture and attained 'blues' in rowing and ice hockey. Previously he had been a housemaster at
Aiglon CollegeAiglon College is a private English-style boarding school in Switzerland, registered as a not-for-profit charitable institution, with an international student intake . The school gathers funds from full fee-paying students, from donations and via registered charitable trusts in different countries...
, a
Round SquareThe Round Square Conference of Schools is a worldwide association of more than 60 schools that allows students to travel between schools and tour the country or do community service.-History:...
affiliated school in Switzerland and became chairman of the board of governors upon retirement. His ancestor was Nevill Coghill (VC) who died attempting to save the colours at Isandhlwana. Coghill was an Irishman from
CastletownshendCastletownshend on Ireland's southwest coast, is a village about eight km from Skibbereen, in County Cork, Province of Munster, Ireland. The village developed around a small 17th century castle built by Richard Townsend, whose descendents still reside there...
, Co. Cork. He married Gay and had two children Patrick and Liza. He died in 2000 at the age of 70. Headmasters after him included Brian Head (1989-90), a Yorkshireman named David Edward Hanson (1990), a Scotsman named Mr. Caithness (1990-2000) and then an Englishman by the name of Neil Wainwright Gardner. Rumours always persisted amongst the pupils of a thoroughly unpleasant ghost named The Green Lady, which haunted the former Wester Elchies House. Her hauntings were mostly said to have occurred before the building became a school, although she was once, allegedly, seen by the school matron.
Aberlour House enjoyed a short-lived filip in 1993 when a local rival -
BlairmoreBlairmore School was an independent boarding school in Glass near Huntly, Aberdeenshire until its closure in 1993.-History:Blairmore School was established in 1947 as an independent prep school for boys aged 8-13 by Colonel D.R. Ainslie D.S.O., B.A., a keen educationalist, Cambridge graduate and...
- shut down. Aberlour took in many Blairmore pupils, appropriated Blairmore's scholarship boards and adopted Blairmore's Highland games event. Aberlour House never appended the word 'school' to its name even when it was separate from Gordonstoun. Although the Preparatory School still keeps its name (Aberlour House) it is now located within the grounds of Gordonstoun School.
Thomas TelfordThomas Telford was a Scottish civil engineer, architect and stonemason, and a noted road, bridge and canal builder.-Early career:...
, the renown
civil engineerA civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering, one of the many professions of engineering. Originally a civil engineer worked on public works projects and was contrasted with the military engineer, who worked on armaments and defenses...
designed
Craigellachie BridgeCraigellachie Bridge is a cast iron arch bridge located in Speyside, Moray, Scotland at Craigellachie which is near to the village of Aberlour. It was designed by the renowned civil engineer Thomas Telford and built from 1812–1814...
spanning the
River SpeyThe River Spey is a river in the northeast of Scotland, the second longest and the fastest flowing river in Scotland...
about two miles to the north of the town. It was built after the Great Spate in the 19th century destroyed an earlier bridge. Craigellachie Bridge is now open only to foot and cycle traffic. A new bridge has superseded it.
Alexander Cameron SimAlexander Cameron Sim was born in Aberlour, Scotland on August 28, 1840. He died on November 28, 1900 having lived most of his adult life in Japan.Sim founded the Kobe Regatta & Athletic Club at Kobe on September 23, 1870...
, a
pharmacistPharmacists are health professionals who practice the science of pharmacy. In their traditional role, pharmacists typically take a request for medicines from a prescribing health care provider in the form of a medical prescription, evaluate the appropriateness of the prescription, dispense the...
who introduced lemonade (locally called ramune) to
Japanis an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, was born in the town.
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