This picture right is taken from an old postcard and shows the back of the Town House.
Deers Den Roman Camp, Neolithic and Bronze Age settlements
During this the archaeologists from AOC Archaeology uncovered not only remains of the Roman camp, but of settlements dating back to the mid-to-late Bronze Age (below, right).
The Roman camp itself is thought to relate to Agricola's campaigns into Scotland. The Romans, it is believed, were attracted by the belief that Scotland was rich in natural resources, including gold, silver and tin.
The 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 disappointment about the lack of resources and more pressing matters elsewhere in the Roman Empire, brought about consolidation and retreat.
The Deer's Den Roman camp is one of the largest in the area, stretching from close to the centre of Kintore out across the bypass. Covering 44 hectares, it is believed it could have been occupied by as many as 10,000 men.
During the two-year excavations the archaeologists uncovered the remains of no less than 250 Roman bread ovens (the stone base of one is pictured below), one of the largest number found in this country. In these ovens flat bread would be baked, probably with toppings of locally grown vegetables - effectively the ancient Roman equivalent of a pizza! This staple diet was apparently augmented by eggs.
During the two-year excavations the archaeologists uncovered the remains of no less than 250 Roman bread ovens (the stone base of one is pictured below), one of the largest number found in this country. In these ovens flat bread would be baked, probably with toppings of locally grown vegetables - effectively the ancient Roman equivalent of a pizza! This staple diet was apparently augmented by eggs.
The archaeological team have dug trenches acrosss the original ditch which fortified the Roman Camp. It would be a huge task to dig this two-to-three metre ditch right around the camp with a modern excavator, but that this was dug by hand by an advance party is staggering.
In addition to the Roman remains, the archaeologists have found a number of Bronze Age round houses. These would have been built of wattle and daub, but the precise detail of their construction is unclear from the post holes that remaining.
Candy Hatherley of AOC Archaeology says the huts could have had either pitched or 'beehive' roofs and could even have had two floors, with the animals kept on the floor level.
One thing that puzzles the archaeologists is that - while they have found evidence of almost constant habitation from Neolithic times to the Roman campaigns - there is then little evidence of occupation between then and the Middle Ages. This was when the town of Kintore developed, being granted its royal burgh status in 1190.
"It may have been thought taboo to stay in that area because of its association with an invading army," says Murray Cook, senior project officer at AOC Archaeology".
Photos courtesy of Stewart Milne Homes
Candy Hatherley of AOC Archaeology says the huts could have had either pitched or 'beehive' roofs and could even have had two floors, with the animals kept on the floor level.
One thing that puzzles the archaeologists is that - while they have found evidence of almost constant habitation from Neolithic times to the Roman campaigns - there is then little evidence of occupation between then and the Middle Ages. This was when the town of Kintore developed, being granted its royal burgh status in 1190.
"It may have been thought taboo to stay in that area because of its association with an invading army," says Murray Cook, senior project officer at AOC Archaeology".
Photos courtesy of Stewart Milne Homes
Bridgealehouse
Bridgealehouse is located at the junction of Lochburn Drive and Northern Road. It served as the court and council house until the present Town House was built.
Kintore's Burgh Records refer to court proceedings held in Bridgealehose from around 1690 to 1745. Each report is typically annotated "The Court of Kintore, holden in the Chamber at Bridgealehouse, the [date]". In each instance the "Magistrates and Councillors of Kintore" which included the Earl of Kintore, Robert Bruce and the Bailies of Kintore are recorded.
There is, furthermore, a "List of Poleable Persons 1696" which includes the entry "BRIDGE ALEHOUSS - 'Robert Bruce and Issobell Laing, his spouse".
After the present Town House was built, Bridgealehouse became a coaching inn. Within the genealogy of the Earl of Kintore and the Keith family, a marriage is recorded between John Fraser "Farmer and Innkeeper Bridgealehouse" and Jean Gordon on 16 October 1779.
In 2004, Bridgealehouse came under threat of demolition for a new housing development.
Bridge over the River Don
The existing bridge at Boat of Kintore dates from the 1980s when the then Grampian Regional Council decided to replace the 1882 bridge, which had been opened by Kintore Provost Thomas Fraser.
The old bridge had a five-ton weight restriction and was also a B-listed structure. The regional council's 1985 proposal was controversial and Kintore Community Council called a public meeting. There was concerb that a new bridge (without a weight restriction) would encourage heavy traffic to use the route.
The old bridge had cast figures on the link girders representing the arms of the Earl of Kintore and this is echoed by the similar arms on the girders of the new bridge.
We are grateful to "anonymous" who sent this account of the new bridge (his reference to JR Craig the IV building the bridge in the 1500s and the 1,000-foot high crane should, perhaps, be taken with a sizeable grain or two of salt):
"Replacing the older "Victorian" bridge which was originally build by JR Craig the IV in the 1500's, the new bridge was a momentus occasion within the history of Kintore.
"A huge crane which at the time, was the biggest crane in Western Europe, arrived and spent three days setting up for the task. I watched from my bedroom window, and during the night we would hear the crane creaking under the weight of the new bridge as it hung suspended from 1000 ft up. The new bridge was built by Beattie the builders for a cost of £6755.20.
"Many townspeople came out to watch the last bolts being tightened as the Inverurie Pipe Band played to the tune of "Ancient Ragtime" by Hollensbatt."
Granite
Quarrying in Kintore had taken place on a small scale since 1830 when the quarry was opened to supply stone for the alterations at Kemnay House. John Fyffe later took a lease on Paradise Hill. We presume the Kintore quarry referred to is Tom's Forest quarry.
John Fyffe built the quarries up until the name of Kemnay granite was known all over the world. The work of the quarries brought many people into the area, and as a result the village began to be laid out.
Between them the quarries employed over four hundred men and were celebrated for supplying the granite for Holburn Viaduct, Thames Embankment, London Bridge* and the Forth Bridge.
There was also another, smaller quarry at Balbithan Hill, but we can find no historical information about this quarry. Was it a 'satellite' operation from the Kintore quarry, or a separate enterprise?
If anyone has information on the Balbithan quarry we would be most grateful. Please email editor@kintore.org.uk.
(*London Bridge is now at Lake Havasu City, Arizona)
Kintore Pipe Band
Because the uniforms were donated to the band by the returning Gordons, the band wears the Regimental version of the Gordon Highlanders tartan.
Kintore Pipe Band website
The Kintore Suffragette
Caroline A.I. Phillips, mentioned in Leah Leneman's "A Guid Cause; The Women's Suffrage Movement in Scotland." was born in Kintore on 13 December 1870, the daughter of the Free Church schoolmaster.
The family moved to Aberdeen in 1874. Caroline became a journalist with the Aberdeen Daily Journal and was honourary secretary of the Aberdeen branch of the WSPU (Women's Social and Political Union) 1907-09.
She is buried in Kintore - look for a Celtic cross gravestone in the graveyard.
MORE ON CAROLINE PHILLIPS
Thanks to Alison McColl for contributing this item.
The Queen of Tonga
It might have been around 1953, or earlier, that the Queen of Tonga (which is 5000 km south west of Hawaii) was passing through Kintore to visit somewhere in the North East.
All the school kids were lined up at the edge of the pavement from the school almost to the square to wave to her as she passed by. She might well have been over the Queen's Coronation.
Thanks to Roger Summers for contributing this item.
The Heckler
Roger Summers is also searching for an old news paper cutting about "The Heckler".
"Once a year the town council had to sit up on the stage while the locals fired questions at them about their failings and wasting money etc," Roger explains. "It was standing room only and they could be very lively.
"t was called the heckler because everyone heckled one another!"
Andy Beattie - Scotland team footballer and manager
Kintore poem from the 1920s or 30s
Hae ye heard o' the latest, the terrible splore,
That took place in the Burgh o' Royal Kintore,
A nondescriptfunction was held in the hall,
The promoters described it a "Society Ball".
The hall was weel deckit wi curtains an' floors,
As neen was expected that'd ever been poor,
And grand Spoonatorium wi lounges for ease,
An' a carpet for gents gaen doon on their knees.
A beautiful evening, just the very thing,
The motors in dozens arrived in a ring.
Wi' widows an' mothers an' nieces an' aunts
An' men o' a ages dressed up tae the dunt.
Introductions were needless but still they were made
The "So pleased to meet you" were so sweetly said,
The ladies took stock o' each ithers goons,
Or what there was o' them, oh, my dinna froon.
The supper was served in Smiths own best style,
Hungry foilks werena winted, so it wisna worth while
Cooking dishes nae winted, on their hands they micht lie,
There wis little tae eat and ne'an tae lay bye.
The dancing next started, a very fine band
Served music the daintiest they could command,
For waltzes an' foxtrots an' new fashioned reels,
Made fowk rin aboot like half-witted eels.
The elite o' the place an' for thirty miles roon
Wis risket for partners tae come tae the toon.
There wis Smiths, Stills and Browns, an' three race o' Craigs
Bit ane wisna winted so gaed hame in a rage.
The "trades" an' "professions" a gota a chance
Tae come to the supper an' join in the dance
A few wis declined an' their reasons did state,
But fut wye did they miss oot Peter the Great.
An' Scrape hungry looking confessed to his wife
He never got sae little for 's siller in's life
An Liz fat an' brosy got varnish tae sheen
Her face till't resembled a double hairst meen.
That took place in the Burgh o' Royal Kintore,
A nondescriptfunction was held in the hall,
The promoters described it a "Society Ball".
The hall was weel deckit wi curtains an' floors,
As neen was expected that'd ever been poor,
And grand Spoonatorium wi lounges for ease,
An' a carpet for gents gaen doon on their knees.
A beautiful evening, just the very thing,
The motors in dozens arrived in a ring.
Wi' widows an' mothers an' nieces an' aunts
An' men o' a ages dressed up tae the dunt.
Introductions were needless but still they were made
The "So pleased to meet you" were so sweetly said,
The ladies took stock o' each ithers goons,
Or what there was o' them, oh, my dinna froon.
The supper was served in Smiths own best style,
Hungry foilks werena winted, so it wisna worth while
Cooking dishes nae winted, on their hands they micht lie,
There wis little tae eat and ne'an tae lay bye.
The dancing next started, a very fine band
Served music the daintiest they could command,
For waltzes an' foxtrots an' new fashioned reels,
Made fowk rin aboot like half-witted eels.
The elite o' the place an' for thirty miles roon
Wis risket for partners tae come tae the toon.
There wis Smiths, Stills and Browns, an' three race o' Craigs
Bit ane wisna winted so gaed hame in a rage.
The "trades" an' "professions" a gota a chance
Tae come to the supper an' join in the dance
A few wis declined an' their reasons did state,
But fut wye did they miss oot Peter the Great.
An' Scrape hungry looking confessed to his wife
He never got sae little for 's siller in's life
An Liz fat an' brosy got varnish tae sheen
Her face till't resembled a double hairst meen.
An' Jemima The Ancient so sweetly paid toll
As she oxtert the bous in the swank hidie hole,
The sklavin wife Craig gaed the curtains a tug
Tae see if some feel wis on's knees on the rug.
And Chivas he coorted the matron foo weel
Atween you an' me he's rael like the deil
He couldna get danced cause he'd lost a glove,
Will some grey-haired widow find it for love?
And sweet Daisy tae dance joined wi some pairs
Nae kennin' that Sandy'd been drinkin upstairs,
When trying tae swing like the rest o' the fowk
Fell clyte on the fleer wi Sandy on top.
Rise up ye big sot, for I'm in a rage,
"I canna" said Sandy for I've nae ease o' my legs
O' dancing an' whisky I've had quite my fill,
I'm lying sae comfy, och Daisy lie still.
Come Sandy rise up for this winna dee,
It's nae ease said Sandy, so just lat me be,
But wi a big heave they got Sandy on's legs
And sweet Daisy fainted, nae winner my fegs.The time for goodbyes cam roon wi a shock,
The cars were brocht roon about twa o' the clock,
A neighbour woke up an' nudged his guid wife,
Did ever you see sic a soon in her life.
Tae the nois o' big sprees we never gie heed,
Bit that wis a soon wid wauken the deid
I'll see futs adee an' he jumped oot o' bed,
And opening the window he popped oot his head,
Fits adee said the wife I'm wintin tae ken,
It's a puckle drunk fowk carrying oot two big men,
I dinna ken fither ther living' or deid,
Bit they're pitten them inta a car for Boghead
The "Lady Promoters" nae sympathy got,
They provided the stuffie that made the men sots,
But their kind hospitality wis thrown in their faces,
The ball wis nae success, but a perfect disgrace.
Noo stranger if ever ye loose yer wye hame,
And come tae a place ye canna gie name,
If it happen tae be on the nicht o' a spree,
And the fowk a' drunk, YE'VE LAN'T IN KINTORE.
As she oxtert the bous in the swank hidie hole,
The sklavin wife Craig gaed the curtains a tug
Tae see if some feel wis on's knees on the rug.
And Chivas he coorted the matron foo weel
Atween you an' me he's rael like the deil
He couldna get danced cause he'd lost a glove,
Will some grey-haired widow find it for love?
And sweet Daisy tae dance joined wi some pairs
Nae kennin' that Sandy'd been drinkin upstairs,
When trying tae swing like the rest o' the fowk
Fell clyte on the fleer wi Sandy on top.
Rise up ye big sot, for I'm in a rage,
"I canna" said Sandy for I've nae ease o' my legs
O' dancing an' whisky I've had quite my fill,
I'm lying sae comfy, och Daisy lie still.
Come Sandy rise up for this winna dee,
It's nae ease said Sandy, so just lat me be,
But wi a big heave they got Sandy on's legs
And sweet Daisy fainted, nae winner my fegs.The time for goodbyes cam roon wi a shock,
The cars were brocht roon about twa o' the clock,
A neighbour woke up an' nudged his guid wife,
Did ever you see sic a soon in her life.
Tae the nois o' big sprees we never gie heed,
Bit that wis a soon wid wauken the deid
I'll see futs adee an' he jumped oot o' bed,
And opening the window he popped oot his head,
Fits adee said the wife I'm wintin tae ken,
It's a puckle drunk fowk carrying oot two big men,
I dinna ken fither ther living' or deid,
Bit they're pitten them inta a car for Boghead
The "Lady Promoters" nae sympathy got,
They provided the stuffie that made the men sots,
But their kind hospitality wis thrown in their faces,
The ball wis nae success, but a perfect disgrace.
Noo stranger if ever ye loose yer wye hame,
And come tae a place ye canna gie name,
If it happen tae be on the nicht o' a spree,
And the fowk a' drunk, YE'VE LAN'T IN KINTORE.
He started his football career with Inverurie Loco Works, before moving to Preston Nothend. Roger Summers, whose wife is Andy's neice, takes up the story.
"He was a key player for Preston Northend and was capped many times. Later he became the first-ever Scotland Manager.
"He also had built for his parents the bungalow "Deepdale", which is the name of Preston's ground. It is the house on the right-hand side at the start of the Lang Stracht."
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