Gourdon, Aberdeenshire

Human settlement in Scotland

Gourdon

* Scots: Gurdin

Gourdon overlook

Gourdon

Location within Aberdeenshire

Population| 850 (2022)[1]
OS grid reference| NO825707
Council area|

* Aberdeenshire

Lieutenancy area|

* Kincardineshire

Country| Scotland
Sovereign state| United Kingdom
Post town| MONTROSE
Postcode district| DD10
Police| Scotland
Fire| Scottish
Ambulance| Scottish
UK Parliament|

* West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine

Scottish Parliament|

* Angus North and Mearns

List of places

Scotland

56°49′42″N 2°17′10″W﻿ / ﻿56.82833°N 2.28611°W﻿ / 56.82833; -2.28611
Gourdon homes Gourdon Mission Hall signpost

Gourdon (/ˈɡʊərdən/) nicknamed Gurdin by the population, is a coastal fishing village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, south of Inverbervie[2] and north of Johnshaven, with a natural harbour.[3] Its harbour was built in 1820.[4] It was formerly in Kincardineshire. It is known for its close community and unique local dialect. It is a picturesque harbour village that boasts lovely views along the pathway to Inverbervie.

## History

[edit]

### Fishing

[edit]

Gourdon was a thriving fishing community.[5] While most of the fishing has moved to other ports, there is still a fishouse in Gourdon, as well as some small fishing vessels at the harbour.

### Mills

[edit]

The last surviving flax mill in the United Kingdom was located at Selbie Mill in Gourdon. It had formally been owned by the Sidlaw group of companies, but was latterly owned by London-based company G and F Spinners. It had opened in 1902, and it closed on 30 May 1997. At its peak, it had employed over 200 people, but was down to about 40 when it shut its doors.[6]

At one point there had been a number of textile factories in and around Gourdon, and neighbouring Inverbervie. They had produced flax, as well as linen and jute for UK markets.

### Railway

[edit]

Gourdon was served by Gourdon railway station, on the Montrose and Bervie Railway from 1865 to 1951. Much of the former line of the track to Bervie has largely been turned into a tarmac path, popular with locals to walk along the beach front. The path southwards to Montrose is largely a dirt and gravel track. The site of the former Gourdon station is now part of a housing development.

## Community groups

[edit]

Gourdon contains many prominent community groups:

Gourdon harbour with fishing boats docked

Gourdon Mission Hall

Gourdon Mission Hall [7] is linked to Arbuthnott, Bervie and Kinneff Church. Services are held every Sunday at 6pm. The parish minister, Rev Andrew Morrison, takes the service once a month - usually the first Sunday of the month - with guest speakers taking the other weeks. In 2018, the Mission Hall celebrated its 150th anniversary.

## Notable residents

[edit]

* John Ritchie Cargill, 1892–1981, able seaman on the RMS Carpathia during the rescue after the sinking of the Titanic.
* Reg Morrison, 1932–2006. Aberdeen Football Club goalkeeper.

## Local radio

[edit]

Alongside the commercial enterprise of the local newspaper, The Mearns Leader, Gourdon has a Local Community Radio Station in Mearns FM. Broadcasting from nearby Stonehaven in the Townhall, Mearns FM helps to keep Gourdon up to date with local and charity events, as well as playing a wee bit of music. Staffed completely by volunteers, Mearns FM is run as a not for profit organisation, broadcasting under a Community Radio licence, with a remit to provide local focus news events and programming. Jointly funded by local adverts and local and national grants. Mearns FM has one of the largest listening areas of any Community Radio Station owing to the Mearns' distributed population, Mearns FM was set up to try to bring these distant communities together.[8]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
2. ^ Gourdon. Gazetteer for Scotland.
3. ^ Gourdon at Undiscovered Scotland.
4. ^ Aberdeenshire Council: Gourdon Harbour Archived 2007-04-04 at the Wayback Machine
5. ^ "Gourdon from The Gazetteer for Scotland". www.scottish-places.info. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
6. ^ "Last flax mill to close down | HeraldScotland". 16 February 2023. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
7. ^ "ABK Church | You Belong Here |".
8. ^ "Mearns FM - From Mountain To Sea".

## External links

[edit]

* Gourdon at Knowhere
* Photographs of Gourdon
* Media related to Gourdon, Aberdeenshire at Wikimedia Commons

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Settlements and places of interest in Kincardine and Mearns, Aberdeenshire

Primary settlements|

* Auchenblae
* Chapelton
* Drumoak
* Fettercairn
* Gourdon
* Inverbervie
* Johnshaven
* Laurencekirk
* Newtonhill
* Portlethen
* St Cyrus
* Stonehaven

Other settlements|

* Arbuthnott
* Banchory-Devenick
* Benholm
* Bridge of Muchalls
* Cammachmore
* Catterline
* Cookney
* Downies
* Drumlithie
* Edzell Woods
* Findon
* Fordoun
* Glenbervie
* Kinneff
* Kirkton of Durris
* Luthermuir
* Maryculter
* Marykirk
* Muchalls
* Netherley
* Portlethen Village
* Tewel

Places of interest|

* Causey Mounth
* Crawton
* Drum Castle
* Dunnicaer
* Dunnottar Castle
* Fetteresso Castle
* Fowlsheugh Nature Reserve (Craiglethy)
* Monboddo House
* Muchalls Castle
* Normandykes
* Portlethen Moss
* Raedykes
* Stonehaven Open Air Pool
* Stonehaven Tolbooth
* Storybook Glen

* v
* t
* e

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
* Luthermuir
* Newtonhill
* Portlethen
* St Cyrus
* Stonehaven

in Marr|

* Aboyne
* Alford
* Ballater
* Banchory
* Braemar
* Huntly
* Lumphanan
* Tarland
* Torphins

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Israel

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