INVERURIE

	Historic Overview

The Burgh of Inverurie is first mentioned in 1190 - 1195, as it was gifted to Lindores Abbey, (founded by Earl David). Inverurie was therefore a baronial burgh and the caput of the lordship of the Garioch. The original location of the burgh is not entirely clear, although it is thought that the settlement was in the area known as the Stanners - to the south and east on the modern town, at the confluence of the rivers Ury and Don. This area is the location of the churchyard and the motte of Inverurie commonly called the Bass. The motte is an earth mound, a natural glacial feature, which was sculpted and supported a timber castle. There is also in this area a cropmark of rectangular buildings and, as evidence of older settlement, early prehistoric flint finds. It is thought that Inverurie shifted to its present location perhaps early in the fourteenth century, although factual evidence is only available from the fifteenth century. Throughout that century, the town did not grow to any appreciable size, and does not even appear in the Stent Roll of 1483. Inverurie was not involved in mainstream Scottish affairs in the middle ages, though the Garioch as a doorway to Moray had an importance to the Crown and Inverurie was the chief Burgh of Regality. Inverurie's Royal Burgh status was formally recognised in the charter issued by Queen Mary in 1558. Inverurie remained primarily an agricultural town throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, serving an intensely rural area. A meal mill was built in 1650 close to the location of the present paper mill. In the early eighteenth century Inverurie was noted to be a town with a single street and had no public buildings other than the tollbooth and a church. In 1755 Inverurie's population was 730 falling to 712 by 1791. It was then noted that Inverurie had no trade nor manufacture save for a few craftsmen. Powtate loch which was situated where Market Place and West High Street are presently located, was reclaimed as the High Street developed. The loch had disappeared by the end of the eighteenth century.

It is reported that by 1804 the population had slumped to around 400. However, the construction of the canal between Inverurie and Aberdeen in 1805 brought significant economic prosperity to the Burgh in the first half of the nineteenth century, with the population rising to over 2000 by 1852. The canal terminus was at Port Elphinstone and became the major transport route to the area. The canal was built to transport materials for agricultural improvement in the area and the terminus was the major point of exchange. The canal was superseded as the major transport route by the construction of the railway in the middle of the nineteenth century which was built on the line of the canal, the section of the canal at Port Elphinstone being the only major remnant. The town, located on the ridge overlooking the River Ury demonstrates a strongly linear form and is the product of centuries of ribbon development. The High Street has demonstrated a northward progression from the initial focus of the town at the confluence of the rivers. The first rail station, built in the mid nineteenth century, was located at the bottom of Old Station Road. Subsequently the station was moved to the present location in the 1870's - 1880's and with the locomotive works relocated from Aberdeen, accelerated the northward shift in the town's focus. In the first half of the twentieth century the town was still focused on the High Street with its strong linear form but northward and westward progression of the town continued thereafter. Expansion of the town in the post war period was significant but in the past 30 years Inverurie has grown rapidly, with its population rising to 10,000. Clearly one of the factors contributing to the town's expansion has been the oil industry

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	Facts and Figures

Town profile

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	Strategy

Inverurie has graduated from ATP but during its time the Partnership took forward an agreed strategy for the town, following extensive public consultation.

Executive Summary

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	Objectives

• Enhance competitiveness, image and identity
• Support business competitiveness
• Encourage learning and enterprise
• Develop framework for town expansion
• Improve housing provision, especially for first time buyers
• Enhance environmental quality
• Improve social provision for everyone in community
• Involve community in formation and delivery of strategy

> click here to view full ATP Objectives

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	Key Projects

1999/2000

• Lanes Project Completed
• Town Hall Proposals Investigated
• Town Planning Consultants Report Submitted

2000/2001

• Design of Transport Interchange
• Development of Marketing
• Strategy and Promotion of Local Businesses

2001/2002

• Banks of Ury Car Park Phase I
• Town Centre Development Brief
• Town Centre Signage
• Assist Promotion and Growth of Inverurie Businesses
• Industrial Property Strategy
• Evaluation of Economic Strategy
• Health Promoting Activities
• Town Hall Development
• Bright Futures
• Affordable Housing
• Public Art Framework Across 5 ATP Towns
• CCTV Initiative Across 5 ATP Towns

2002/2003

• Banks of Ury Car Park Phase II
• Business Events and Networking
• Community Strategy Worker
• Network Development Officer
• Social Enterprises
• Cultural Events
• Competitive Local Businesses
  

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	Contacts

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	Latest Info

A new Heritage Centre is on the cards for Inverurie as part of a new development. See VisitInverurie for more information

Inverurie was the host for the final Sustaining Small Expanding Towns (SusSET) conference Sunday, September 23 until Wednesday, September 26 organised by Aberdeenshire Council. The event was the climax of a 30 month initiative designed to develop a strategy for small towns in Europe.
 

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