Auchenblae

Auchenblae developed as two separate settlements, Fordoun and Auchenblae, that merged in the latter half of the 19th century. The older settlement of Fordoun was centred on Fordoun Parish Church in the south of the current village which has been a religious site since the 7th century. The original village of Auchenblae makes up the north of the current village. Auchenblae is recorded from the 16th century and was significantly enlarged in 1770 by a planned development to house mill workers. After the two settlements were linked by the development of Monboddo Street including the current village hall, the combined settlement came to be known as Auchenblae. Note that the nearby contemporary…

The church of Fordoun was consecrated by David de Bernham, Bishop of St Andrews in 1244. The annexation was completed at some point after 1329 when a commission was established to review and ratify the grant. The priory maintained its right to appoint the vicar of the parish until the reformation. By the fifteenth century, the church and the relics of St. Palladius continued to attracted a steady flow of pilgrims. The lands of Fordoun were granted to John Beaton by King James IV in 1506-7 in thanks to his father, David Beaton's service as Treasurer of Scotland. Fordoun was granted the status of Burgh of barony by Queen Mary I in 1554. The status was granted in part due to Mary's friendship…

It is featured in Lewis Grassic Gibbon's novel, Sunset Song, as well as being mentioned in the thrash metal song "Hotel Blast Terror" by Thrashist Regime, based on the tragic 2009 Gas explosion.