Dunblane facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dunblane
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 Part of Dunblane town centre |
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 Dunblane
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| Population | 9,310 (2020) |
| OS grid reference | NN779007 |
| • Edinburgh | 34 mi (55 km) |
| • London | 359 mi (578 km) |
| Council area | |
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| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DUNBLANE |
| Postcode district | FK15 |
| Dialling code | 01786 |
| Police | Central Scotland |
| Fire | Central Scotland |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament | |
Dunblane is a small town in central Scotland. It is located in the Stirling area. The town is known for its beautiful Dunblane Cathedral. Many people who live here travel to nearby cities like Glasgow and Edinburgh for work.
Dunblane sits on the banks of the Allan Water. This river flows into the larger River Forth. In 2016, about 9,410 people lived in Dunblane.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name "Dunblane" likely means "fort of Blane." This refers to Saint Blane. He was an early Christian saint from the late 500s. He or his followers might have started a church in Dunblane.
The oldest spellings of the name were "Dul Blaan." "Dul" is an old word for 'water meadow.' It was used in other Scottish place names too.
A Look Back in Time
Early History
Christianity has been present in Dunblane for a long time. Two stone crosses from the 900s or 1000s are in the Dunblane Cathedral. The cathedral also has an 11th-century bell-tower. This tower was made taller in the 1400s.
The main parts of the cathedral were built in the 1200s. After the Scottish Reformation, the main part of the cathedral was left without a roof. It was used for burials. The choir section, however, continued to be used as the local church.
Key Events
In 1715, the Battle of Sheriffmuir took place near Dunblane. Many soldiers stayed in the town before the battle.
The Dunblane railway station opened in 1848. It was part of the line connecting Stirling to Perth. Later, another line from Dunblane went to Callander. This line eventually reached Oban. However, it closed in 1965.
In the 1800s, Dunblane became a popular place for health spas. The main part of the cathedral got a new roof between 1889 and 1893.
Since the 1970s, Dunblane has grown a lot. It's now a popular place for people who travel to work. This is because of its good transport links and schools. It's also close to the University of Stirling.
A Community's Strength
In 1996, a very sad event happened at Dunblane Primary School. This event deeply affected the community. It led to new laws in the United Kingdom about owning certain types of firearms.
To remember those who were lost, memorials were created. There is one in the local cemetery and another in the cathedral. Stained glass windows in local churches also honor the children and their teacher. The community also raised money to build a new place for everyone to use. This is called the Dunblane Centre.
Famous tennis players Jamie Murray and Andy Murray were students at the school at that time.
How Dunblane is Run
Dunblane used to be part of Perthshire. In 1975, it became part of the Stirling area. Now, Stirling Council is the local authority for Dunblane. The town also has a community council that helps local residents.
Dunblane is sometimes called a "city." This is because it has a cathedral. However, it has never been officially recognized as a city.
Places to See and Things to Do
Shops and Fun
Dunblane has several supermarkets. These include a Tesco and an M&S Foodhall. There is also a local Co-op. The High Street has local butchers and a Bank of Scotland branch.
A group of young boys and their parents worked hard to raise money for a skatepark. It was finished in 2007 in the Laighills area.
Getting Around
Dunblane railway station offers regular train services. You can travel to Stirling, Perth, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. Some long-distance trains also stop here. These include services to Aberdeen and London. Dunblane is the furthest north that electric trains can go in Britain.
The M9 motorway ends in Dunblane. It connects to the A9 road that goes north towards Perth. The A9 used to go through the town center. But a bypass was built in 1991. This helped reduce traffic in the town.
Churches in Dunblane
Dunblane has several churches:
- Dunblane Cathedral – Part of the Church of Scotland
- St Blane's Church – Also Church of Scotland
- St Mary's Church – Part of the Scottish Episcopal Church
- Church of the Holy Family – A Roman Catholic Church
- Free Church of Scotland
- Dunblane Christian Fellowship
- Community of St Nicholas – An Eastern Orthodox Church
Dunblane Cathedral is special. It has many of its original medieval choir stalls. It is also known for its organ. Pieces of old woodwork from the cathedral are shown in the Dunblane Museum. The museum is near the cathedral. The cathedral is still used as a church. It is also looked after by Historic Scotland.
Leighton Library
The old town center has many historic buildings. One of these is the 17th-century Leighton Library. It is the oldest private library in Scotland that is open to the public. It is open on certain days in the summer. A nearby old house, which was once a home for a church leader, now holds a local history museum.
Dunblane Centre
The Dunblane Centre is a special place for the community. It is used for youth activities, family events, arts, and sports. It was built using money raised by the community after the 1996 tragedy. The center opened in 2004. It relies on money from users and fundraising to operate.
Hotels
The Dunblane Hydro Hotel is a large building on the north side of town. It is now part of the Hilton Hotel Group. This Victorian building was built in the late 1800s. It used to have many spa and health facilities.
Clubs and Groups
Dunblane has many clubs and societies for people to join:
- 2284 Squadron City of Dunblane Air Cadets
- The Dunblane Local History Society
- The Dunblane Civic Society
- The 25th Stirling (Dunblane) Boys' Brigade
- Dunblane Soccer Club
- The Rubber Chicken Theatre – Dunblane's performing arts family
- The 4th/85th Dunblane Scout Group
- The Milvus Explorer Scout Unit
- Dunblane Development Trust
Schools in Dunblane
About 2,000 students attend schools in Dunblane.
Dunblane Primary School
Dunblane Primary School is on Doune Road. It has a large playing field for activities. A nursery for younger children is also on the school grounds.
In 1996, the school's gym was the site of a very sad event. The old gym was quickly taken down. A new part of the building was built in its place. The former gym area became a memorial garden. Dunblane Primary is a very large school. It has at least two classes for each year group.
The school uniform is blue polo shirts and red jumpers. Students in Primary 7 wear black jumpers. The school has houses named after local castles: Airthrey (red), Doune (blue), Drummond (yellow), and Kilbryde (green).
St. Mary's Episcopal Primary School
St Mary's is the oldest and smallest primary school in Dunblane. It has been at its current location since 1850. The school was started by the church to help children in need. It was updated and expanded in 1997.
St Mary's now has four classes for the seven primary years. It also has a nursery class. The uniform is blue polo shirts and green jumpers. The houses are Cromlix, Keir, Kilbryde, and Kippenross.
Newton Primary School
Newton Primary School opened in 1996. Its name comes from Newton Farm, an old farm in the area. The school's logo includes a tractor and a celtic cross.
Around 440 students attend Newton Primary. Like the other primary schools, it has a nursery. The uniform is white polo shirts and royal blue jumpers. Primary 7 students wear a darker navy blue jumper.
Dunblane High School
Dunblane High School has about 1,000 students and 60 teachers. Most students come from Dunblane's three primary schools. The current school building was finished in 2007. It was officially opened by Jamie Murray. The new building has theater facilities, a fitness room, and a dance studio. It also has an all-weather sports pitch.
The school has a strong record of academic success. In 2013, it was among the top ten schools in Scotland for academic results. Many students go on to higher education.
The school uniform is a white shirt with black trousers or skirt. Students wear blue knitwear and a royal blue blazer. Students in their final year (S6) wear a black blazer with light blue trim. Ties are different for each year group. The houses are Ramoyle (red), Sheriffmuir (yellow), and Kilbryde (blue).
Queen Victoria School
Queen Victoria School is a boarding school for children whose parents are in the British Armed Forces. It is managed and funded by the Ministry of Defence. The school is about 1 kilometer north of the town center. Its chapel is a good example of Scottish medieval style architecture.
Famous People from Dunblane
Many notable people have lived in or are from Dunblane:
- Elish Angiolini, a former top legal official
- Fiona Brown, a footballer
- Alexander Buchan, a meteorologist
- Katharine Brown, a beauty pageant winner
- Ebenezer Bryce, who has a national park named after him
- Andrew Butchart, an athlete
- Callum Davidson, a football player
- James Gillespie Graham, an architect
- James Huffam, who received a special medal for bravery
- Robert Leighton, a former Bishop of Dunblane and founder of the Leighton Library
- Dougie MacLean, a musician
- Sir Andy Murray, a famous tennis player
- Jamie Murray, a tennis player
- Judy Murray, a tennis player and coach
- Len Pennie, a poet
- George Robertson, a politician and former head of NATO
- Sir Reo Stakis, a hotel owner
- Steven Turnbull, a rugby player
