Kemnay, Aberdeenshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kemnay
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 Kemnay, war memorial and main street. |
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 Kemnay
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| Population | 3,890 (2020) |
| OS grid reference | NJ730158 |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | INVERURIE |
| Postcode district | AB51 |
| Dialling code | 01467 |
| Police | Grampian |
| Fire | Grampian |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament | |
Kemnay (in Gaelic: Camnaidh) is a village in Scotland. It's about 16 miles (26 km) west of Aberdeen in an area called Garioch, Aberdeenshire.
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Kemnay's History
The name Kemnay probably comes from old Celtic words. These words mean "little crook in the river." This makes sense because the village is on a bend of the River Don. Kemnay House is a very old and important building. It is protected by Historic Scotland.
A railway station served Kemnay from 1859 to 1950. It was part of the Alford Valley Railway. Today, you can't see the old railway line in the village. Houses have been built where it used to be.
The village's old church was first built a long time ago. It was rebuilt in 1632. The church you see today was built in 1844. The village grew a lot after the railway station opened in 1858.
Did you know there's another place called Kemnay? It's a small community in Manitoba, Canada. It's about 10 kilometers west of Brandon.
Famous People from Kemnay
- David Leitch (born 1608) was a minister from Kemnay. He was also a chaplain to King Charles II.
Places of Worship
Kemnay has churches for different religious groups:
- Church of Scotland
- Roman Catholic
- Scottish Episcopal Church
- Jehovah's Witnesses
Visiting Kemnay
Kemnay is a popular spot for people exploring Aberdeenshire. You can find many places to stay, like guest houses, hotels, and bed and breakfasts. There are also two pubs, the Bennachie Lodge and the Burnett Arms Hotel.
Kemnay Granite
The Kemnay Quarry opened in 1830. It started selling granite in 1858. John Fyfe, who owned the quarry, invented a special system there in 1872. This system, called the Blondin, used ropes to move heavy stones.
Kemnay Granite has been used in many famous buildings and structures around the world. Some examples include:
- The Cenotaph in Glasgow
- The Forth Railway Bridge in Scotland
- Marischal College in Aberdeen
- Kew Bridge and Putney Bridge in London
- The Thames Embankment in London
Workers from Kemnay even helped with the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia. They also traveled to quarries in places like California, the Mississippi Levees, and Odessa.
Interesting Spots in Kemnay
- James Mitchell Memorial
- Fetternear Estate
- Fetternear Palace: This is an old bishop's palace where archaeologists dig to learn about the past.
- Johnstone FM Monument
- Kemnay Academy
- View Point (Place of Origin)
- War Memorial
- Kemnay morthouse: This small building in the churchyard was built in 1831. It was used to keep bodies safe before burial.
Sports in Kemnay
Kemnay has many sports clubs for you to join:
- Badminton
- Bowling
- Cricket
- Football
- Golf
- Tennis
You can also use the playing fields at Bogbeth Park. This park is also home to the Kemnay Skate Park.
Some famous athletes have connections to Kemnay:
- Golfer Paul Lawrie, who won the 1999 Open Championship, went to Kemnay Academy.
- Former Aberdeen F.C. footballer Darren Mackie also studied at Kemnay Academy.
In April 2017, a gym called Station 83 opened in the village.
Schools in Kemnay
Kemnay has two primary schools and one secondary school:
- Kemnay Primary School
- Alehousewells Primary School
- Kemnay Academy: This secondary school got a big new extension in 2015. It cost £14.3 million!
See also
In Spanish: Kemnay para niños
