Laurencekirk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Laurencekirk
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 Laurencekirk
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| Population | 3,140 (2020) |
| OS grid reference | NO7171 |
| • Edinburgh | 67 mi (108 km) |
| • London | 380 mi (612 km) |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LAURENCEKIRK |
| Postcode district | AB30 |
| Dialling code | 01561 |
| Police | Grampian |
| Fire | Grampian |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament | |
Laurencekirk (/ˌlɒrənsˈkɜːrk/), also known as Lournie, is a small town in Kincardineshire, Scotland. It is located just off the A90 main road, which connects Dundee and Aberdeen. Laurencekirk is managed as part of Aberdeenshire.
This town is the largest place in the Howe o' the Mearns area. It is home to Mearns Academy, a local secondary school. The school was first opened in 1895.
Laurencekirk's old name was Conveth. This name came from the Gaelic word Coinmheadh. It meant that people had to provide free food and lodging for soldiers passing through. The town is in the Howe of the Mearns, a wide valley. You can see the famous Johnston Tower on the nearby Garvock Hill.
In the past, Laurencekirk was famous for making special snuff boxes. These boxes had an airtight hinge called a "Laurencekirk hinge." This hinge was invented by James Sandy.
Contents
History of Laurencekirk
Early Days
The area of Conveth was first mentioned during the time of William the Lion. Its church was officially opened by the Bishop of St Andrews in 1244. The church was named Laurence Kirk. This was possibly in honor of Saint Lawrence or Laurence of Canterbury. A new church building was built in 1626.
Growing the Village
In 1762, a man named Lord Gardenstone bought the Johnston Estate. This is where the modern town now stands. He started a plan to improve the area. Before this, there were only a few houses near the church.
Lord Gardenstone began building a new village in 1765. He helped it grow by offering land to settlers for a very low price. The village quickly became bigger. By 1810, about 600 people lived there. In 1781, Laurencekirk officially became a burgh of Barony. This gave it special rights as a town.
Lord Gardenstone also helped start the snuff-box making business in the village. This industry continued through the 1800s. He even built a museum next to the village inn. This was to attract visitors to the town. The old church building from 1626 was taken down in 1804. Parts of it were used to build the church you see today.
Modern Times
In 1908, a group called the Women's Freedom League held a meeting in Laurencekirk. This was part of their effort to get votes for women. Important speakers like Mary Gawthorpe and Teresa Billington-Greig gave speeches.
The Laurencekirk railway station first opened on November 1, 1849. It was part of the Aberdeen Railway. This line connected Aberdeen in the north to Guthrie in the south. The station closed to passengers in 1967 but was re-opened on May 17, 2009. This re-opening has made Laurencekirk a good place for people who travel to Aberdeen or Dundee for work.
Services and Community
Laurencekirk has two public houses, The Crown and The Royal. Laurencekirk Primary School was built in 1999. Mearns Academy, the high school, opened a new building in 2014. This new building cost £23 million. The Community Centre, Library, and Police Station are all located within the Mearns Academy building.
The town also has two public parks with play areas for children. The memorial park has a bowling green and a skate-board area.
There are three Christian churches in Laurencekirk:
- Laurencekirk Church of Scotland
- St Laurence's Church, which is an Episcopalian Church
- The Mearns congregation of the Catalyst Vineyard Church
The Episcopalian church, St Laurence', was opened in 1873.
Local Landmarks
Johnston Tower was built to remember the Duke of Wellington's victory over Napoleon. It stands on the Garvock Hill, near a wind farm. The nearby house, Johnston Lodge, was built in 1780. It was later owned by Lord Gardenstone.
Local Media
Laurencekirk has a local newspaper called The Kincardineshire Observer. It is often called The Squeeker and was first published in 1902.
The town also has a local community radio station called Mearns FM. It broadcasts from Stonehaven. Mearns FM shares local news and charity events. It is run by volunteers and is a non-profit organization. The station helps connect the different communities in the Mearns area.
Transport Links
The Dundee–Aberdeen line railway goes through Laurencekirk. The railway station re-opened in 2009. This helps people travel to Aberdeen, Dundee, and other places.
The Laurencekirk bypass road opened in 1985. It is now part of the A90. There are plans to build a flyover junction to make access to Laurencekirk safer. This would remove a dangerous road crossing where many accidents have happened. However, this project has been delayed.
Laurencekirk in Books
Lewis Grassic Gibbon wrote a lot about The Mearns area in his book Sunset Song. You can visit a tribute center for him at Arbuthnott, near Laurencekirk.
Fred Urquhart worked in the Laurencekirk area during World War II. His short stories often describe the rural life he saw there.
Famous People from Laurencekirk
- James Beattie (1735–1803), a poet and philosopher, was born here.
- Francis Garden, Lord Gardenstone (1721–1793), who helped found Laurencekirk.
- James Henderson (1823–1906), a well-known newspaper publisher.
- Sir Robert Pearson (1871–1954), a cricketer and chairman of the London Stock Exchange.
- Thomas Ruddiman (1674–1757) was a schoolmaster in the parish.
- Fred Urquhart (1912–1995), a writer.
- Ryan Gauld (born 1995), a Scottish football player.
Gallery
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Laurencekirk Masonic Hall (a former church)
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Laurencekirk Church of Scotland
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Western Inn Laurencekirk
See also
In Spanish: Laurencekirk para niños
