Kemnay

Kemnay, war memorial and main street

Kemnay (Gaelic: Ceann a' Mhuigh) is a village 16 miles (26 km) west of Aberdeen in Garioch, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. With a population of 3,830 residents aged 16 or over (2012)^[1], Kemnay is the third largest settlement in the Garioch after Inverurie and Westhill.^[2]

History

The village name Kemnay is believed to originate from the Celtic words that mean "little crook in the river"^[3] due to the village location on the bend of the River Don. Kemnay House is classified by Historic Scotland as a category A listed building.^[4]

Religion

Kemnay has church buildings available for the following religious groups:

• Church of Scotland
• Roman Catholic
• Scottish Episcopal Church

Tourism

Kemnay is popular with explorers of Aberdeenshire who can stay in numerous guest houses, hotels, and bed and breakfasts within the village. There are two pubs, the Bennachie Lodge and the Burnett Arms Hotel.

Granite

Kemnay Quarry was opened in 1830 by John Fyfe, and became commercial in 1858. Kemnay Granite has been used in many famous buildings and structures, including;

• Cenotaph, Glasgow
• Forth Railway Bridge, Edinburgh/Fife
• Marischal College, Aberdeen
• Thames Embankment, London
• Various buildings on Princes Street, Edinburgh

Granite workers from Kemnay helped to quarry and shape the Australian granite used in the Sydney Harbour Bridge. They also travelled to quarries in California, the Mississippi Levees and Odessa.

Places of interest

• Carrier (James Mitchell Monument)
• Fetternear Estate
• Fetternear Palace, archaeological dig site (Bishop's Palace)
• Johnstone FM Monument
• Kemnay Academy
• View Point (Place of Origin)
• War memorial

Sports

Kemnay has various sports clubs, including;

• Badminton
• Bowling Club
• Cricket
• Football
• Golf
• Tennis

There are playing fields available for use by the public at Bogbeth Park, which is also home to the Kemnay Skate Park.

Golfer Paul Lawrie, who won the 1999 Open Championship is a former pupil of Kemnay Academy, as is former Aberdeen F.C. footballer Darren Mackie.

Education

There are two primary and one secondary school:

• Kemnay Primary School
• Alehousewells Primary School
• Kemnay Academy, which unveiled a £14.3 million extension in 2014.

References

Citations

Bibliography

External links

• grid reference NJ7316

* Kemnay Village Web

• Kemnay Academy
• A guide to the Place of Origin

Settlements and places of interest in Garioch, Aberdeenshire
Primary settlements	Blackburn Insch Inverurie Kemnay Kintore Newmachar Westhill
Other settlements	Auchleven Blairdaff Colpy Daviot Dunecht Echt Elrick Garlogie Hatton of Fintray Kinmuck Old Rayne Oyne Pitcaple Sauchen Skene
Places of interest	Bennachie Chapel of Garioch Castle Fraser Dunnideer Maiden Stone

Areas and primary settlements in Aberdeenshire (see also: Aberdeen City)
in Banff and Buchan	Aberchirder Banff Fraserburgh Gardenstown Inverallochy and Cairnbulg Macduff Portsoy Rosehearty Sandhaven Whitehills
in Buchan	Boddam Crimond Cruden Bay Fetterangus Hatton Longside Maud Mintlaw New Deer New Pitsligo Peterhead St Combs St Fergus Strichen Stuartfield
in Formartine	Balmedie Cuminestown Ellon Fyvie Newburgh Oldmeldrum Pitmedden Potterton Rothienorman Tarves Turriff
in Garioch	Blackburn Insch Inverurie Kemnay Kintore Newmachar Westhill
in Kincardine and Mearns	Drumoak Fettercairn Gourdon Inverbervie Johnshaven Laurencekirk Newtonhill Portlethen St Cyrus Stonehaven
in Marr	Aboyne Alford Ballater Banchory Braemar Huntly Lumphanan Tarland Torphins

Coordinates: 57°14′02″N 2°26′56″W / 57.23392°N 2.44890°W / 57.23392; -2.44890