Kintore
| Kintore | |
| Aberdeenshire | |
|---|---|
 The Town House, Kintore | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NJ792162 |
| Location: | 57°14’10"N, 2°20’46"W |
| Data | |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Aberdeenshire |
Kintore is a small town and a royal burgh near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire. The name Kintore comes from the Gaelic, Ceann Tòrr. Ceann, meaning "head (or the end) of the round hill". This probably refers to Tuach Hill to the south of the town. Once on the main road between Aberdeen and Inverness, Kintore is now bypassed by the A96 road.
The town was established in the ninth century as a royal burgh,[1] Kintore had its royal charter renewed by King James IV in 1506. But the area has clearly been a popular settlement since prehistoric times. Recent archaeological excavations show Neolithic finds dating to at least 5000 BC.
Nearby are the remains of Hallforest Castle, former stronghold of the Earls of Kintore. Its Town House dates back to 1747. It is situated on the banks of the River Don.
Kintore is said to be the fastest growing town in Aberdeenshire in percentage terms.
Roman Camp
Kintore is the site of Deers Den Roman Camp[2] which is thought to relate to Agricola's campaigns into Caledonia; moreover, Deers Den is associated with the invasion of Severan.[3]Archaeologists say that the Kintore camp was definitely occupied in 120 AD and may have been occupied on as many as three occasions during the Scottish campaigns, before lack of resources and more pressing matters elsewhere in the Roman Empire induced consolidation and retreat.
The Deer's Den camp could have been involved in the preparations for the decisive battle of Mons Graupius; however, some researchers argue that the site of Mons Graupius was further south in Aberdeenshire, possibly near Raedykes at Kempstone Hill or Megray Hill.
A number of remains of Roman marching camps hereabout may tell of the lines of march when the Romans marched into the Highlands; arriving from the south, Roman units would have marched from Raedykes to Normandykes Roman Camp through the Durris Forest as they sought higher ground evading the bogs of Red Moss and other low-lying mosses associated with the Burn of Muchalls. Such a march would have used the Elsick Mounth, one of the ancient trackways crossing the Mounth of the Grampian Mountains,[4] lying west of Netherley.
Media
- Radio: NECR (North East Community Radio), based in School Road in Kintore.[5]