About Oldmeldrum

click on map for larger version (0.20Mb)
(copyright Automobile Association 1999)

Oldmeldrum is a historic Aberdeenshire town located approximately 17 miles north-west of Aberdeen on the A947 Aberdeen to Banff main road. With a population of just over 2000, Oldmeldrum just falls within Scotland's top 300 centres of population. Ideally situated, it lies conveniently between the urban and transport centre of Aberdeen and the magnificent countryside of the Cairngorm and Grampian ranges, Royal Deeside and Speyside.

Oldmeldrum was created a burgh of barony in 1672 and was the main burgh of the medieval lordship of Garioch until the 19th century when it was superseded by Inverurie five miles south. Known mostly as simply "Meldrum", its narrow streets reflect the irregular plan of the old medieval market town which is centred around the Market Square with its fine Town Hall of 1877. A centre of the hosiery trade in the 18th century, Oldmeldrum parish church dates from 1684. However, nearby to the south lies the ancient Iron Age fort on Barra Hill.

The parish of Meldrum, within which the town is situated, was known as Bethelnie until 1684. Meldrum House to the north of the town is associated with the Seton and Urquhart families.

Click here for some town views

The town has a working distillery ("The Glengarioch"), a library, 2 pleasure parks, several hotels, pubs and guest houses, including one of the most renowned country house hotels in the North of Scotland, and two 18-hole golf courses (one private). One of the town pubs is a frequent CAMRA real-ale award winner and each June the town plays host to the Oldmeldrum Sports - the first of the highland games' season in Scotland.

Oldmeldrum is a thriving and growing Aberdeenshire community with recent planning applications from two housing companies for up to 400 additional dwellings. These are in the process of being built (summer 2005). Alongside this development has been the major extension of the town's Primary School and the construction of a brand new Academy towards the west of the town, which was completed in 2002. The library and police station have relocated to this new complex and a new Community Centre is included. The town also boasts a small but modern commercial district, also towards the west, through which a new by-pass is (slowly!) being constructed. A new medical centre is also under construction in this area to service the growing population.

The town enjoys many social and community activities with a tennis and green bowls club, walking club, heritage society, British Legion Hall, Rotary Club and a full range of youth groups (Scouts, Guides etc.). There is a pre-school private nursery and also an after-school club at the Primary.

Click on 1:50000 map for larger version (0.31Mb)
(Crown Copyright: Ordnance Survey)

Click on 1:25000 map for larger version (0.75Mb)
(Crown Copyright: Ordnance Survey)

Click on street map for larger version (0.22Mb)
(Crown Copyright: Ordnance Survey)

Oldmeldrum 1876 - a "new" map

Redrawn from an 1876 Ordnance Survey Sheet by Peter Adams in 1980, this map of the village was kindly loaned to the web site by the Core family of Kirk Street. Click on the thumbnail to enlarge (main map is 0.48Mb)