Hey there, history explorer! 🚀 Auchenblae might look like just another quiet wee village, but it’s actually packed with ancient secrets, legendary ruins, and even a spooky crypt! (yes, really!). There’s so much to uncover in this wee village in the North East of Scotland. Let’s dive into some of the coolest stories from Auchenblae’s past. Let’s go!
We are members of the Auchenblae Youth Club and had the chance to take part in Ceangails Skills Connect Academy MyScotland Programme. All content is our work.
The Church
🏰 Auchenblae Parish Church – Almost 200 Years Old and Still Standing!
This red sandstone beauty has been around since 1827, designed by John Smith—Aberdeen’s very first official city architect (basically, the main guy in charge of cool buildings back then). He loved Tudor-Gothic style, which is why the church has such an epic tower. But the land it’s built on has been spiritual since about the 7th century—meaning people have been gathering here long before the church even existed!
The Fordoun Stone
A Secret Carving from the Picts!
Imagine stumbling across a hidden ancient stone inside a church… well, that’s exactly what happened in 1872! The Fordoun Stone is over 1,000 years old and was probably hidden to protect it from destruction. It shows a hunting scene with horsemen, carved by the Picts—Scotland’s original tattooed warriors—when they were first learning about Christianity. It’s basically an ancient graphic novel carved into stone!
St Palladius's Chapel
Home of a Missionary Who Got Sent Away!
Ever heard of St Palladius? He was one of the first Christian missionaries sent to Scotland… but only because Ireland didn’t want him! (Awkward.) So, he came to Auchenblae, built a chapel, and his relics were kept here for centuries, making it a major pilgrimage spot.
But time wasn’t kind to the chapel. In the 1820s, the roof collapsed, and the place was abandoned. Now, it’s just a creepy cool ruin, but the oldest part dates back to 1244—that’s older than your great-great-great-great-great-great-granny! 👵
The Spooky Crypt
Right in the middle of the ruins, there’s a crypt where important people were buried. The entrance is blocked off now (so no ghost-hunting, sorry!), 🔦 but you can still see the old stone steps leading down. Wealthy families had private vaults, but most people had to use a shared coffin—yep, the same coffin was reused over and over again!
George Wishart
The Rebel Who Took on the Church!
Born around 1513 near Fordoun, George Wishart was one of the first big voices in Scotland’s Protestant Reformation (basically, he wanted to change how the church worked). But his ideas got him in BIG trouble—he was arrested by Cardinal David Beaton and burned at the stake in 1546.
Now, there’s a memorial for him in the graveyard. It’s got a swirly design, and some people think it looks like a lollipop 🍭, but it’s actually meant to represent a flame—a reminder of how he died.
More Cool Spots Around Auchenblae
🏫 Auchenblae School – Built in 1891, this place has been teaching kids for over 130 years! There are 87 primary pupils and 9 nursery kids here today.
🏛️ Village Hall – Built in 1870, this sandstone building used to have a tower (which got demolished ages ago). Now, it’s still used every day for community events.
🎖️ War Memorial on Gilbert’s Hill – This memorial, built in 1920, remembers 29 soldiers from WWI and 13 soldiers & 1 civilian from WWII. Did you know that back then, farm workers were classed as “essential workers” and weren’t sent to war? That’s because someone had to keep the country fed!
🌊 The Old Mill – This place, built in the 1790s, started as a spinning mill, then became a whisky distillery (cheers to that 🍻) before shutting down in 1916. Now, it’s been turned into a house—but the original water wheel is still there!
Auchenblae is full of hidden stories, and now you know some of the best ones. Next time you walk around the village, just imagine all the history beneath your feet! 🚶♂️🏰
Our Photos from the Auchenblae Church and Churchyard, and from around the rest of the village
A video of Behind the Scenes photos
Credit
This content was written, photographed and videoed by members of Auchenblae Youth Club, (part of Kincardine and Mearns Youth Clubs, national champion in Community-Based Youth Work at the 2024 YouthLink Scotland Awards) as part of the Ceangail Skills Connect Academy. You can also see information about upcoming Academy sessions here.
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