Grantown-on-Spey (Grantown on Spey)
Grantown-on-Spey (Baile nan Granndach) is a town in the Highland Council Area, historically within the county of Moray. It is located on a low plateau at Freuchie beside the river Spey at the northern edge of the Cairngorm mountains, about 20 mi south-east of Inverness (35 mi by road).
The town was founded in 1765 as a planned settlement and was originally called simply Grantown after Sir James Grant. The addition 'on Spey' was added by the burgh council in 1898. The town has several listed 18th and 19th century buildings, including several large hotels and serves as a regional centre for tourism and services in the Strathspey region.
The town is twinned with Notre-Dame-de-Monts in the Vendée, Pays de la Loire, France.
The burgh was founded in 1765 during the early stages of the Industrial Revolution to encourage both agricultural marketing and handicrafts, as well as to increase local land values and to reduce unemployment and emigration. This was part of a wider effort at social and economic improvements brought about by some progressive landlords following the decades of peace after the Jacobite rising of 1745. Under the direction and funds of the landowner Sir James Grant, the site chosen for the town was to be a mile from Castle Grant and designed with space for a marketplace (known as the Square), with the High Street leading southwestwards, with large plots for sale at 200 yards length at right angles to the road. Old Grantown, an earlier small village near the castle was demolished and Kylintra Burn, a local stream was diverted to become the local water source. The new town was advertised in newspapers and elsewhere as a site close to farms, forests and quarries, with persons and businesses invited to apply for feus and leases.
The official opening ceremony for the new town occurred on 12 June 1766, with a procession and celebration party. By 1768, the town was considered established and the first buildings had been constructed. By 1787, it was reported that over 300 inhabitants lived in Grantown. To assist manufacturing, Grant paid for the construction of several small factories, linen manufacturing houses and a bleachfield. During this period, new side roads, bridges, a town-house and jail were also constructed.
By 1800, the town had grown enough to satisfy the demand for a new church and in 1803, Inverallan Church was built (originally named Grantown Church), itself replacing an older Inverallan Church (said to have dated to medieval times). The church was rebuilt in the 1880s. By 1841, Grantown had a population of 1,000. By the 1860s, linen manufacture had declined and Grantown was primarily functioning as a market town for the surrounding agricultural district and then during the late Victorian era tourism began to develop. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert stayed for a night at the Grant Arms on 4 September 1860. In 1863, it was reported that Grantown had 21 merchants, two banks, three inns (the Grant Arms, Black Bull and New Inn) and several shops, along with the newly opened Strathspey Railway. In 1898, Grantown was granted Burgh Status and 'on Spey' was added to the name of the town by the Burgh council.
In 1900, the High Street consisted of numerous commercial shops, including a ironmongers, stationer, newsagent, photographer, art studio and several clothes shops selling tartan, tweeds and knitwear. By 1902, tourism had grown significantly to the town and region, accounting for much of its subsequent development and growth in the 20th century.
The town war memorial to the First World War was erected in 1921 in the form of a granite column, designed by Alexander Marshall Mackenzie, with casualties from the Second World War added in 1945. By 1965, the town had a population of just under 1,600 persons and could also accommodate 800 visitors in tourist accommodations.
In 2015, the town celebrated its 250th anniversary with celebrations and a picnic involving foods eaten in the 18th century. In 2016, a charity fundraising event was held to honour the linen manufacturing history of the town.
The town was founded in 1765 as a planned settlement and was originally called simply Grantown after Sir James Grant. The addition 'on Spey' was added by the burgh council in 1898. The town has several listed 18th and 19th century buildings, including several large hotels and serves as a regional centre for tourism and services in the Strathspey region.
The town is twinned with Notre-Dame-de-Monts in the Vendée, Pays de la Loire, France.
The burgh was founded in 1765 during the early stages of the Industrial Revolution to encourage both agricultural marketing and handicrafts, as well as to increase local land values and to reduce unemployment and emigration. This was part of a wider effort at social and economic improvements brought about by some progressive landlords following the decades of peace after the Jacobite rising of 1745. Under the direction and funds of the landowner Sir James Grant, the site chosen for the town was to be a mile from Castle Grant and designed with space for a marketplace (known as the Square), with the High Street leading southwestwards, with large plots for sale at 200 yards length at right angles to the road. Old Grantown, an earlier small village near the castle was demolished and Kylintra Burn, a local stream was diverted to become the local water source. The new town was advertised in newspapers and elsewhere as a site close to farms, forests and quarries, with persons and businesses invited to apply for feus and leases.
The official opening ceremony for the new town occurred on 12 June 1766, with a procession and celebration party. By 1768, the town was considered established and the first buildings had been constructed. By 1787, it was reported that over 300 inhabitants lived in Grantown. To assist manufacturing, Grant paid for the construction of several small factories, linen manufacturing houses and a bleachfield. During this period, new side roads, bridges, a town-house and jail were also constructed.
By 1800, the town had grown enough to satisfy the demand for a new church and in 1803, Inverallan Church was built (originally named Grantown Church), itself replacing an older Inverallan Church (said to have dated to medieval times). The church was rebuilt in the 1880s. By 1841, Grantown had a population of 1,000. By the 1860s, linen manufacture had declined and Grantown was primarily functioning as a market town for the surrounding agricultural district and then during the late Victorian era tourism began to develop. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert stayed for a night at the Grant Arms on 4 September 1860. In 1863, it was reported that Grantown had 21 merchants, two banks, three inns (the Grant Arms, Black Bull and New Inn) and several shops, along with the newly opened Strathspey Railway. In 1898, Grantown was granted Burgh Status and 'on Spey' was added to the name of the town by the Burgh council.
In 1900, the High Street consisted of numerous commercial shops, including a ironmongers, stationer, newsagent, photographer, art studio and several clothes shops selling tartan, tweeds and knitwear. By 1902, tourism had grown significantly to the town and region, accounting for much of its subsequent development and growth in the 20th century.
The town war memorial to the First World War was erected in 1921 in the form of a granite column, designed by Alexander Marshall Mackenzie, with casualties from the Second World War added in 1945. By 1965, the town had a population of just under 1,600 persons and could also accommodate 800 visitors in tourist accommodations.
In 2015, the town celebrated its 250th anniversary with celebrations and a picnic involving foods eaten in the 18th century. In 2016, a charity fundraising event was held to honour the linen manufacturing history of the town.
Map - Grantown-on-Spey (Grantown on Spey)
Map
Country - United_Kingdom
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| Flag of the United Kingdom | |
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Currency / Language
| ISO | Currency | Symbol | Significant figures |
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| GBP | Pound sterling | £ | 2 |
| ISO | Language |
|---|---|
| EN | English language |
| GD | Gaelic language |
| CY | Welsh language |