Dunblane
Encyclopedia
Dunblane is a small cathedral city and former burgh
north of Stirling
in the Stirling council area
of Scotland
. The town is situated off the A9 road, on the way north to Perth
. Its main landmark is Dunblane Cathedral
and the Allan Water
runs through the town centre, with the Cathedral and the High Street on the east side. Dunblane had a population of 7,911 at the 2001 census, although this was estimated to have grown to 8,840 by 2006. The civil parish
of Dunblane and Lecropt had a population of 8,863 in 2001.
The town is served by Dunblane railway station
.
The name Dunblane is traditionally believed to mean "fort of Blane". This early saint (Old Irish Bláán
) flourished probably in the late 6th century. His main seat was Kingarth
on the Isle of Bute
. He or his followers may have founded a church at Dunblane, or the cult of Bláán may have come there with settlers from what is now Argyll
in later centuries. However, documentary information from this period is difficult to verify. The spelling of Dunblane varies wildly between these documents, casting some doubt as to the actual derivation from the Gaelic.
The earliest evidence for Christianity
on the site are two cross-slabs of the 10th to 11th centuries which are preserved in the cathedral
. Incorporated into the later medieval
building, but originally free-standing, is an 11th-century bell-tower, whose height was increased in the 15th century. The nave
and aisleless choir are 13th century. Dunblane did not have a rich or extensive medieval diocese
(37 parish
es), and the cathedral is relatively modest in scale, but its refined architecture
is much admired, as is its setting overlooking the valley of the Allan Water. After the Reformation
, the the nave of the cathedral was abandoned and soon became roofless and used for burials. The choir was retained as the parish church
. The nave was re-roofed and the Cathedral provided with new furnishings by Robert Rowand Anderson
between 1889 and 1893. During the boom years of the Hydropathy movement in the 19th century, Dunblane was the location of a successful hydropathic establishment (see photo below).
Dunblane is split into two Church of Scotland parishes: the Cathedral
and St Blane's Church
. Dunblane Cathedral
is remarkable in having retained more of its late-medieval choir stalls than any other Scottish church building (except King's College Chapel
, Aberdeen
), and also is noted for its organ. Further fragments of medieval woodwork from the Cathedral are displayed in the town's museum, formerly the Cathedral Museum, situated nearby. Though still used as a parish church, the building is in the care of Historic Scotland
. To the south of the cathedral are some stone vaults of medieval origin, which are the only remaining fragment of the bishop's palace
.
The town was a royal burgh
and part of Perthshire
until the 1975 abolition of Scottish counties. Dunblane refers to itself as a city
, due to the presence of Dunblane Cathedral
. However this status was never officially recognised.
It is now entirely self funding and is run by charity the Dunblane Youth and Sports Centre Trust (Charity No. SC027397), with a board of trustees from the community (Steve Birnie, Chris Finnerty, Nora Gilfillan, Sue Lockwood, Stewart Prodger and David Spooner.
. Four of these are public. The remaining, Queen Victoria School
, is a private boarding school
. There are currently around two thousand pupils in schools in Dunblane.
(which is regularly used for extracurricular activities and local clubs) and a public nursery attached. In 1996, the school was the scene of the Dunblane massacre
, in which 17 people were killed. It remains the deadliest massacre of children ever in the United Kingdom. The school was completely refurbished in 1998, and an assault course and basketball court have since been added.
confirmed James Pearson of Kippenross as the owner. The streets that encircle the school, Newton Crescent and Ochiltree, named after the Bishop of Dunblane
between 1429 and 1447, reflect the rich history in which the school is embedded.
. It is situated roughly one mile north of the town centre, in a secluded area overlooking Queen Victoria School can trace its history back to the turn of the century when the idea was first mooted of a school to commemorate those Scottish soldiers and sailors who fell in South Africa during the Boer Wars. The proposal was warmly received by Queen Victoria herself, and upon her death the following year, it was resolved that the School should serve the dual purpose of commemorating the dead servicemen as well as being a living memorial to the late Empress. To this end money was raised in a national effort which captivated the imagination of the Scottish public. For example, every Serviceman donated a day's pay, and an appeal for contributions from the Scottish workforce received a generous response. Work began in earnest, and Queen Victoria School was officially opened on 28 September 1908 by His Majesty King Edward VII.
The school chapel is a notable example of Scottish medieval revival architecture, based on the 14th century Dominican
(later parish
) church of St Monans in Fife
.the A9.
from the three public primary schools in Dunblane, as well as some of those from Bridge of Allan
, Doune
, Stirling
, and the surrounding areas, this school has a roster of roughly 750 pupils and sixty teachers. The present building is located at the top of Old Doune Road and was completed in November 2007. It spans three storeys and includes some features such as an art rooftop, theatre, fitness suite, dance studio and student lounges. The school also has an all-weather pitch and large playing field. However, the school is notable for its lack of a centralised School library
, which was abolished after the retirement of the school librarian and the room converted as an S6 study area and computer room.
The 2007 building was built on the old school's playing fields, and the previous campus being sold for public development. The building was one of the first Public-Private Partnership
projects in the Stirling Council area, and so effectively a prototype, meaning it was built with such drawbacks as inadequate catering facilities, and was the only Stirling school built without a swimming pool.
The school was shaken in July 2010 with the abdication of its head teacher, Dr Dorothy White (previously head of Currie High School
in Edinburgh), and the retirement of several other management staff. This was resolved with the transfer of Francis Lennon, the then head teacher of St Modan's High School
in Stirling, and several deputes from other schools in the district. Mr Lennon has proven popular with parents and staff and has been accepted by pupils.
The school was recently deemed top state school in Scotland both relating to academic achievement and learning environment, with well over three quarters of its roll progressing to higher education. It has a large extra-curricular base, including the Make A Difference Group (MAD), a highly effective charity committee. The school has also hosted a number of international sports people, including ex-Scotland footballer Callum Davidson
and, in tennis, the Murray brothers, Andy and Jamie
. It was also the school of 2009's winner of the Miss Scotland
crown, Katherine Brown.
The town has seen rapid growth in recent years. The old town centre retains a number of historic buildings in addition to the cathedral, including the 17th-century Leighton Library
, the oldest private library in Scotland open to the public (on selected days in summer). A well-preserved late medieval town-house nearby (which was probably built as the manse of the Dean of the medieval cathedral) houses a local history museum (open in the summer; free entry). A modern extension has recently been completed within its interior courtyard to provide additional exhibition space and allow disabled access.
Since the early 1970s the town has grown extensively and is now regarded as a highly-sought-after commuter town
due to its excellent road and rail links to Glasgow
, Edinburgh
, Perth
and nearby Stirling
. This, coupled with the fact that the local high school consistently turns out some of the best results from a state school in Scotland, means that the town is not only sought-after by commuters but also by families of school-age children. How much of the school's performance is affected by the population bias, which is largely made up of middle class commuters
, is subjective. Dunblane is close to the University of Stirling
's campus at Bridge of Allan
, and is a popular location for academics.
The rapid expansion of the town, expedited by the bypass completion of 1990, has led to a large increase in local car usage, resulting in considerable parking problems. For a town of its size, Dunblane has something of a shortage of local amenities, with, for instance, only two supermarkets. As a result, many people prefer to shop in nearby Stirling.
Over the course of 6 years, a small group of young local boys and their parents have been raising money to build a skatepark in the Laighills. The skatepark was completed on the 23 February 2007 and has already been visited by Death skateboard team and by the Vans UK Tour.
In October 2007 a new church building was completed for Dunblane Christian Fellowship, sited opposite the railway station. Equally important is that Dunblane is at the northern end of both the Network Rail
Edinburgh-Glasgow rail electrification project
.
, ousted by The Scout Association
over five years previously, shot dead 16 children and their teacher, Gwen Mayor, in Dunblane Primary School's gymnasium before killing himself. He used his licensed weapons and ammunition.
There is a memorial to the 17 victims in the local cemetery and a cenotaph
in the cathedral. The funds raised in the aftermath of the tragedy have been used to build a new community centre for the town. Following the incident, the government passed legislation banning ownership of all handguns
(firearms under 60 centimetres in overall length) in Great Britain.
, the UK's current number-one male tennis player and the former Wimbledon
mixed doubles champion respectively, brothers Steven Caldwell
and Gary Caldwell
(both Wigan
football players) and Lynn Kenny, a rising star of the female golf
circuit. The former Lord Advocate
Elish Angiolini and former NATO Secretary General
George Robertson
also live in the town.
The hotel magnate Sir Reo Stakis
is buried in Dunblane Cemetery.
Scottish singer-songwriter Dougie MacLean
is from Dunblane.
Burgh
A burgh was an autonomous corporate entity in Scotland and Northern England, usually a town. This type of administrative division existed from the 12th century, when King David I created the first royal burghs. Burgh status was broadly analogous to borough status, found in the rest of the United...
north of Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
in the Stirling council area
Stirling (council area)
Stirling is one of the 32 unitary local government council areas of Scotland, and has a population of about 87,000 . It was created under the Local Government etc Act 1994 with the boundaries of the Stirling district of the former Central local government region, and it covers most of the former...
of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The town is situated off the A9 road, on the way north to Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
. Its main landmark is Dunblane Cathedral
Dunblane Cathedral
Dunblane Cathedral is the larger of the two Church of Scotland parish churches serving Dunblane, near the city of Stirling, in central Scotland.-History:...
and the Allan Water
Allan Water
The Allan Water is a river in central Scotland, United Kingdom. Rising in the Ochil Hills, it runs through Strathallan to Dunblane and Bridge of Allan before joining the River Forth....
runs through the town centre, with the Cathedral and the High Street on the east side. Dunblane had a population of 7,911 at the 2001 census, although this was estimated to have grown to 8,840 by 2006. The civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Dunblane and Lecropt had a population of 8,863 in 2001.
The town is served by Dunblane railway station
Dunblane railway station
Dunblane railway station serves the town of Dunblane in central Scotland.- Facilities :It has three platforms, one which serves as a terminus for trains from Glasgow and Edinburgh, one which serves trains heading north to , , and Inverness...
.
History
Saint Blane
Saint Blane was a Bishop and Confessor in Scotland, born on the Isle of Bute, date unknown; died 590. His feast is kept on 10 August. He was a nephew of St. Cathan, and was educated in Ireland under Sts. Comgall and Kenneth; he became a monk, went to Scotland, and was eventually bishop among the...
) flourished probably in the late 6th century. His main seat was Kingarth
Kingarth
Kingarth is a historic village and parish on the Isle of Bute, off the coast of south-western Scotland. In the Early Middle Ages it was the site of a monastery and bishopric and the cult centre of Saints Cathan and Bláán ....
on the Isle of Bute
Isle of Bute
Bute is an island in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. Formerly part of the county of Buteshire, it now constitutes part of the council area of Argyll and Bute. Its resident population was 7,228 in April 2001.-Geography:...
. He or his followers may have founded a church at Dunblane, or the cult of Bláán may have come there with settlers from what is now Argyll
Argyll
Argyll , archaically Argyle , is a region of western Scotland corresponding with most of the part of ancient Dál Riata that was located on the island of Great Britain, and in a historical context can be used to mean the entire western coast between the Mull of Kintyre and Cape Wrath...
in later centuries. However, documentary information from this period is difficult to verify. The spelling of Dunblane varies wildly between these documents, casting some doubt as to the actual derivation from the Gaelic.
The earliest evidence for Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
on the site are two cross-slabs of the 10th to 11th centuries which are preserved in the cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
. Incorporated into the later medieval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
building, but originally free-standing, is an 11th-century bell-tower, whose height was increased in the 15th century. The nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
and aisleless choir are 13th century. Dunblane did not have a rich or extensive medieval diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
(37 parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es), and the cathedral is relatively modest in scale, but its refined architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
is much admired, as is its setting overlooking the valley of the Allan Water. After the Reformation
Scottish Reformation
The Scottish Reformation was Scotland's formal break with the Papacy in 1560, and the events surrounding this. It was part of the wider European Protestant Reformation; and in Scotland's case culminated ecclesiastically in the re-establishment of the church along Reformed lines, and politically in...
, the the nave of the cathedral was abandoned and soon became roofless and used for burials. The choir was retained as the parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
. The nave was re-roofed and the Cathedral provided with new furnishings by Robert Rowand Anderson
Robert Rowand Anderson
Sir Robert Rowand Anderson RSA was a Scottish Victorian architect. Anderson trained in the office of George Gilbert Scott in London before setting up his own practice in Edinburgh in 1860. During the 1860s his main work was small churches in the 'First Pointed' style that is characteristic of...
between 1889 and 1893. During the boom years of the Hydropathy movement in the 19th century, Dunblane was the location of a successful hydropathic establishment (see photo below).
Dunblane is split into two Church of Scotland parishes: the Cathedral
Dunblane Cathedral
Dunblane Cathedral is the larger of the two Church of Scotland parish churches serving Dunblane, near the city of Stirling, in central Scotland.-History:...
and St Blane's Church
St Blane's Church
St Blane's is a Church of Scotland church located in Dunblane, Scotland. The congregation is within the Church of Scotland's Presbytery of Stirling.-Activities:...
. Dunblane Cathedral
Dunblane Cathedral
Dunblane Cathedral is the larger of the two Church of Scotland parish churches serving Dunblane, near the city of Stirling, in central Scotland.-History:...
is remarkable in having retained more of its late-medieval choir stalls than any other Scottish church building (except King's College Chapel
King's College, Aberdeen
King's College in Old Aberdeen, Scotland is a formerly independent university founded in 1495 and an integral part of the University of Aberdeen...
, Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
), and also is noted for its organ. Further fragments of medieval woodwork from the Cathedral are displayed in the town's museum, formerly the Cathedral Museum, situated nearby. Though still used as a parish church, the building is in the care of Historic Scotland
Historic Scotland
Historic Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government, responsible for historic monuments in Scotland.-Role:As its website states:...
. To the south of the cathedral are some stone vaults of medieval origin, which are the only remaining fragment of the bishop's palace
Bishop's palace
Bishop's Palace may refer to the official residence of any bishop, such as those listed in the :Category:Episcopal palaces.Specific residences called Bishop's Palace include:* Bishop's Palace, Castres, France...
.
The town was a royal burgh
Royal burgh
A royal burgh was a type of Scottish burgh which had been founded by, or subsequently granted, a royal charter. Although abolished in 1975, the term is still used in many of the former burghs....
and part of Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
until the 1975 abolition of Scottish counties. Dunblane refers to itself as a city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
, due to the presence of Dunblane Cathedral
Dunblane Cathedral
Dunblane Cathedral is the larger of the two Church of Scotland parish churches serving Dunblane, near the city of Stirling, in central Scotland.-History:...
. However this status was never officially recognised.
Dunblane Centre
In September 2004 the Dunblane Centre opened. This purpose-built youth, family, arts, sports and meeting facility was built using money from a consolidation of several funds which were created in the aftermath of the 1996 tragedy.It is now entirely self funding and is run by charity the Dunblane Youth and Sports Centre Trust (Charity No. SC027397), with a board of trustees from the community (Steve Birnie, Chris Finnerty, Nora Gilfillan, Sue Lockwood, Stewart Prodger and David Spooner.
Schools
Dunblane has three primary schools, one 5 - 18 school and one secondary schoolSecondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
. Four of these are public. The remaining, Queen Victoria School
Queen Victoria School
Queen Victoria School was opened on 28 September 1908 by His Majesty King Edward VII, and is Scotland's Ministry of Defence school for the sons and daughters of Scottish soldiers, sailors and airmen...
, is a private boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
. There are currently around two thousand pupils in schools in Dunblane.
Dunblane Primary School
Located on Doune Road, this two-storey building is situated in the heart of the residential area. The school has a public playing fieldPlaying field
A playing field is a field used for playing sports or games. They are generally outdoors, but many large structures exist to enclose playing fields from bad weather. Generally, playing fields are wide expanses of grass, dirt or sand without many obstructions...
(which is regularly used for extracurricular activities and local clubs) and a public nursery attached. In 1996, the school was the scene of the Dunblane massacre
Dunblane massacre
The Dunblane massacre was a multiple murder-suicide which occurred at Dunblane Primary School in the Scottish town of Dunblane on 13 March 1996. Sixteen children and one adult were killed by Thomas Hamilton before he committed suicide.-Timeline of events:...
, in which 17 people were killed. It remains the deadliest massacre of children ever in the United Kingdom. The school was completely refurbished in 1998, and an assault course and basketball court have since been added.
Newton Primary School
Built in 1996, the name of the school comes from Newton Farm, which goes back as far as the Charter of 1655 when Oliver CromwellOliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
confirmed James Pearson of Kippenross as the owner. The streets that encircle the school, Newton Crescent and Ochiltree, named after the Bishop of Dunblane
Bishop of Dunblane
The Bishop of Dunblane or Bishop of Strathearn was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Dunblane/Strathearn, one of medieval Scotland's thirteen bishoprics. It was based at Dunblane Cathedral, now a parish church of the Church of Scotland. The bishopric itself certainly derives from an older...
between 1429 and 1447, reflect the rich history in which the school is embedded.
Queen Victoria School
HM QVS is a co-educational boarding school for children of those in the British Armed ForcesBritish Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
. It is situated roughly one mile north of the town centre, in a secluded area overlooking Queen Victoria School can trace its history back to the turn of the century when the idea was first mooted of a school to commemorate those Scottish soldiers and sailors who fell in South Africa during the Boer Wars. The proposal was warmly received by Queen Victoria herself, and upon her death the following year, it was resolved that the School should serve the dual purpose of commemorating the dead servicemen as well as being a living memorial to the late Empress. To this end money was raised in a national effort which captivated the imagination of the Scottish public. For example, every Serviceman donated a day's pay, and an appeal for contributions from the Scottish workforce received a generous response. Work began in earnest, and Queen Victoria School was officially opened on 28 September 1908 by His Majesty King Edward VII.
The school chapel is a notable example of Scottish medieval revival architecture, based on the 14th century Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
(later parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
) church of St Monans in Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
.the A9.
Dunblane High School
Fed by pupilsStudent
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
from the three public primary schools in Dunblane, as well as some of those from Bridge of Allan
Bridge of Allan
Bridge of Allan is a town in Stirling council area in Scotland, just north of the city of Stirling. It was formerly administered by Stirlingshire and Central Regional Council....
, Doune
Doune
Doune is a burgh in the district of Stirling, Scotland, on the River Teith. Doune's postal address places the town in Perthshire, although geographically it lies within the District of Stirling, and administratively Doune is under the control of Stirling Council...
, Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
, and the surrounding areas, this school has a roster of roughly 750 pupils and sixty teachers. The present building is located at the top of Old Doune Road and was completed in November 2007. It spans three storeys and includes some features such as an art rooftop, theatre, fitness suite, dance studio and student lounges. The school also has an all-weather pitch and large playing field. However, the school is notable for its lack of a centralised School library
Lending library
A lending library is a library from which books are lent out. The earliest reference to or use of the term "lending library" yet located in English correspondence dates from ca. 1586; C'Tess Pembroke Ps. CXII. v, "He is .....
, which was abolished after the retirement of the school librarian and the room converted as an S6 study area and computer room.
The 2007 building was built on the old school's playing fields, and the previous campus being sold for public development. The building was one of the first Public-Private Partnership
Public-private partnership
Public–private partnership describes a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies...
projects in the Stirling Council area, and so effectively a prototype, meaning it was built with such drawbacks as inadequate catering facilities, and was the only Stirling school built without a swimming pool.
The school was shaken in July 2010 with the abdication of its head teacher, Dr Dorothy White (previously head of Currie High School
Currie High School
Currie Community High School is a six year comprehensive school serving the south-west of the City of Edinburgh, Scotland. The school roll currently stands at 982 of whom some 20% attend as a result of parental placing requests. The school's feeder primary schools are Currie Primary School, Nether...
in Edinburgh), and the retirement of several other management staff. This was resolved with the transfer of Francis Lennon, the then head teacher of St Modan's High School
St Modan's High School
St Modan's RC High School is an S1-S6 Catholic High School in Stirling, Scotland. The school roll currently stands at over 900 pupils. Pupils travel from the Denny, Banknock, Alloa, Tullibody, Sauchie, Alva, Raploch, Cowie, Bannockburn, Braehead, Riverside, Dunblane and Blanefield areas...
in Stirling, and several deputes from other schools in the district. Mr Lennon has proven popular with parents and staff and has been accepted by pupils.
The school was recently deemed top state school in Scotland both relating to academic achievement and learning environment, with well over three quarters of its roll progressing to higher education. It has a large extra-curricular base, including the Make A Difference Group (MAD), a highly effective charity committee. The school has also hosted a number of international sports people, including ex-Scotland footballer Callum Davidson
Callum Davidson
Callum Ian Davidson is a Scottish footballer who currently plays as a left back for St. Johnstone of the Scottish Premier League. He signed for the Perthshire SPL club on 26 May 2011.-Club career:...
and, in tennis, the Murray brothers, Andy and Jamie
Jamie Murray
Jamie Robert Murray is a British tennis player from Scotland who specialises in doubles and is Britain's number 1 doubles player. He is the older brother of Andy Murray. He won the Wimbledon mixed doubles title in 2007 with Jelena Janković. Murray had an early career partnership with Eric Butorac,...
. It was also the school of 2009's winner of the Miss Scotland
Miss Scotland
The Miss Scotland competition is an annual beauty pageant targeted at women aged 18–24 living in Scotland. Entrants must hold a British passport to enter...
crown, Katherine Brown.
Recent developments
Leighton Library
The Leighton Library, or Bibliotheca Leightoniana, in The Cross, Dunblane, is the oldest purpose built library in Scotland. Its collection of around 4000 volumes and 78 manuscripts from the 16th to 19th century is founded on the personal collection of Robert Leighton , Bishop of Dunblane and...
, the oldest private library in Scotland open to the public (on selected days in summer). A well-preserved late medieval town-house nearby (which was probably built as the manse of the Dean of the medieval cathedral) houses a local history museum (open in the summer; free entry). A modern extension has recently been completed within its interior courtyard to provide additional exhibition space and allow disabled access.
Since the early 1970s the town has grown extensively and is now regarded as a highly-sought-after commuter town
Commuter town
A commuter town is an urban community that is primarily residential, from which most of the workforce commutes out to earn their livelihood. Many commuter towns act as suburbs of a nearby metropolis that workers travel to daily, and many suburbs are commuter towns...
due to its excellent road and rail links to Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
and nearby Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
. This, coupled with the fact that the local high school consistently turns out some of the best results from a state school in Scotland, means that the town is not only sought-after by commuters but also by families of school-age children. How much of the school's performance is affected by the population bias, which is largely made up of middle class commuters
Commuter town
A commuter town is an urban community that is primarily residential, from which most of the workforce commutes out to earn their livelihood. Many commuter towns act as suburbs of a nearby metropolis that workers travel to daily, and many suburbs are commuter towns...
, is subjective. Dunblane is close to the University of Stirling
University of Stirling
The University of Stirling is a campus university founded by Royal charter in 1967, on the Airthrey Estate in Stirling, Scotland.-History and campus development:...
's campus at Bridge of Allan
Bridge of Allan
Bridge of Allan is a town in Stirling council area in Scotland, just north of the city of Stirling. It was formerly administered by Stirlingshire and Central Regional Council....
, and is a popular location for academics.
The rapid expansion of the town, expedited by the bypass completion of 1990, has led to a large increase in local car usage, resulting in considerable parking problems. For a town of its size, Dunblane has something of a shortage of local amenities, with, for instance, only two supermarkets. As a result, many people prefer to shop in nearby Stirling.
Over the course of 6 years, a small group of young local boys and their parents have been raising money to build a skatepark in the Laighills. The skatepark was completed on the 23 February 2007 and has already been visited by Death skateboard team and by the Vans UK Tour.
In October 2007 a new church building was completed for Dunblane Christian Fellowship, sited opposite the railway station. Equally important is that Dunblane is at the northern end of both the Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
Edinburgh-Glasgow rail electrification project
Railway electrification in Great Britain
Railway electrification in Great Britain started towards of the 19th century. A great range of voltages have been used in the intervening period using both overhead lines and third rails, however the most common standard for mainline services is now 25 kV AC using overhead lines and the...
.
The Dunblane Massacre
On 13 March 1996 Thomas Watt Hamilton, aged 43, a former Scout LeaderThe Scout Association
The Scout Association is the World Organization of the Scout Movement recognised Scouting association in the United Kingdom. Scouting began in 1907 through the efforts of Robert Baden-Powell. The Scout Association was formed under its previous name, The Boy Scout Association, in 1910 by the grant...
, ousted by The Scout Association
The Scout Association
The Scout Association is the World Organization of the Scout Movement recognised Scouting association in the United Kingdom. Scouting began in 1907 through the efforts of Robert Baden-Powell. The Scout Association was formed under its previous name, The Boy Scout Association, in 1910 by the grant...
over five years previously, shot dead 16 children and their teacher, Gwen Mayor, in Dunblane Primary School's gymnasium before killing himself. He used his licensed weapons and ammunition.
There is a memorial to the 17 victims in the local cemetery and a cenotaph
Cenotaph
A cenotaph is an "empty tomb" or a monument erected in honour of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere. It can also be the initial tomb for a person who has since been interred elsewhere. The word derives from the Greek κενοτάφιον = kenotaphion...
in the cathedral. The funds raised in the aftermath of the tragedy have been used to build a new community centre for the town. Following the incident, the government passed legislation banning ownership of all handguns
Firearms (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1997
-Reaction to the ban:The pistol ban makes very few exceptions for people to own a cartridge handgun legally. This has resulted in the near complete cessation of recreational and competitive target shooting with handguns in Great Britain; Britons who wish to participate in these activities must now...
(firearms under 60 centimetres in overall length) in Great Britain.
Notable residents
Dunblane has produced a number of sporting stars, including brothers Andy and Jamie MurrayJamie Murray
Jamie Robert Murray is a British tennis player from Scotland who specialises in doubles and is Britain's number 1 doubles player. He is the older brother of Andy Murray. He won the Wimbledon mixed doubles title in 2007 with Jelena Janković. Murray had an early career partnership with Eric Butorac,...
, the UK's current number-one male tennis player and the former Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
mixed doubles champion respectively, brothers Steven Caldwell
Steven Caldwell
Steven Caldwell is a Scottish footballer who plays for Birmingham City as a defender. His younger brother Gary is also a defender and Scotland international.-Newcastle United:...
and Gary Caldwell
Gary Caldwell
Gary Robert Caldwell is a Scottish footballer who is currently the captain of Wigan Athletic and also plays for the Scotland national football team....
(both Wigan
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
football players) and Lynn Kenny, a rising star of the female golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
circuit. The former Lord Advocate
Lord Advocate
Her Majesty's Advocate , known as the Lord Advocate , is the chief legal officer of the Scottish Government and the Crown in Scotland for both civil and criminal matters that fall within the devolved powers of the Scottish Parliament...
Elish Angiolini and former NATO Secretary General
Secretary General of NATO
The Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is the chairman of the North Atlantic Council, the supreme decision-making organisation of the defence alliance. The Secretary-General also serves as the leader of the organisation's staff and as its chief spokesman...
George Robertson
George Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen
George Islay MacNeill Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen, is a British Labour Party politician who was the tenth Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, between October 1999 and early January 2004; he succeeded Javier Solana in that position...
also live in the town.
The hotel magnate Sir Reo Stakis
Reo Stakis
Sir Reo Stakis was a Scottish-Cypriot hotel magnate, longtime head of Stakis Hotels....
is buried in Dunblane Cemetery.
Scottish singer-songwriter Dougie MacLean
Dougie MacLean
Dougie MacLean OBE is a Scottish singer-songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist.His career started with a traditional band, The Tannahill Weavers, in 1976. His solo career started in 1981 and since then he has recorded numerous albums...
is from Dunblane.