Inverbervie
Encyclopedia
Inverbervie is a small town on the north-east coast
of Scotland
, south of Stonehaven
, in the Aberdeenshire council area
.
The Inverbervie name derives from Inbhir Beirbhe, meaning Mouth of the River Bervie
in Scottish Gaelic.
from 1342 to 1975 and a parliamentary burgh from 1708 to 1950, the former status being conferred by David II of Scotland
for hospitality he and his Queen received when shipwrecked there the previous year when returning from exile.
A small harbour in the town was important in early years but despite improvements by Thomas Telford
in 1819, disappeared by 1830 owing to the build up of the shingle bar at the river mouth.
The first flax spinning mill
in Scotland was established here at the Haughs around 1790 and by 1910 there were nine in operation employing 500-600 workers. As a result of this, the population of the settlement peaked at over 2,500 around the turn of the 20th Century but has since declined owing the downturn in that industry.
The town was within the county
of Kincardineshire
until 1975, when the county was merged into the Grampian
Region. The Aberdeenshire unitary council area, which now includes Inverbervie, was created when the region system was eradicated in 1996. Aberdeenshire is also the name of another former county which was merged into the Grampian Region in 1975.
Prominent local buildings include Hallgreen Castle, founded in 1376, standing on a bluff overlooking the sea towards the southern end of the town.
of the Parliament of Great Britain
from 1708 to 1801 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
from 1801 to 1832.
In 1832 Inverbervie became a component of the Montrose district of burghs.
In 1950 it was merged into the North Angus and Mearns constituency
. North Angus and Mearns was replaced with new constituencies in 1983.
With effect from the 2011 Scottish Parliamentary elections, Inverbervie will be back within the Mearns and Angus constituency, following boundary changes.
Bervie Church
Bervie Church (Church of Scotland
) is part of Arbuthnott, Bervie & Kinneff Parish Church
. The Church is on the main street within close proximety to the school. The Parish also own the Church Centre (formarly the manse) next to the church, and the Herd Centre (formarly YWCA Hall) at the bottom of Town Head. The Church elected the Rev Dennis Rose of Boghall Church, Bathgate
on Sunday 27 June 2010 who was inducted as minister on the 30th September 2010.
Scouting and Guiding
Bervie has an active Scout Group based in their church street hut. Scouts (10.5- 14), Cubs
(8-10.5) and Beavers
(6-8) are all held. Bervie is part of the Kincardineshire Scout District.
The Guides
, Brownies and Rainbows hold meetings in the Burgh Hall.
The Living Rooms
The Living Rooms Christian Centre and Coffee Shop is in the school car park behind the church. The Living Rooms is an evangelical centre which aims to reach out to people. The Coffee Shop is a popular centre of the community. Services of worship are held in the centre as well as prayer meetings and other special events.
Gala and Fireworks
Every year the Gala Committee organise the climax of the community diary in June. As part of this event a 'citizen of the year' and 'young citizen of the year' prizes are awarded.
The fireworks display is organised and held by the caravan site every year.
Coast
A coastline or seashore is the area where land meets the sea or ocean. A precise line that can be called a coastline cannot be determined due to the dynamic nature of tides. The term "coastal zone" can be used instead, which is a spatial zone where interaction of the sea and land processes occurs...
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...
, south of Stonehaven
Stonehaven
Stonehaven is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It lies on Scotland's northeast coast and had a population of 9,577 in 2001 census.Stonehaven, county town of Kincardineshire, grew around an Iron Age fishing village, now the "Auld Toon" , and expanded inland from the seaside...
, in the Aberdeenshire council area
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
.
The Inverbervie name derives from Inbhir Beirbhe, meaning Mouth of the River Bervie
Bervie Water
Bervie Water is a river in Aberdeenshire, Scotland which rises in the Drumtochty Forest and flows across The Mearns to reach the North Sea at Inverbervie. Approximately two kilometres upstream of the North Sea, the Bervie Water flows through the grounds of Allardice Castle. The Bothenoth Burn ...
in Scottish Gaelic.
History
Inverbervie appears in written history at least as far back as the 12th century AD; in a document relating to Arbroath Abbey, Simon of Inverbervie is noted as having witnessed a charter transferring the lands of Balfeith to the Abbey. The settlement was formerly a royal burghRoyal 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....
from 1342 to 1975 and a parliamentary burgh from 1708 to 1950, the former status being conferred by David II of Scotland
David II of Scotland
David II was King of Scots from 7 June 1329 until his death.-Early life:...
for hospitality he and his Queen received when shipwrecked there the previous year when returning from exile.
A small harbour in the town was important in early years but despite improvements by Thomas Telford
Thomas Telford
Thomas Telford FRS, FRSE was a Scottish civil engineer, architect and stonemason, and a noted road, bridge and canal builder.-Early career:...
in 1819, disappeared by 1830 owing to the build up of the shingle bar at the river mouth.
The first flax spinning mill
Flax mill
Flax mills are mills concerned with the manufacture of flax. The earliest mills were ones for spinning yarn for the linen industry.John Kendrew and Thomas Porthouse , both of Darlington developed the process from Richard Arkwright's water frame, and patented it in 1787...
in Scotland was established here at the Haughs around 1790 and by 1910 there were nine in operation employing 500-600 workers. As a result of this, the population of the settlement peaked at over 2,500 around the turn of the 20th Century but has since declined owing the downturn in that industry.
The town was within the county
Counties of Scotland
The counties of Scotland were the principal local government divisions of Scotland until 1975. Scotland's current lieutenancy areas and registration counties are largely based on them. They are often referred to as historic counties....
of Kincardineshire
Kincardineshire
The County of Kincardine, also known as Kincardineshire or The Mearns was a local government county on the coast of northeast Scotland...
until 1975, when the county was merged into the Grampian
Grampian
Grampian was a local government region of Scotland from 1975 to 1996. It is now divided into the unitary council areas of:*Moray*Aberdeenshire*City of AberdeenThe region had five districts:*Aberdeen*Banff and Buchan...
Region. The Aberdeenshire unitary council area, which now includes Inverbervie, was created when the region system was eradicated in 1996. Aberdeenshire is also the name of another former county which was merged into the Grampian Region in 1975.
Prominent local buildings include Hallgreen Castle, founded in 1376, standing on a bluff overlooking the sea towards the southern end of the town.
Parliamentary burgh
The parliamentary burgh which existed from 1708 to 1950 was a component of the Aberdeen district of burghsAberdeen Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)
Aberdeen Burghs was a district of burghs constituency which was represented from 1708 to 1800 in the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain, and from 1801 to 1832 in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
of the Parliament of Great Britain
Parliament of Great Britain
The Parliament of Great Britain was formed in 1707 following the ratification of the Acts of Union by both the Parliament of England and Parliament of Scotland...
from 1708 to 1801 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
from 1801 to 1832.
In 1832 Inverbervie became a component of the Montrose district of burghs.
In 1950 it was merged into the North Angus and Mearns constituency
North Angus and Mearns (UK Parliament constituency)
Angus North and Mearns, Scotland, was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1950 to 1983...
. North Angus and Mearns was replaced with new constituencies in 1983.
With effect from the 2011 Scottish Parliamentary elections, Inverbervie will be back within the Mearns and Angus constituency, following boundary changes.
Notable residents
- John ArbuthnotJohn ArbuthnotJohn Arbuthnot, often known simply as Dr. Arbuthnot, , was a physician, satirist and polymath in London...
, mathematician, physician, satirist and polymath - Hercules LintonHercules LintonHercules Linton was a Scottish surveyor, designer, shipbuilder, antiquarian and local councillor, best known as the designer of the Cutty Sark and partner in the yard of Scott and Linton which built her....
, designer of the Cutty SarkCutty SarkThe Cutty Sark is a clipper ship. Built in 1869, she served as a merchant vessel , and then as a training ship until being put on public display in 1954...
clipper ship - Lewis Grassic GibbonLewis Grassic GibbonLewis Grassic Gibbon was the pseudonym of James Leslie Mitchell , a Scottish writer.-Biography:...
, author, lived in nearby ArbuthnottArbuthnottArbuthnott is a small village in northeast Scotland, 26 miles south of Aberdeen. It is located on the B967 east of Fordoun and north-west of Inverbervie in Aberdeenshire. The nearest train station is Stonehaven....
Attractions
Inverbervie has The Bervie Chipper which in 1998 was awarded the title Fish & Chip Shop of the Year 1997.Media
- The local newspaper is the Mearns Leader which is published by Johnson Press and edited in the neighbouring town of StonehavenStonehavenStonehaven is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It lies on Scotland's northeast coast and had a population of 9,577 in 2001 census.Stonehaven, county town of Kincardineshire, grew around an Iron Age fishing village, now the "Auld Toon" , and expanded inland from the seaside...
.
- Bervie is served by local radio station, Mearns FMMearns FMMearns FM is a community run radio station based in the North East of Scotland. There are transmitters in Laurencekirk, Inverbervie and Stonehaven leading to a coverage area stretching from St Cyrus to Portlethen. The studio is located in Stonehaven Town Hall.-History:The station began as...
. Broadcasting from nearby StonehavenStonehavenStonehaven is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It lies on Scotland's northeast coast and had a population of 9,577 in 2001 census.Stonehaven, county town of Kincardineshire, grew around an Iron Age fishing village, now the "Auld Toon" , and expanded inland from the seaside...
in the Townhall, Mearns FM aims to keep Bervie up to date with local and charity events, as well as playing music. Staffed completely by volunteers, Mearns FM is run as a not for profit organisation, broadcasting under a Community Radio licence, with a remit to provide local focus news events and programming. Jointly funded by local adverts and local and national grants, Mearns FM has one of the largest listening areas of any Community Radio Station owing to the Mearns' distributed population, Mearns FM was set up to try to bring these distant communities together.
Education
- Bervie Primary School serves Bervie and the surrounding rural area. The school role is 200. In its last HMIe inspection Bervie became a notable primary school after being highly rated and featured in a video of the top 90 primary schools in Scotland.
- Mackie AcademyMackie AcademyMackie Academy is a secondary school in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire. As of 2008, Mackie Academy currently has roughly 1300 pupils and 80 staff.-History:...
in Stonehaven is where most teenagers go. Mackie has a role of 1200.
Community Groups
Bervie contains many prominent community groups:Bervie Church
Bervie Church (Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
) is part of Arbuthnott, Bervie & Kinneff Parish Church
Arbuthnott, Bervie & Kinneff Parish Church
Arbuthnott, Bervie and Kinneff is a united Parish. The Rev Dennis Rose of Boghall Church, Bathgate preached as Sole Nominee on June 27th 2010 and was elected minister of the parish...
. The Church is on the main street within close proximety to the school. The Parish also own the Church Centre (formarly the manse) next to the church, and the Herd Centre (formarly YWCA Hall) at the bottom of Town Head. The Church elected the Rev Dennis Rose of Boghall Church, Bathgate
Bathgate
Bathgate is a town in West Lothian, Scotland, on the M8 motorway west of Livingston. Nearby towns are Blackburn, Armadale, Whitburn, Livingston, and Linlithgow. Edinburgh Airport is away...
on Sunday 27 June 2010 who was inducted as minister on the 30th September 2010.
Scouting and Guiding
Bervie has an active Scout Group based in their church street hut. Scouts (10.5- 14), Cubs
Cub Scouts (The Scout Association)
Cub Scouts or Cubs are an age-based section of The Scout Association for young boys and girls ages 8 to 10½. This section follows on from the Beaver Scouts and Cubs will move on to Scouts at the age of 10½. The section originally opened as Wolf Cubs in 1916...
(8-10.5) and Beavers
Beavers (Scouting)
Beavers in Scouting is one name for the youngest section of Scouting with members younger than Cub Scouts and sometimes going to as young as five years of age. Other names are used in some countries...
(6-8) are all held. Bervie is part of the Kincardineshire Scout District.
The Guides
Girl Guides
A Guide, Girl Guide or Girl Scout is a member of a section of some Guiding organisations who is between the ages of 10 and 14. Age limits are different in each organisation. It is the female-centred equivalent of the Scouts. The term Girl Scout is used in the United States and several East Asian...
, Brownies and Rainbows hold meetings in the Burgh Hall.
The Living Rooms
The Living Rooms Christian Centre and Coffee Shop is in the school car park behind the church. The Living Rooms is an evangelical centre which aims to reach out to people. The Coffee Shop is a popular centre of the community. Services of worship are held in the centre as well as prayer meetings and other special events.
Gala and Fireworks
Every year the Gala Committee organise the climax of the community diary in June. As part of this event a 'citizen of the year' and 'young citizen of the year' prizes are awarded.
The fireworks display is organised and held by the caravan site every year.
See also
- List of burghs in Scotland
- Aber and Inver as place-name elementsAber and Inver as place-name elementsAber and Inver are common elements in place-names of Celtic origin. Both mean "confluence of waters" or "river mouth". Their distribution reflects the geographical influence of the Brythonic and Goidelic language groups respectively.-Aber:...
- Allardice CastleAllardice CastleAllardice Castle is a sixteenth century manor house in Kincardineshire, Scotland. This monument is resided in by the Cowie family and is situated approximately 1.5 kilometres northwest of the town of Inverbervie...
- Arbuthnott, Bervie & Kinneff Parish ChurchArbuthnott, Bervie & Kinneff Parish ChurchArbuthnott, Bervie and Kinneff is a united Parish. The Rev Dennis Rose of Boghall Church, Bathgate preached as Sole Nominee on June 27th 2010 and was elected minister of the parish...
- Bervie Primary School