Auchterarder

The name "Auchterarder" derives from the Scottish Gaelic roots uachdar, ard, and dobhar; it means ‘upland of high water.’[3]

In the Middle Ages, Auchterarder was known in Europe as 'the town of 100 drawbridges', a colourful description of the narrow bridges leading from the road level across wide gutters to the doorsteps of houses. The name appears in a charter of 1227 in a grant of land transaction to the Convent of Inchaffray.[4] The Jacobite Earl of Mar's army torched the town in 1716, but it quickly rose to prominence again thanks mainly to the handloom industry.

In 1717, a controversy over the selection of a parish minister, following the recent passing of the Veto Act, allowed the parishioners of Auchterarder to reject the chosen minister, Rev Robert Young. Whilst this might have ended with the selection of an alternative, Young took the issue to the High Court. The court's decision concluded a link between state and church, directly contradicting the church's own view, and causing the first in a chain of events which would ultimately lead to the 1843 schism in the Church of Scotland. The remains of this church – the tower – have recently been renovated, and there is a plaque explaining what the church used to look like. As a result of the troubles of 1834, Auchterarder became one of the first towns in Scotland to build its own independent Free Church, indeed appearing to pre-empt the Disruption by commissioning the architect David Cousin to design their church in advance, such that it was completed in 1843 as soon as the Free Church formally came into existence.[5]

The Burgh (Police) Scotland Act of 1892 bestowed Burgh status upon the town and a provost, two bailies, an honorary treasurer, Dean of Guild and six councillors were appointed to manage its affairs.[4]

In 1983 the A9 was diverted to the south, bypassing Auchterarder and Aberuthven, to improve the connection between Stirling and Perth.

The 31st G8 summit was held in the town in July 2005 at the five-star Gleneagles hotel. The neighbouring golf courses are world-renowned.

In 2008, it was revealed that Caledonian Crescent and another street in Auchterarder had the most expensive house prices in Scotland.[6]

Auchterarder has an oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfb). The nearest weather station to Auchterarder is located at Strathallan, around 2 ¹⁄₄ miles (3.6 kilometres) northwest.

Gleneagles railway station is located around 2 miles (3 km) to the south-west of Auchterarder.

This castle stood to the north of the town in the area now known as Castleton. It is said to have been a hunting seat for King Malcolm Canmore in the 11th century and was visited by King Edward I in 1296. It was made ruinous in the 18th century and only fragments remained at the end of the 19th century.[8]

• Andrew Fairlie, two-Michelin-starred chef, lived in Auchterarder[9]
• Eve Graham, singer with The New Seekers, was born in Auchterarder[10]
• Sandy Gunn, Spitfire photo reconnaissance pilot shot down and taken prisoner in Norway during the Second World War, and executed after the "Great Escape"
• Rev Robert Haldane preached here 1797 to 1806
• Stephen Hendry, seven-time world snooker champion, lived in Auchterarder[11]
• James Kennaway, novelist, was born in Auchterarder[12]
• Rev Dr G. A. Frank Knight DD FRSE (1869–1937) minister of the Free Church 1892–1900
• John Rutherford Gordon, sometime editor of the Sunday Express, who latterly wrote a column frequently praising the common-sense of the people of the town
• Rev Robert Nisbet DD FRSE (1814–1874) religious author
• Prof John Monteath Robertson FRSE (1900–1989) crystallographer[13]

• Media related to Auchterarder at Wikimedia Commons
• Auchterarder Website with details of local places and businesses
• Visit Scotland - Auchterarder and The Ochils