Coordinates: 56°19′59″N 3°18′42″W / 56.33302°N 3.31163°W
| Abernethy | |
| Scottish Gaelic: Obar Neithich | |
  Abernethy
 Abernethy shown within Scotland |
|
| Population | 945 [1] (2001 census) est. 1,350[2] (2006) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Council area | Perth and Kinross |
| Lieutenancy area | Perth and Kinross |
| Constituent country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | PERTH |
| Postcode district | PH2 9xx |
| Dialling code | 01738 85 |
| Police | Tayside |
| Fire | Tayside |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| European Parliament | Scotland |
| List of places: UK • Scotland • | |
Abernethy (Scottish Gaelic: Obar Neithich) is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, situated eight miles south-east of Perth. It has one of Scotland's two surviving Irish-style round towers (the other is at Brechin, Angus; both are in the care of Historic Scotland). The key for the round tower can be obtained from a nearby café, and it is possible to climb to the top, using a modern metal spiral staircase (the Tower originally had several wooden floors linked by ladders). It was once the 'capital' (or at least a major religious and political centre) of the Pictish kingdom. The tower was evidently built in two stages (shown by a change in the masonry), and probably dates to the 11th-early 12th centuries. The parish church is dedicated to St Bridget of Kildare (fl. 451-525), and the church is said to have been founded by Dairlugdach, second abbess of Kildare, one of early Christian Ireland's major monasteries, on land given by Nechtan, king of the Picts.
Abernethy may have been the seat of an early Pictish bishopric, its diocese extending westward along Strathearn. In the 12th century the bishop's seat was moved to Muthill, then Dunblane, but Abernethy remained the site of a small priory of Augustinian canons, founded 1272. This priory was suppressed in favour of a collegiate church under the patronage of the Douglas Earls of Angus, in the 15th century. Remains of the collegiate church survived until 1802 within the present village graveyard, when they were replaced by the present plain red sandstone church, which is still dedicated to St Bridget.
The village's name is Celtic, meaning 'confluence of the Nethy' (ie. with the River Tay), the earliest recorded form being Apurnethige. The Nethy Burn flows down from the Ochil Hills past the present village. Several pieces of Pictish or early medieval sculpture have been found in Abernethy, including an incomplete Pictish symbol stone attached to the base of the round tower. The location "Afarnach's Hall" referred to in the earliest mediaeval Arthurian literature is usually identified as Abernethy.
The small museum, open 1pm to 5pm from Thursday to Sunday between May and September, has exhibits on the history of the village and also holds a key to the tower.
Over the years local industry and commerce has largely declined. A general store and newsagent are the only shops remaining on the Main Street (the post office having closed in early 2009). However, the village still manages to support two local pubs and a tea room (which also holds a tower key).
A Gala Day is held annually on the first Saturday in June, with a race to the top of nearby Castle Law taking place the following day.
References
- ^ "Comparative Population Profile: Abernethy Locality". Scotland's Census Results Online. 2001-04-29. http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Population&mainArea=abernethy&mainLevel=Locality. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
- ^ http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data
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