Insch

infobox UK place
country = Scotland
official_name= Insch
gaelic_name= An Innis
scots_name=
os_grid_reference= NJ632280
latitude=57.34102
longitude=-2.61302
map_type=Scotland
population= 1630 (2004)
unitary_scotland= Aberdeenshire
lieutenancy_scotland=Aberdeenshire
post_town= INSCH
postcode_district = AB52 6
postcode_area= AB
dial_code= 01464
constituency_westminster= Gordon
constituency_scottish_parliament= Gordon

Insch is a town in Garioch, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is located approximately convert|28|mi|km from the city of Aberdeen. Auchleven and Premnay are villages associated with Insch.

Etymology

The name of the town may have come from the Scottish Gaelic "innis", meaning an island, or, as in this context, a piece of "terra firma" in a marsh. Watson, W.J., "Celtic Placenames of Scotland", (Edinburgh, 1926)] Alternatively, "inch" or "innis" can refer to a meadow or low-lying pasture which more closely corresponds with the site of the town. Smith, Alexander (Ed.). "A New History of Aberdeenshire in Two Parts: Part II", Lewis Smith, Aberdeen, 1875.] "Innis" also indicates the presence of water - a river, loch or estuary, perhaps - often seen as "Inch" in place names, as in Perth's famous North and South Inches on the west bank of the River Tay. Watson, W.J. "Place-Names of Ross and Cromarty", 1904, reprinted in paperback 1996 by Highland Heritage Books).] [ [http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/freefun/didyouknow/placenames/gaelicglossary-g-l.html "Glossary of Gaelic origins of place names in Britain (G to L)"] , "Ordnance Survey", accessed 30 September 2007] Inchnadamph at the eastern end of Loch Assynt is another example. "Innis" can also be translated as "haven" or "sanctuary" - an island where you can be safe from your enemies as much as a resting place on the cattle drove.

This latter meaning is reflected lyrically in Yeats' "Innisfree" ('heathered haven').

History

In the Middle Ages, the town was home to a colony of Flemish merchants. Fact|date=February 2007

Transport

The town is served by Insch railway station and has regular bus services to Huntly and Inverurie.

Facilities

There is a small selection of general and specialist shops, and a post office. There is also a leisure centre with a variety of activities as well as a café next to which there is an 18 hole golf course. Within the village there is a nursery and a primary school.

There are Church of Scotland and Scottish Episcopal churches.

There are two hotels: "Carriages" (by the railway station, previously named Station Hotel) and another, the "Commercial Hotel", towards the centre of the town.

Insch Golf Club

The local golf club has just celebrated its centenary. The game of golf in Insch was first recorded before World War I, with the course being laid around Dunnideer Hill. It was then moved to its present location around 1923 where it existed until 1940, when the ground was seconded by the War Department for use as a grenade range.

Golf was absent in Insch until a committee was formed in 1977 to provide the village with such a facility. A nine-hole course was built by voluntary labour along Valentine Burn and was reopened for play in 1982. The club expanded further in 1987, when an innovative clubhouse facility – complete with changing rooms, office, bar, café and dance floor – was provided from the remnants of temporary accommodation for a local school.

The course was extended by the addition of 12 new holes on the slopes of Dunnideer. The design intent of the new course was to match that of the old course, in providing a Parkland course for all golfing abilities, designed around the undulating terrain, with innovative use of water and trees, that would mature over time. The course extension started in 1995 and was completed a year later. It was officially opened on 28th June, 1997 and has now fully matured to met the vision of the original course designers.

With rising membership and rapidly ageing clubhouse, the club members approved a new business plan which included the design and construction of a modern clubhouse – to the design outlined below – at the Golf Club EGM held in March 2003.

The vision of the Golf Club Committee was to provide a modern clubhouse facility that would meet the needs of the modern golfer, funded by a modest increase in annual membership fees and designed to retain the friendly club atmosphere and stunning views over the old course and Dunnideer.

This vision became reality in April 2004, when the new clubhouse opened its doors for the first time.

The clubhouse was officially opened in June 2004 by Paul Lawrie, a local Scottish golf hero and past British Open Champion. The highlight of the opening was Paul's hour long coaching session with over 80 budding club junior members, which was watched in awe by all who attended the event.

Famous residents

Gordon Brown has connections to Insch; his mother's family lived, and ran a business in the town for many years.Fact|date=September 2007

References

External links

* [http://www.insch.org.uk/ Insch Community Website]
* [http://www.insch4golf.com/ Insch Golf Club]
* [http://www.lochinschfishery.clara.net/ Loch Insch Fishery]
* [http://www.insch.aberdeenshire.sch.uk/index.html Insch Primary School]