Keith, Moray
Encyclopedia : K : KE : KEI : Keith, Moray
Keith is a small town in the northeast of Scotland with a population of around 5000. It is part of the Moray council area, but was historically (until 1975) in Banffshire (this use persists in postal addresses). It is divided into two main sections, Keith, which is the new town, and Fife Keith, which is the older section. Newmill, a short distance from the main town, is also an attempt at a planned village.
The oldest part of the town dating back to around 1180. The main part of the town today is on higher ground above the river, laid out in 1755 by the Earl of Findlater. It is located at the crossing of the A95 and A96 roads. It has a several local services including a Health Centre, Dentist, Optician and multiple Hairdressing Salons. The town is home to three schools: Keith Grammar School, Keith Primary School and St Thomas RC Primary School.
History and culture
The Chronicles of Keith, compiled in the 19th century, provide an unusually comprehensive view of the area's history. From it, we learn that early on, Keith was known as "Kethmalruff", a dedication to Saint Maol Rubha, also Latinised as "St Rufus".The language spoken indigenously round Keith is Doric, a particularly vibrant form of Lowland Scots, although Scottish Gaelic was also used anciently in the area (as evidenced by numerous placenames), and by one or two Highland colonies. Before these, the language would have been Pictish.
Tourist attractions
It has one of the few tartan museums in Scotland, an indication of the town's history in the wool industry. Keith is at the start of the Malt Whisky trail, and the town itself is home to three distilleries, amongst them Strathisla Distillery - one of the oldest in the Highlands. The Keith and Dufftown Railway is an 11-mile heritage railway running to Dufftown.Sport Facilities
Keith is has a 18-hole golf-course, three tennis courts, multiple football pitches (one official pitch where Keith F.C. play) and a large sports hall. The swimming pool is also being refurbished with a gym and sauna room being added to the facilities.Famous residents
- Colin Hendry, footballer, former Scotland captain
- Irvine Laidlaw
- James Naughtie, broadcaster
- Saint John Ogilvie, Scotland's only post-Reformation saint
External links
- [Information on "Undiscovered Scotland"]
- [Tartan Museum Community Website]
- [Census data]
- [A Tour of Keith in Pictures]
- *[Map sources] for Keith, Moray
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