Gourdon, Aberdeenshire

Gourdon Scots: Gurdin
Gourdon overlook
Gourdon Location within Aberdeenshire
Population	850 (2022)[1]
OS grid reference	NO825707
Council area	Aberdeenshire
Lieutenancy area	Kincardineshire
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	MONTROSE
Postcode district	DD10
Police	Scotland
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
UK Parliament	West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Scottish Parliament	Angus North and Mearns
List of places UK Scotland 56°49′42″N 2°17′10″W / 56.82833°N 2.28611°W / 56.82833; -2.28611

Gourdon (/ˈɡʊərdən/) nicknamed Gurdin by the population, is a coastal fishing village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, south of Inverbervie^[2] and north of Johnshaven, with a natural harbour.^[3] Its harbour was built in 1820.^[4] It was formerly in Kincardineshire. It is known for its close community and unique local dialect. It is a picturesque harbour village that boasts lovely views along the pathway to Inverbervie.

Gourdon was a thriving fishing community.^[5] While most of the fishing has moved to other ports, there is still a fishouse in Gourdon, as well as some small fishing vessels at the harbour.

The last surviving flax mill in the United Kingdom was located at Selbie Mill in Gourdon. It had formally been owned by the Sidlaw group of companies, but was latterly owned by London-based company G and F Spinners. It had opened in 1902, and it closed on 30 May 1997. At its peak, it had employed over 200 people, but was down to about 40 when it shut its doors.^[6]

At one point there had been a number of textile factories in and around Gourdon, and neighbouring Inverbervie. They had produced flax, as well as linen and jute for UK markets.

Gourdon was served by Gourdon railway station, on the Montrose and Bervie Railway from 1865 to 1951. Much of the former line of the track to Bervie has largely been turned into a tarmac path, popular with locals to walk along the beach front. The path southwards to Montrose is largely a dirt and gravel track. The site of the former Gourdon station is now part of a housing development.

Gourdon contains many prominent community groups:

Gourdon Mission Hall

Gourdon Mission Hall ^[7] is linked to Arbuthnott, Bervie and Kinneff Church. Services are held every Sunday at 6pm. The parish minister, Rev Andrew Morrison, takes the service once a month - usually the first Sunday of the month - with guest speakers taking the other weeks. In 2018, the Mission Hall celebrated its 150th anniversary.

• John Ritchie Cargill, 1892–1981, able seaman on the RMS Carpathia during the rescue after the sinking of the Titanic.
• Reg Morrison, 1932–2006. Aberdeen Football Club goalkeeper.

Alongside the commercial enterprise of the local newspaper, The Mearns Leader, Gourdon has a Local Community Radio Station in Mearns FM. Broadcasting from nearby Stonehaven in the Townhall, Mearns FM helps to keep Gourdon up to date with local and charity events, as well as playing a wee bit of 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.^[8]

• Gourdon at Knowhere
• Photographs of Gourdon
• Media related to Gourdon, Aberdeenshire at Wikimedia Commons

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