ARCHIESTOWN VILLAGE
Welcome to the Archiestown Village Website
Archiestown is a vibrant community which has expanded in recent years. There are around 250 residents in the village area. Although Archiestown is small we have great facilities, including our village hall, play park, football pitch and pavilion. There are many events held throughout the year, where everyone is welcome.
ABOUT
Archiestown Village Council have created this website to welcome you to the village and to provide an overview of local activities, fundraising, services & news.
The Village Council meet once a month to organise events for the community, as well as managing the Village Hall & shared village spaces. The council is always on the look out for new members & volunteers to help at events. If you'd like to know more or get involved please use the below contact button.
The Archiestown Village Council is a registered Charity SC001696
EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
The Village Council & Local groups host a number of events through the year. Many of these are aimed at fundraising for The Village Hall Maintenance & Upgrade or for funds for the local groups ongoing running costs.
Detailed below, there are a number of regular activities held in the village hall throughout the year.
REGULAR ACTIVITIES
Monday - Carron Creates 2pm - 4pm
Tuesday - Baby & Toddlers 10am - 12noon (Term Time)
Wednesday - no schedule
Thursday - no schedule
Friday - Ball Group £2.50 10am - 12noon
ANNUAL & SEASONAL EVENTS
Village Pub Nights & Soup & Sweet Sundays- Check our Facebook Events Page for latest dates
Village Fete - 3rd Saturday in June 1:30pm - 4:15pm followed by the
Fete Quiz Night
Christmas Light Switch on
VILLAGE INFORMATION & SERVICES
DEFIBRILLATOR
There is an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) in the lobby of the Village Hall. It is always available, the outer door is not locked. It is easy to use and cannot hurt anyone if you listen to the voice prompts. Please watch this video so you feel more confident using the device if you have to. Please share this information with your neighbours, friends and family. There are AEDs in many public locations, and a heart attack can happen anywhere, anytime.
VILLAGE BUS SERVICE
Monday & Wednesday the 366 serves the village running from Aberlour to Elgin & return.
Arriving in the Village approx 9:41am and returning into the village at 13:59. Times are approximate see full timetable here.
Outside of this Timetable the DIAL M Bus Service from Moray Council is available. Call 0300 123 4565 or click here for information leaflet.
VILLAGE SHOP & POST OFFICE
Doreen is ready to welcome you at the village shop & Post Office.
Mon - Wed 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 1pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm
Saturday 8am - 12:30pm
Sunday 9am - 12noon
VISITING SERVICES
The Moray Council Travelling Library visits on Thursday afternoon aprox 2pm and stops in The Square, outside the hall.
The Ice Cream Van comes on Saturday afternoons - listen for the tune!
Sutherlands of Portsoy Fish Van also visits the village on Tuesdays Mornings approx 10:30am as well as two other Fish Vans through the week
VILLAGE HISTORY
Archiestown, in the parish of Knockando, was founded in 1760 by Sir Archibald Grant of Monymusk who had inherited his “Highland Estate” on his marriage. Planned villages were mushrooming in the North East of Scotland and Sir Archibald an improver, followed suit establishing it as a community of linen weavers. A fire in 1783 destroyed many of the houses.
Sir Archibald sold part of his estate to a local lad who had made his fortune in Canada and London. Robert Grant became first Laird of Wester Elchies in 1783 and lived at the mansion house. His son Charles inherited the estate and founded Charlestown of Aberlour in 1812. He died unmarried in 1828 and his brother James William became third laird, and though he was an absentee landlord who worked in India until his retirement, he cared deeply for the estate and its people. He was sympathetic towards their financial needs and provided land and materials for churches in Archiestown and Aberlour following the Disruption.
His unmarried son William continued to live at Carron House when he inherited the title as did succeeding lairds. The mansion of Wester Elchies was sold to Gordonstoun’s Kurt Hahn for a prep school and was finally demolished in the 1960s.
The last laird, Archie, died without heirs in 1951.
The village has always been a vibrant community and until recent years was pretty self-sufficient with school, church, district nurse, policeman, shops, blacksmith and undertaker to tend villagers every need.
The village retains much of its original character and is a designated Conservation Village.
These days the amenities are fewer but community spirit is still strong, as can verified by the many events held within the village – the annual Fete on the third Saturday each June, the pub nights in the village hall, and many other events throughout the year.
Further Information:
The village of Archiestown was founded in 1760 by Sir Archibald Grant of Monymusk. To find out more about the Monymusk Grants please go to www.monymusk.com
VILLAGE HALL HIRE
It is the perfect venue for weddings, parties, functions and conferences and has plenty of space for dancing. The Hall is equipped with a stage, measuring approximately 25 square metres which would be ideal for musical and dramatic productions, where the meeting room could be used as a backstage dressing room. The Hall is also perfect for commercial sales, lectures, ceilidhs, conferences, jumble sales and fairs.
THE MAIN HALL
The Main Hall measures 15m x 7m and seats 95 for dining, 110 seated theatre style, or 210 standing – it also has capacity for 150 dancing! The hall is equipped with a PA system, portable bar, tables and chairs to allow you to make whichever layout you require. We also have a Bluetooth speaker available for hire.
THE MEETING ROOM
The meeting room is 6m x 3.5m, can be set up for meetings or presentations for approximately 10 people and measures approximately 18 square meters.
BOOKING
Use our contact page form, email archiestownvillagehall@gmail.com
CONTACT ARCHIESTOWN
VILLAGE COUNCIL - WHO'S WHO
Village Council Chair - Angus Holmes avcvicechair@gmail.com
07786923851
Vice Chair - Boyd Ross
Secretary - Sally & Gill
archiestownsecretary@gmail.com
Treasurer - Ally Bruce
01340 810670
Committee Members:
Sally Bruce, Gillian Jones, Sean Jones, Rosemary Legge, Shonah Stuart
