Abernethy, Perth and Kinross


Abernethy is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, situated south-east of Perth.

Etymology

The village's name is Brythonic, and means "mouth of the Nethy". The earliest recorded form being Apurnethige. The Nethy Burn flows down from the Ochil Hills past the present village.
The name of the Nethy is believed to be cognate with that of the River Nith and possibly Neath.
The Gaelic form of the name is Obar Neithich and derives from the same roots as the English name.

History

The village was once the "capital" of the kingdom of the Picts. The parish church, which sits on land given by Nechtan, king of the Picts, is dedicated to Saint Brigid of Kildare of, and the church is said to have been founded by Dairlugdach, second abbess of Kildare, one of early Christian Ireland's major monasteries.
Abernethy was the site of the Treaty of Abernethy in 1072 between William the Conqueror and Malcolm III of Scotland.
Abernethy is believed to 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, so that Abernethy, no longer being a residential bishopric is today listed by the Catholic Church as a titular see.
Abernethy remained the site of a small priory of Augustinian canons, founded 1272. In the 15th century, this priory was suppressed in favour of a collegiate church under the patronage of the Douglas Earls of Angus. 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 Saint Brigid.

Abernethy Round Tower

The village has one of Scotland's two surviving Irish-style round towers. The tower stands high, and it is possible to climb to the top, using a modern metal spiral staircase. The tower was evidently built in two stages, and probably dates to the 11th-early 12th centuries.
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 museum, open 2pm to 5pm from Wednesday to Sunday between May and September, has exhibits on the history of the village and also holds a key to the tower.

Culture

Over the years local industry and commerce has largely declined. A general store is the only shop remaining on the Main Street. However, the village still manages to support two local pubs and a tea room. A mobile post office also visits the village most weekdays.
A Gala / Fete Day is held annually on the first or second Saturday in June, with a race to the top of nearby Castle Law taking place the following day.

Transport

The village is located near the M90 motorway and has an infrequent bus service to nearby towns. Abernethy railway station served the village until 1955, when it was closed by the British Transport Commission.