Insch

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Insch
An Innis (Gaelic)


OS grid reference:	NJ632280



Population:	1630 (2004)



Council area:	Aberdeenshire
Constituent country:	Scotland
Sovereign state:	United Kingdom

Police force:	Grampian Police
Lieutenancy area:	Aberdeenshire
Former county:	Aberdeenshire

Post town:	INSCH
Postal:	AB52 6
Telephone:	01464


Scottish Parliament:	Gordon
UK Parliament:	Gordon
European Parliament:	Scotland

Insch viewed from the foot of Hill of Dunnideer

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

1 Etymology
2 History
3 Transport
4 Services
5 References
6 External links

[edit] 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. ^[1] Alternatively, inch or innis can refer to a meadow or low-lying pasture which is probably the more likely source of the name as this more closely corresponds with the site of the town. ^[2]

[edit] History

In the middle ages, the town was home to a colony of Flemish merchants.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Transport

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

[edit] Services

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) and another, the Commercial Hotel, towards the centre of the town.

[edit] References

^ Watson, W.J., Celtic Placenames of Scotland, (Edinburgh, 1926)
^ Smith, Alexander (Ed.). A New History of Aberdeenshire in Two Parts: Part II, Lewis Smith, Aberdeen, 1875.