Railway and Quarry
By John Ritchie, for many years Manager of Tom’s Forest Quarry, Kintore.
In taking a retrospective view of the Granite Industry, I may say in commencement that the writer has had over 30 years practical experience in all its branches both at home and abroad. There is an old saying, "Though you lead a donkey round the World, he will be a Donkey when he comes back." Still it may be of interest to review the various phases which have taken place, and the altered conditions and facilities of working granite during those years.
THE BUILDER DEC 2 1865.
About sixteen miles north of Aberdeen, and on the immediate line of the Great North of Scotland Railway, stands the village of Kemnay, famous for its granite quarries.
IN THE BEGINNING
Until the mid nineteenth century Kemnay was a virtual backwater with its inhabitants scraping a living from the land – land that for the most part was rather poor. The Kintore to Tillyfourie Turnpike had been opened around 1827 with toll houses at the present day Kintore Crossroads and at Monymusk – gates were fitted at these points and tolls were payable to gain access to the next part of the road.