Benholm

{{Short description|Settlement in Aberdeenshire, Scotland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} thumb|Benholm Parish Church '''Benholm''' is a settlement in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Benholm Kincardineshire|url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/16918|url-status=live|access-date=21 February 2021|website=A vision of Britain through time|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029110513/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/16918|archive-date=29 October 2017}}</ref> It is now a conservation area and is home to Benholm Mill.<ref name="conservation area">{{Cite web|date=November 2016|title=Benholm Conservation Area Management Plan|url=https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/media/19401/benholm-conservation-area-management-plan.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=21 February 2021|website=Aberdeenshire Council|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121022331/https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/media/19401/benholm-conservation-area-management-plan.pdf |archive-date=2022-01-21 }}</ref>

The A92 passes the eastern edge of Benholm. The settlement was served by Birnie Road Halt railway station from 1865 to 1951.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Birnie Road Station {{!}} Canmore |url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/134459/birnie-road-station |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=canmore.org.uk |language=en}}</ref>

== Geography == Benholm lies near the North Sea coast, to the southwest of Inverbervie, and a little northeast of Johnshaven. It lies within the former boundaries of Kincardineshire.

==History== Evidence of a Kirk existing here dates back to 1242 and a history of milling dating back to the 12th century. The kirk was rebuilt in 1832.<ref name="conservation area" /> The area was designated as a conservation area in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Benholm from The Gazetteer for Scotland|url=https://www.scottish-places.info/towns/townfirst4158.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-02-21|website=Scottish Places|language=en-gb|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124012106/http://www.scottish-places.info/towns/townfirst4158.html|archive-date=24 January 2012}}</ref> The church is no longer in regular ecclesiastical use, and the last service was conducted by Rev. George Hastie in June 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Benholm Parish Church {{!}} Places of Worship in Scotland |url=https://powis.scot/sites/benholm-parish-church-946/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=powis.scot}}</ref> In February 2006, with the help of the community, the Kirk was purchased and taken into care by the Scottish Redundant Churches Trust (SCRT) - now called Historic Churches Scotland.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-08-23 |title=Scottish Redundant Churches Trust - a future for our historic churches |url=http://www.srct.org.uk/benholm.html |access-date=2025-01-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823110430/http://www.srct.org.uk/benholm.html |archive-date=23 August 2007 }}</ref> The former Benholm Parish area now falls into the wider St Cyrus Church of Scotland parish, also covering Johnshaven and Garvock parishes.

The community hosts the 18th century Benholm Mill, the only surviving water-powered meal mill in the Kincardine area of Aberdeenshire. The ‘Mill of Benholm Enterprise (SCIO)’ is a charity working to find a sustainable use for the site benefiting the community and stop the ongoing deterioration to preserve the Mill of Benholm for generations to come.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Homepage |url=https://millofbenholm.scot/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=Mill of Benholm Enterprise |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Benholm was once a thriving settlement, but with the decline in the importance of agriculture, its fortunes and population declined. During the 1950s, the local smiddy closed. Then, in 1968, Benholm Primary School was also closed, with children going to Johnshaven Primary. By 1972, the village hall was sold and later demolished in 1992. The post office closed in 1988.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Benholm from The Gazetteer for Scotland |url=https://www.scottish-places.info/towns/townfirst4158.html |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=www.scottish-places.info |language=en-gb}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

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Category:Villages in Aberdeenshire Category:Hamlets in Aberdeenshire Category:Hamlets in Scotland Category:Aberdeenshire articles missing geocoordinate data Category:Parishes in Kincardineshire