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Chapel of Garioch

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A New History of Aberdeenshire, Alexander Smith (Ed), 1875

Etymology
The old spelling of the name was Garryoch, or Garvyoch, which is derived from the Gaelic Garbh-chrioch, and signifies the rough bounds or district. Before the Reformation, there were two divisions in what is now the parish, and three places of public worship, viz. :-Fetternear, Logie Durno, and Chapel. Early in the seventeenth century, the parsonage of Fetternear, and the parish of Logie Durno, were united, and a church built in its present centrical situation, appointed by a decree to be called "Chapel of Garioch".

Boundaries
It is bounded on the north-west and north by the parish of Rayne; on the east by the parishes of Daviot, Bourtie, Keith-hall, and Inverurie; on the south by the river Don, and the parishes of Kemnay and Monymusk; and on the west by the parish of Oyne.

Extent
Its extreme length, measured in a direct line, from a point on the Don, opposite to the Milltown of Kemnay, on the south, to a point near to Meikle Wartle, on the north, is 9 miles. Its greatest breadth along the water of Ury, from east to west, is about 6½ miles, by the course of the stream; while at a point at Braco, between the Inverurie boundary on the east, and the Oyne parish boundary on the west, it is under one half mile in breadth, and along the Don, from the burn of Keithny or Burnervie, it extends westwards for about 2½ miles. The whole area of the parish is computed to be 13,117 acres.

Topography
The general configuration of the parish is undulating, being composed of low rounded hills, and long flattish ridges, which are all either cultivated or planted. To the north of the Ury, the eastern ridge commences on Balhaggardy, and runs in a north-westerly direction by the "battle-field"; of Harlaw, Gunhill of Inveramsay, and Leggat's-den; while the western ridge of Logie Durno runs from the Ury, northward, in the direction of Wartle, and the church of Rayne. The ridges and hills south of the Ury, run from the old castle of Balquhain (333 feet), north and westward by the church and "Maiden Stone,"; in the direction of Pittodrie House, and the Mither Tap, or hill Fort of Benachie, in the parish of Oyne. In the southern, or Donside division of the parish, there are the rounded hills of Keithny and Fetternear, and the knolls of Bograxie and Blairdaff, on the borders of Monymusk parish. The lowest land in the parish is at the influx of the Lochter burn with the Ury, which point is 178 feet above sea level. The lowest point of the parish on the Don is at the influx of the stream of Burnervie, and it is about 215 feet. The highest land or hill in the parish being about half-a-mile to the north-east of the church, and it is 690 feet above sea level; the Inveramsay Railway Station is 228 feet, the Pitcaple Station is 236 feet (they are only three-fourths of a mile apart), the church of Chapel of Garioch is 536 feet, the highest point on the "battle field"; of Harlaw is 319 feet, and the Wartle Station, on the Turriff and Banff Railway, is 350 feet. This Station is in the parish of Rayne, but on the borders of Chapel of Garioch.

[A New History of Aberdeenshire, Alexander Smith (Ed), 1875]