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Pitsligo

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

Etymology
The name of this parish is derived from the Gaelic Pit-sliabh-bache, which means "the hill or eminence in the hollow," in contradistinction to Pit-an-druim, which signifies "the ridge of the hollow." Previous to 1634 the parish consisted of the lands of Pittendrum, or Piteandrum, formerly in Fraserburgh, but the greater part belonged to Aberdour, from which it was disjoined by Lord Pitsligo in 1630, about the time he obtained his patent of peerage, and while the See of Aberdeen was filled by Bishop Forbes of Corse, under whose auspices several of the parishes of Buchan were divided, and new churches built.

Boundaries
The parish is bounded by the Moray Firth on the north, to which it has a sea-board of three miles six furlongs; on the east by the parish of Fraserburgh; on the south by the parish of Tyrie; and on the west by Aberdour.

Extent
Its greatest breadth, in a direct line from south to north, is three miles, and the greatest length, also in a direct line from east to west, is 3¼ miles; the whole area being estimated at 5,840 acres.

Topography
The sea shore, from the Fraserburgh boundary to Rosehearty, is low, alternating partly between sand and shelving rocks. From Rosehearty to the Aberdour boundary, the shore consists of precipitous rocks, full of chasms of great depth, and there are very few places where a boat can land on this part of the coast. The ridge of Pittendrum lies on the north-east of the parish, and the rising ground of Pitsligo is in the centre, over which the old Fraserburh and Udny road leads by the church, and divides the parish into two nearly equal parts. The highest point of this hill or eminence is about 300 feet above sea level, and from this point the land slopes on all sides. The church stands a little lower.

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