Strichen

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

Etymology
The name of the parish is derived from Strath-end, or Strechin, as it was formerly spelt, now it is Strichen. The church was built under Bishop Patrick Forbes, by Thomas Fraser of Strechin, about the year 1620. "Strichen was erected into a parish in 1627, and consists of thirty-eight ploughs, thirty-two of which was taken off from the parish of Rathen, and six (called the six ploughs of Saithley) from the parish of Fraserburgh."

Boundaries
It is bounded on the north by the detached portions of the parishes of Aberdour and Fraserburgh, and the parish of Rathen; on the east by the parish of Lonmay; on the south by the parish of Old Deer; and on the west by the parish of New Deer and the western portion of the parish of Tyrie.

Extent
The greatest Iength of the parish from south to north is, from Newland Hill, on the boundary with Old and New Deer, to the north Ugie at Whitehill, four miles in a direct line; and the greatest breadth from east to west, and from east of the village of New Leeds to the Leeches-burn on the boundary with New Deer and Tyrie, is 6½ miles, also in a direct line. The whole area is computed to be 10,206 acres, 408 decs.

Topography
Excepting Mormond-hill and the mosses of Tarfat, the Lambhill, and Auchnarie, the whole of the parish may be said to be closely cultivated, or growing trees, the chief and older portion of which are in the neighbourhood of Strichen-house, and the younger planted ground lying along the lower slopes of Mormond. The hill of Mormond is the most elevated land in the parish, and is 744 feet above sea level; the lowest point in the parish upon the north Ugie, near Denend, is about 125 feet. The Mormond hotel, at the west entrance to the village, is 173 feet six inches, and the church is about 210 feet. The hill Adziel is 440 feet, and the highest point of the woods of Strichen-house, west of the New Deer road, is 383 feet. The mosses of Auchnarie and Lambhill will average about 400 feet, and the highest point on the Buchan turnpike road, on the march with Tyrie at Cairnhigh is 428 feet, and the lowermost point, on the south boundary of the parish, near the Brucklay Railway Station, is 248 feet above sea level.

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