New Deer

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

Etymology
New Deer, originaly Auchreddie, formed part of the parish of Old Deer, or Deer, previous to the Reformation. This name is engraved on the four silver chalices, "raised out of the gifts of the congregation by Mr. David Sibbald, minister here under Bishop Hallyburton," and they bear date 1694.

Like other lowland names, Auchreddie is from the Gaelic, Auch-en-reidh, and signifies "the place of the smooth fields." There are several other Auchs in the parish, such as Auchmunziel, or "the field near the moss;" Auchmaliddie, Auch-ma- ledia, "the field of God; or, the field for the worship of God," Here was a rocking-stone of great size, but moveable at a particular point, by the slightest touch. It now lies upon the ground, quite immoveable.

Boundaries
The parish is bounded on the north by the parishes of Tyrie and Strichen; on the east by Old Deer; on the south by Tarves and Methlick; and on the west by Monquhitter and King-Edward.

Extent
The greatest length of it in a direct line, from the influx of the burn of Tillynaught with the Ebrie, at Arnage, to the Bonny Kelly hills on the Tyrie boundary, which is 12¼ miles; and the greatest breadth east to west, also in a direct line, is from the Mill of Old Maud on the south Ugie, to the bounding burn of Allathan with Monquhitter, which is six miles. The whole area is computed to be 26,765 acres, 091 decs.

Topography
This parish is situated in the central part of Buchan, and comprehends some of the highest table land within the district. The lowest point on the south Ugie, at Mill of Old Maud, is 196 feet above sea level; the Castle of Brucklay is 311 feet; and the highest point on the hills of Cross, or Corsegight, is 450 feet. The lowermost point on the Ebrie is about 160 feet; the house of Nethermuir is 300 feet; the hillhead of Knaven is 540 feet; the parish church is 382 feet; the hill of Culsh, which is a little to the north of the village, is 400 feet; and the cross roads in the woods of Artamford, at Fadliedike, is 319 feet above sea level.
From the hill of Culsh, in the neighbourhood of the village, may be seen, in a clear day, the spire of Peterhead, about 18 miles distant to the eastward. And, looking west, may be seen Benachie, about 25 or 28 miles off, the Foudland Hills, the hills in the neighbourhood of Banff and Cullen, and the mountain of Ben-rinnes, Aberlour.

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