Hide

National Gazetteer, 1868

hide
Hide

Fordoun - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

Hide

"FORDOUN, a parish and post village in county Kincardine, Scotland, 10 miles S. W. of Stonehaven, 86 from Edinburgh, and 62½ from Perth by the Scottish North-Eastern railway, on which it is a station. It is seated on the Roman way over the Strathmore, at the foot of the Grampian hills, and is surrounded by Strachan, Arbuthnot, Glenbervie, Laurencekirk, Marykirk, and Fettercairn. Its area is about 44 square miles, including the post village of Auchinblae. It is divided into the "How" and "Brae" districts, the former being hilly, the latter flat. The Luther and Bervie are the principal streams. The soil is rich, and the hills afford excellent pasture; the Fenella Hill being a prominent object. The parish is in the presbytery of Fordoun, and synod of Angus and Mearns, in the patronage of the crown. The minister has a stipend of about £30.0, with manse and glebe. The church was built in 1829, and is a handsome structure in the Gothic style. In the churchyard is a very fine monument, erected a few years ago, to George Wishart, who was born here. The parish contains a Free church and several private schools, a parish library, and savings-bank. Viscount Arbuthnot, Earl, Kintore, and Sir John Stuart Forbes, Bart., are the chief landowners. Monboddo House, in the neighbourhood, is the birth-place of Lord Monboddo, of literary fame. There are one or two other elegant mansions in this parish. Here Montrose encamped previous to the battle at Kilsyth. The incumbency was held in 1377 by John of Fordoun, the Scottish historian; and Beattie, the poet, was schoolmaster of the parish. St. Palladius was buried here in 452, and a chapel, supposed to have been built over his remains, still exists. The parish contains Auchinblae, Kirktown, and Kincardine, which was the county town up to the time of James VI. Here are ruins of Kenneth III.'s castle, who fell at Fettercairn; also two Roman and a British camp. Fordoun gives name to a presbytery in the synod of Angus and Mearns, containing Benholme, Bervie, St. Cyrus, Fettercairn, Fordoun, Glenbervie, Kinneff, Laurencekirk, Marykirk, Arbuthnot, Dunottar, Fetteresso, and Garvock. The Free Church district comprises all these excepting the last four. Weekly fairs are held between Michaelmas and Christmas."

"AUCHINBLAE, a village in the parish of Fordoun, in the county of Kincardine, Scotland, 4 miles from Laurencekirk. It stands on the banks of the Luther water, and has a flax-mill. A fair for the sale of black cattle and horses is held weekly from Michaelmas to Christmas in this village."

"COWLEY, a village in the parish of Fordoun, in the county of Kincardine, Scotland, 10 miles S.W. of Stonehaven. It is situated under the Grampians."

"DENMILL, a village in the parish of Fordoun, in the county of Kincardine, Scotland. It is situated near Fordoun."

"GREENCASTLE, in the parish of Fordoun, county Kincardine, Scotland, 4 miles W. of Fordoun. Here are remains of a Roman fort 262 feet by 157."

"KINCARDINE, a village in the parish of Fordoun, county Kincardine, Scotland, 4 miles W.S.W. of Auchinblae. It was the county town until James VI. removed it to Stonehaven. Formerly it possessed a church and a market cross; the latter is now at Fettercairn. Here are the ruins of Kincardine Castle, which belonged to Kenneth III."

"KIRKTOWN-OF-FORDOUN, a village in the parish of Fordoun, county Kincardine, Scotland, 10 miles S.W. of Stonehaven. It is situated under the Grampians, in Strathmore."

"PALDIE, (or Paldiekirk), a village in the parish of Fordoun, county Kincardine, Scotland. It is situated near Fordoun, and was formerly a parish. It derives its name from St. Palladius. Fairs are held on the first Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday in July (old style)."

Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)
Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003