Turriff Parish

Description of the parish

Etymology

The name of this parish was anciently spelled Turra or Torra, and is still so pronounced. Turr, or Torr, signifying in the Gaelic language, "a round hill," and A like the English word "awe" signifying water, therefore the compound word Torr-a would signify "the water by the round hill." According to others Turureth and Turreff was the proper spelling of the name, which is said to signify, in Gaelic, "towers." In the older parts of the town, and between the churchyard gate and. the cross, there was to be seen (in the Temple brae) till very recently, part of the vaults of an ancient building, and the remains of a tower over the gateway, from which this part of the town derived the name of the "Castle-hill," and lately, there was an old ruinous building, known by the name of Castle Rainy, near the Town Hall, as to which there is no distinct tradition.

Boundaries

The parish is bounded on the north by the parish of Alvah (in Banffshire) and King-Edward; on the east by Monquhitter; on the south by Fyvie and Auchterless; and on the west by Inverkeithney and Forglen in Banffshire.

Extent

Its greatest length is from Towie on the south, to Craigstone in King-Edward on the north, and in a direct line it measures nearly 7 miles. The greatest breadth, also in a direct line, from Mains of Idoch on the east, to the Doveran at Draughlaw on the west, is about 6¼ miles. The whole area is computed to be 18,488.664 acres.

Topography

Along the banks of the Doveran, from Mill of Ashogle to the Craigbrae of Laithers, there are few finer landscapes for wood and water, hill and dale, to be seen in the country. Below the influx of the water of Turriff there are the fertile haughs of Ashogle and Knockiemill, skirted on the east by finely wooded braes, and above the water of Turriff there is the Bannock haugh, below the steep braes of Kinnermit, the Cowshaugh and the haughs of Muiresk, the haughs and wooded braes of Scobath and Laithers, up to the Herne burn and the picturesque Den, through which it flows, and the boundary between the counties of Aberdeen and Banff, and the parishes of Turriff and Inverkeithney. The lowest point on the Doveran at Mill of Ashogle is 90 feet above sea level, the centre arch of the bridge over the river at Eastside is 106 feet, four inches, and the B ighest point on the river in the parish, bordering with Inverkeithney, is about 114 feet. The Turriff Railway Station is 128 feet, the Cross of Turriff is 166 feet, the Fife Arms' Hotel, in the top of the square, is 107 feet, and the church is 209 feet. The highest point on the Market-hill, a little east of the Market-stance, is 328 feet, the entrance to the west approach to Delgaty Castle, is 287 feet, the junction of the Craigston road with the Banff turnpike is 332 feet, and the parish boundary with King-Edward, near Lower Plaidy, also on the Banff road, is 248 feet. The highest top on the wooded hill of Wrae is 449 feet, the hill of Slackadale is 339 feet, the hill of Brackens is 611 feet, and is the highest lard in this division of the parish; the wood of Barnyards is 536 feet, and the boundary of the parish with Monquhitter, on the road at the north-east corner of the Delgaty woods, is 400 feet. The bridge at Mill of Delgaty, on the old Cuminestown road, below Conn's quarry, is 183 feet; the highest point in the parish on the water of Turriff, above Mains of Idoch, is 186 feet; and the lowest point on the Ythan, at Towie, bordering with Auchterless, is 158 feet above sea level. On the southern division of the parish the woods of Balquholly, and the higher lands on Gask, Muiresk, Ardmiddle, Dorlaithers, and Cliftbog, are the most conspicuous, and in many parts of the dens of Gask, Ardmiddle, Glasslaw, Kingsford, Pitdoulzie, and Towie, the scenery is rugged, and sufficiently bold to be called romantic.

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

Delgatie Castle

Situated a few miles north east of Turriff the castle was most recently the home of the late Capt. Hay of Delgatie, Feudal Baron, the Castle had largely been in the Hay family for the last 650 years. It was taken from the Earl of Buchan after the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, when Robert the Bruce routed the invading English army. Mary Queen of Scots stayed at Delgatie for three days after the Battle of Cirrichie in 1562

Like many Scottish castles, Delgatie was rebuilt in the 16th century. The invention of the siege gun necessitated greater fortifications, and the 1570 rebuilding provided 8-14 feet thick walls. The main tower dates from about 1100, while its final extension with the battlement walk above the string course was completed in 1579. Both wings were added in 1743 with the chapel and dovecote on the west and the kitchen and servants' quarters on the east. Some of the rooms still boast their original 16-century painted ceilings, which are considered some of the finest in Scotland. Strange animals are depicted -- some with human heads thought to represent the actual inhabitants of the time.

The turnpike stair of 97 treads is reputed to be one of the widest in Scotland, measuring over five foot. It is unusual for being built within the thickness of the wall