Worrall's directory of the North-Eastern counties of Scotland ...

Faemees—continued
Jessiman James, Muir ox Aucliinbo
Jessiman Wm. Upper Auclimill
Leslie James, Huntly
LobbanJolin, Loanend
Lobban John, Boginspro
M'Crae John, Blackstrype
Macpherson Andrew, Gibston
Mahn James, Briggs of Kinnoir
HUNTLY. [WOEEAlili's
Mearns James, Annetswells
Merson James, Craigwillie
Milne Alexander, Corse of Kinnoir
Milne James A. Mill of Huntly
Mortimer Peter, Dunbennan
Murdoch Alex. Hillhead
Mui'doch Wm. Upper Tullochbeg
Kichmond & Gordon His Grace the
Duke of, Huntly
Scott Wm. Nether Brunstone
Semple Eev. Adam, Nether
Tullochbeg
Skinner Mrs. Elizabeth, Mosstown
Smith James, Eobiestown
Wagstaff Jane, Westerton
Wanes Catherine, Warde
Weir John, Burnfield
Wilson John (factor). Castle park
KEITH HALL. PORT ELPHINSTONE, KINMUICK, KINKELL, AND KINTORE.
INVERURIE is a very ancient royal burgh, town,
and parish, bounded on the soiith by the river Don
and on the north by the river Urie (from which the
parish takes its name) . The
town is situated on the
main line of the Great North of Scotland Railway, 16
miles from Aberdeen, 24i from Huntly, 22^ from
Turriff, 33i from Banff Bridge and Macduff, 5 from
Old Meldrum, and 10 from Dyce Junction. The local
government of the burgh is vested in a provost, three
bailies, a treasurer, and four councillors, and in conjunction
with Banff, Cnllen, Elgin, Kintore, and
Peterhead returns a member to the imperial parliament.
These places, styled the Elgin district of
burghs, have constituencies 1875-6 numbering 3,627,
of which number 385 are located in Inverurie.
Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff, Esq., is the
present member. The Town Hall is a fine granite
building, occupying a commanding situation at the
head of the Market place ; in addition to offices, &c„
it contains a large room suitable for public meetings,
judicial proceedings, &c. The Sheriff Court for the
recovery of small debts is held here quarterly in
March, June, October, and December. Inverurie is
pleasantly situated in the midst of a very picturesque
district, and is a favourite resort during the summer
season, the rivers before named affording ample sport
to the angler. The Kintore Arms, a very superior
hotel in every respect, is conveniently situated near
the railway station, and contains baths, a hbrary,
and every requisite for the comfort of visitors. Keith
Hall, in the adjoining parish, is the residence of the
Earl of Kintore, who derives the title of baron from
Inverurie. The local trade of the town is iu a
thriving condition, the cattle markets are largely
attended by both buyers and sellers of stock, large
quantities of meat in carcase is- forwarded to the
London market weekly, the tanning of leather is
extensively carried on by Mr. Davidson. Pour
banking companies have branch establishments in
the town, and in addition to the hotel before named
there are several respectable inns. With reference to
the early history of Inverurie it may be mentioned
that in the preamble to the oldest charter in existence
(one granted to the burgh by Queen Mary) it is
stated that Inverurie had been a burgh from time
immemorial; according to tradition, however.
King Robert erected it into a burgh to commemorate
a victory gained by him in the neighbourhood. The
places of worship in the parish are Estabhshed and
Free Churches, and Episcopalian, Congregational and
Methodist Chapels, and a Roman Catholic Chapel.
Several of these are of considerable architectural
pretensions, and are striking featm-es in the town.
A new Free Church in the Gothic style of architecturewith
spire, is in course of erection in West High,
street; this handsome edifice will replace the church
formerly used for worship iu the same neighbour-
9
hood. There are public schools affording ample
accommodation for the present educational requirements
of the district. Markets are held every third
week:—2nd January, 23rd January (cattle), 13th
February, 6th March, 27th March, 17th April, 8th
and 29th May (cattle), Wednesday before 26th May
(feeing), 19th June (cattle), 10th and 31st July
(cattle—and 4tli Tuesday (feeing), 21st August
(cattle), 11th September (cattle), 2nd and 23rd
October (cattle), 13th and Wednesday before 22nd
November (cattle), 4tli and 25th December (cattle).
PORT ELPHINSTONE, on the opposite bank of
the Don, a short distance to the south of Inverurie,
but connected with it by the bridge erected in 1791,
is a pleasant village, near which are the extensive
works of Messrs. Tait, paper makers and miUers.
KINTORE is also a royal burgh, town, parish, and
railway station, 13 miles from Aberdeen, 3 from
Inverurie, and 16 from Alford by the branch railway,
which here joins the G. N. of Scotland main line. In
the town are several good retail establishments and
two inns, and in its immediate vicinity the extensive
nursery grounds of Messrs. Smith & Son. In this
parish are numerous cairns and tumuli, which are
said to point out the position where Robert Bruce
overtook and destroyed the army of Edward I., after
the defeat of Comyn, Earl of Buchan, near Inverurie;
and within the parish is Hall Forest Castle, formerly
a hunting seat of King Robert, now the property of
the Earl of Kintore, to whom three-fourths of the
l^arish belongs. The burgh is governed by a provost,
two bailies, a dean of guild, and a treasurer, who are
assisted by a council of burgesses. As one of the
Elgin district of burghs, Kintore shares in the return
of a representative to parliament. Markets are held
11th January, 1st February, 14th March, 16th May,
4th July, and 2Sth Noveiuber. The places of worsliip
are the Established and Free Churches. The village
of Port Elphinstone, though contiguous and closely
connected with Inverurie, is in Kintore.
KEITH HALL and KINKELL, formerly separa,te
parishes, are now united under the name of Keith
Hall. The parish is separated from that of Inveriuie
by the narrow stream of the Urie, neF,r its confluence
with the Don. Keith Hall (before mentioned), the
seat of the Earl of Kintore, Lord-Lieutenant of
Aberdeenshire, is situated in this parish, in the midst
of an extensive well-wooded demesne ; the grounds
adjoining the mansion are laid out with great taste,
and are frequently open to the public by the permission
of the Ear], a nobleman who is deservedly
respected, not only in the neighbourhood but tlu'oughout
the county, for his many estimable quahties.
The Society of Friends have had a place of worship
in tliis parish at Kinmuick for nearly two hundred
years; the meeting house contains a library of
iuteresting works relative to the society.