Deer (New), p.311.

[Gazetteer of Scotland Contents]

   DEER (NEW), an extensive parish in the north-east of Aberdeenshire. It is of an oblong form, extending from north to south 14 miles, and, at a medium, 6 miles from east to west. The surface is flat, there being scarcely a hill or even a spot that may be called an eminence. Towards the north-east and south-east the appearance, for 7 or 8 miles, is almost one continued corn-field, interspersed with pieces of sown grass and turnip, and terminated by a gently rising ground in the form of an amphitheatre; towards the west the soil is shallow, and the surface covered with heath. The public road from Aberdeen, by Udny and Tarves, divides the parish from south-east to north-west. Limestone abounds. About 2 miles from the church stands an old castle called Fedderatt, which appears to have been a place of considerable strength. It is surrounded partly by a morass, and partly by a fosse; and has been accessible by a drawbridge, part of which still remains. Water has been conveyed to it by means of pipes, pieces of which have, at different times, been torn up by the plough. There are a few remains of Druidical temples: and several tumuli, which have been opened and found to contain urns enclosed in stone-coffins. On a field called Aiky or Oaky-brae, Edward Bruce, brother of King Robert Bruce, defeated the Cummyns, Earls of Badenoch, in the year 1308. Aiky market, which is held on the 2d Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, in July, O.S., is said to have been established in commemoration of this battle, and to be held on the spot where it was fought. Population, in 1801, 2,984; in 1831, 3,525. About 313 of the population are in the village of New Deer. Assessed property, in 1815, £4,719. Houses, in 1831, 765. – This parish, anciently called Auchreddy, was disjoined from Old Deer in the beginning of the 17^th century. It is in the presbytery of Deer, and synod of Aberdeen. Patron, the Crown. Stipend £219 2s. 8d.; glebe £20. Unappropriated teinds £737 17s. 6d. By a census made by the parish-elders in the end of 1835, the population was estimated at 3,622, of whom 3,008 were in connexion with the Establishment, and 614 with other denominations. A census by the Dissenters returned the population at 3,712. Old parish-church built in 1622; sittings 900. – A chapel was erected at Savock, in the south part of the parish, and 6 miles from New Deer, with sittings for 658, in 1834. – There is a United Secession congregation at New Deer, and another at Savock. The former had a church built in 1828; sittings 310; the church belonging to the latter was built in 1804; sittings 380. The stipend of the former is £75, with a manse and glebe. There is also a United Secession congregation at Whitehill; sittings 450. Stipend £90, with a manse. – There are 3 parochial schools; salary of each master £21 7s. 9d.; school-fees collectively £62 10s. There were also, in 1834, 8 private schools.