Scotland > 1882-1915 - Slater's Royal National Commercial Directory of Scotland > 1903, Part 1 - Slater's Royal National Commercial Directory of Scotland ... (Royal National Directory of Scotland.) With ... map, etc

DIKECTORY.]
Clerk, Collector &. Inspector of Poor, Peter
Chapman, Bogower
Krgistrar of Births, Deaths & Marriages,
John Taylor M.A. School house, Inver-
keithny
Established Church, Rev. John Souter M.A
SCHOOL BOARD.
Chairman, Alexander G. D. McKilligan
Clerk, Peter Chapman, Bogower
Board Schools: —
Kirktown, for 90 children ; average at-
tendance, 70; John Taylor M.A. master
Easterfield, for 90 children; average at-
tendance, 40; Miss Jessie Gatt, mistress
PRIVATE RESIDENTS.
Murray Alexander
Souter Bev. John M.A. (Established
Church), 1'he Manse
COMMERCIAL,
Bruce John, blacksmith, Fortrie
Chapman Peter, clerk & inspector of poor
for the parish council & clerk to the
school board, Bogower
Currie Alexander, blacksmith, Auchingoul
Flett Alexander, grocer, & post offi.ee,
Fortrie
Gray David, carpenter, Bogyouch
Murray Alexander, grocer, Auchingoul
Shearer Charles, boot maker, Auchingoul
Simpson Peter, blacksmith, Bogyouch
Smart George, boot maker
Taylor John M.A. registrar of births,
deaths & marriages & schoolmaster,
School house, Kirktown
Thomson Alexander, blacksmith, Bogyouch
"Walker Elizabeth (Miss), grocer, & post
office
FARMERS.
Alexander George, South Balnoon
Anderson George, Drachlaw
Anderson Peter, Backhills
Chapman Peter, Bogower
Cowie John, North Auchinena
Cowie Peter, Tullo & Ardfour
Cran Peter, Mains of Auchingoul
Durno Alexander, North Balnoon
Hackett Peter, Fortrie
Hunter John, Carlincraig
Ledingham Alexander, Balnoon cottage
Lumsden James, Downies
M'Combie John & Son, Auchinhamper
M'Intosh George, Tollomill
M'Kenzie George, Westfield
M'Killigan Alex. G. D. Midton of Haddo
(M'Killigan John, Wardwell
Minty Alexander, Mains of Tullo
Morrison John, Frith hill
Morrison John, jun. Boghead
Thomson William, South Auchinena
"Walker Mrs. Catherine, Head of Town
"Wright James, Newton
KEITH is a market and post town and
parish, the latter chiefly in the county of
Banff, but extending into that of Elgin.
The town is 170 miles north of Edinburgh,
22 south-wesb of Banff, 17 east-south-east
of Elgin, 50 north-east of Aberdeen, 60
east of Inverness, S south-east of
Fochabers, 17 south- south-west of Portsoy
and 12 south of Cullen, situate on the
banks of the Isla, in the centre of an
amphitheatre of â–  hills. The Great North
of Scotland railway makes a centre of this
town, coming from Aberdeen via Huntly
and continuing on by Craigellachie Junc-
tion to Elgin and Lossiemouth . in the
north-west and Boat of Garten in the
south, with a branch running north-east
from Keith to Portsoy (where it connects
with the coast line) and Banff; while the
Highland railway runs via Mulben to
Elgin, Forres and Nairn (with branches to
Fochabers and Burghhead), and has also a
line from Keith to Portessie. Keith is
divided into three distinct towns, namely,
Old Keibh, New Keith and Fife Keith;
the latter, erected by a former Earl of
Fife, is separated from Old and New
Keith by the Isla. The old town has
declined considerably since the establish-
ment of the new. New Keith was begun
about the year 1750 by James (Ogilvy) 5th
Earl of Findlater, upon a barren tract of
land, feued off in tenements of 15 yards
by 60. It is formed on a regular plan of
three parallel streets and a square. There
are no authentic documents to record the
origin of Old Keith, but it has certainly
existed for over 6ix centuries, and was at
one time the county town. The Court of
Registry possessed an extensive jurisdic-
tion, including four pleas of the Crown.
The last criminal hanged was Gilbert Dal-
lachy, condemned for theft, about 1690.
BANFFSHIRE.
On the banks of the Isla, a little below
the town, are the ruins of a castle, which
belonged to the Oliphant family. The
Suit-Roll-Croft, on the banks of the Isla,
near Keith, was the gathering-place of the
Clan Gordon ; Suttrall House, Fife Keith,
now marks the gathering- place. Keith was
the birth-place in 1710 of James Ferguson
F.R.S. the astronomer. On the Caird's
Hill are Druidical remains, and near these
several tumuli, which have been opened
and found to contain various sepulchral
relics. A sheriff court for small debt and
debt recovery cases, and for proofs in
ordinary actions and other business, is
held every alternate month in the Insti-
:ute Hall. The Established church, opened
in 1819, is an edifice in the Gothic style,
and will seat 1,800. The Episcopalians,
United Free Churches and Roman Catholics
have each a place of worship. The Turner
Memorial Cottage Hospital is a building
of stone, erected in 1880 at the cost of
£1,200, and endowed with £3,000 from
the residue of the late James Turner M.D.
of this town ; it contains 18 beds and in
1S93 an extension for five additional beds
was provided by the late G. Kynoch esq.
of Isla Bank. In Reidhaven square stands
a drinking fountain of polished granite,
erected in 1885 to the memory of James
Taylor esq. M.D. of this place, by his
fellow townsmen. The Institute, erected
in 1886, having been destroyed by fire, was
rebuilt in 1889 ; various societies have
their offices and hold meetings here. The
Public Reading Room and Library is sup-
plied with the principal daily papers and
leading periodicals, and has chess and
billiard rooms attached. The Police Sta-
tion, in Turner street, was erected in
1893 and has attached dwellings for
officers. Markets are held on the first and
third Saturday in each month, except
June and September, when they are held
on the third Wednesday, and feeing mar-
kets in March, May, July (harvest) and
November. The horse market in Septem-
ber is one of the largest in the north.
The market stance is at the south end of
the town, and is of considerable extent.
The extensive manufactory belonging to
Messrs. G. and G. Kynoch, for the pro
ducbion of Scotch tweeds, gives employ
ment to a considerable number of hands
In addition there are large flour and meal
mills, manure manufactories, two exten
sive distilleries, an agricultural implement
manufactory and a brewery in the old
town. Branches of the Union Bank of
Scotland Limited, the Town and County
Bank Limited and the North of Scotland
Bank Limited are maintained in the town,
the latter having also a branch in Fife
Keith. Auchlunkart House, the seat of
William F. D. Steuart esq. is situated in
the parish. The Duke of Fife K.T. ,
G.C.V.O., P.O. the Countess of Seafield
and William F. D. Steuart esq. are owners
of the manor and the principal land-
owners. The " Banffshire Herald" is
published here. The area of the parish is
19,383 acres; rateable value, £26,922;
population in 1891, 6,628, and 1901, 6,828,
of which the town contained 4,753. The
population of the ecclesiastical parish in
1901 was 5,340.
Newmills is a village in the parish of
Keith, 1£ miles from that town, and with
the neighbouring district was erected into
a quoad sacra parish in 1867. A church
and manse in connection with the Estab-
lishment were built in 1870; and there is
also a United Free Church Mission Hall.
Population in 1891, 1,421, and in 1901, 657.
Post, T. O., T. m. O., M. O. 0., E. D.,
P. P., S. B. & A. & I. Office, Mid st.
Keith; Geo. A. Shankland, postmaster. De-
liveries, town, 7.15 & 10.15 a.m. & 3 &
6 p.m.; rural, 7.15 & 10.15 a.m. & 12.30
& 4.20 p.m. ; dispatches, 7.30, 7.50 &
11.20 a.m. & 12.35, 1.50, 3.10, 4.10, 6.40,
7.15 & 10 p.m. ; Sunday, delivery, 9 to
10 a.m. & 3.30 to 4 p.m. (callers only) ;
dispatches, 9.10 a.m. & 1.15 & 10 p.m
Post, M. O. & T. O., T. M. O., E. D.,
P. P., S. B. & A. & I. Office, Fife
Keith ; John H. Dawson, postmaster.
Dispatches, 6.30, 7.35 & 11.5 a.m. &
2.45, 3.45, 6.30 & 9.30 p.m.; Sunday.
9.30 p.m
Post Office, Newmills, Keith; Robert Dun-
bar, postmaster. Letters received through
Keith. Dispatches, 6.20 a.m. & 4.30 p.m
SHERIFF'S SMALL DEBT COUBT.
Sheriff, Donald Crawford
Sheriff-Sub, James Reid
KEITH.
343
Clerk, James Kelman
Officer, A. Thomson
POLICE COURT,
Institute hall.
Provost, James Kelman
Bailies, John Fraser & William Simpson
Burgh Prosecutor, George Proctor
Clerk of Court, John G. Fleming, Mid st
Constabulary Station, William Morrison-.
inspector, Turner street
PAROCHIAL EOARD & RATE OFFICE,.
63 Moss street.
Inspector, John Pirie, 53 Moss street
Collector, John Stewart
Registrar of Births, Deaths & Marriages,.
James Kelman, 76 Union street
Cemetery, John Pirie, sec. Moss street
Freemasons' Lodge (St. James'), Long-
more hall, Church road, James Robert-
son, sec
Library & Reading Room, The Institute,
Mid street, George Davidson, sec
Longmore (The) Hall, Keith, George
Davidson, sec
Museum, Institute buildings, John Robert-
son, sec
Stamp & Tax Office, 151 Mid street, John
Fraser, distributor of stamps & collector
of taxes
Turner Memorial Cottage Hospital, R. S.
Turner M.A., M.D., CM, medical supt
Volunteer Battalion (6th) Gordon High-
landers, head quarters & orderly room,
Banff road, J. G. Fleming, lieut.-col.
commanding ; Oapt. H. W. E. Finch,
adjutant; Hon. Capt. T. Mitchell,
quartermaster; Rev. Sidney Smith, act-
ing chaplain
C Co. Lieut. J. W. Kynoch; Surgeon-Capt.
J. Taylor, medical officer; S'ergt. -Major
Davidson, drill-instructor
PLACES OF WORSHIP.
Established Churches: —
Keith, Rev. Sidney Smith M.A., B.D
Newmill, Rev. James Wedderspoon M.A
Episcopal Church (Holy Trinity), Keith,
Very Rev. John Archibald M.A., T.C.D.
(Dean of Moray, Ross & Caithness),
incumbent
United Free Churches: —
Rev. Hugh Fitzpatrick
Rev. William H. Macfarlane
Roman Catholic, Rev. John Paul
Convent of Mercy (St. Joseph's), Back st
SCHOOL BOARD.
Chairman, Rev. W. A. Macfarlane
Clerks, Messrs. Thurburn & Fleming
Schools : —
Keith (senior department), John Mair
M.A. head master
Keith (junior department), Miss Ross &
Miss Bella Hay, mistresses
Fife Keith (infants), Miss Janet Ander-
son, mistress
Auchanassie, Miss Thorn, mistress
Glen of Newmill, Miss Jeannie Crane, mist
Keith (Newmill), Alex. Johnston, master
Tarrycroy, Miss Margt. S. Robertson, mist
Roman Oatholic, Keith, Sisters of Mercy,
teachers
NEWSPAPER.
Banffshire Herald (The), John Mitchell &
Son, proprietors (published Saturday),
119 Mid street
CONVEYANCE.
itailway Stations on the Great North of
Scotland line : —
Keilh, Jn. Lyon, station mast.& goods aet
Keith Town (Keith & Elgin branch),
Robert Taylor, station master
Auchindachy (Keith & Elgin branch),
Leslie Strachan, station master
Highland Railway, Donald McDonald, sta-
tion master & goods agent
Omnibuses from the Gordon Arms & the
Royal hotels attend upon the. arrival &
departure of all the trains
Keith.
PRIVATE RESIDENTS.
Marked thus t are in Fife Keith.
fAllan George M.A. The Square
Anderson Charles, 32 Mid street
Anderson William, Station road
Annand Adam J.P.North of Scotland Bank
house, Moss street
Annand James J.P. 106 Mid street
Archibald Very Rev. John M.A. (Epis-
copal"), The Rectory
Auchinachie James. 12 Mid street