Scotland > 1868, 1878 - Slater's (late Pigot & Co.'s) Royal national commercial directory and topography of Scotland > 1861

T,
BANFFSHIRE.
_ HIS county, which is one of no great extent, is bounded on the north by the Frith of Moray, on the
south and on the east by Aberdeenshire, and on the west by the shires of Moray and Inverness. Its
form is elongated— irregularly concave towards its south-eastern border, and convex on its north-eastern,
with a slip or apex inserted between the counties of Moray and Aberdeen. In breadth, at its widest
part, it is about twenty miles, and its extreme length fifty ; it diminishes to an apex (as before stated)
at the extreme western end, but the base on the coast extends twenty-five miles. The course of the
Devevon, for a considerable distance, forms the eastern boundary between this county and that of Aber-
deen ; and the Spey, with little ini propriety, may be accounted its western limit with Morayshire. 1
This district was at one time a component part of the large province of Moray, which altogether forms
one of the finest tracts of ground in the northern part of Scotland. On the eastern side of the Deveron,
in the district of Buchau, the parish of Gamrie, and some other spots of land, belong to Banffshire ; so !
that, in all, the county presenis a superficies of somewhat above one thousand square miles.
Soil, surface and climate, produce and manufactures.— The soil, with few exceptions, is deep
loam or tenacious clay. The face of the couuty is agreeably diversified by an intermixture of valleys
and flat ground, among the ranges of hills, with many beautiful fertile braes, productive of the finest
crpps, or serviceable for the excelleuce of their green pasture. The Strath of Glen-Avon proceeds
from the forest of Glen-Avon, in a north-easterly direction, or on the left, and Strath Deveron on the
right. Betwixt these is Glen-Livet, from whence, in a north-easterly direction, diverges Glen-Feddick.
The principal eminences in the county are— Noath, 1,830 ; Buck, or Cabrach, 2,377: Knockhill, 2,500 ;
Corryhabhie, 2,558; Belrinues, 2,747; aud Cairngorm, 4,244 feet above the level of the sea. The
principal crops raised are barley, oats, turnips, potatoes, flax, grass, and, in some places, a small extent
of pease. Under the auspices of parliamentary commissioners, the county has experienced considerable
improvement, and been opened by new roads. Limestone may be quarried beneath the surface of nearly
the whole county ; and at Portsoy is a fine vein of serpentine stone, called ' Portsoy marble,' as well as
a species of granite, which, when polished, exhibits the resemblance of Hebrew characters. Freestone,
marl, and slate are also found in various parts. The first manufacture introduced into this district
still subsists, with an almost equal operation throughout the couuty— this is the spinning of flax, for the
merchants of Glasgow, Paisley, Dundee, aud Aberdeen; the manufacture of thread, both white and
dyed, is also carried on, but not very exteusively. The curing of fish is a branch of some consequence
in the towns of Ra'nff, Cullen, and Portsoy ; and there are distilleries in several of the principal towns.
The chief articles of export are black cattle, oats, salted or dried cod, ling, haddock, and skate; the
salmon of the Spey aud Deveron. put together, are also an article of great consideration. _ The imports
may be, in general, comprised under the necessaries and luxuries of life, not produced in the county.
The climate of Baufishire is precarious. In the billy districts, all the evils of cold and rain are often
felt; and as frosts aud snows frequently set in without any interval of good weather, the harvests are
not only endangered, but the operations of husbandry are suspended for many of the winter months.
The lower part of the shire, from Dull-house to forglen and liiuuairdy (a tract of about twelve miles
along the river side), and from Banff to Gordon Castle, including the districts of Boyne and Enzie, must
be excepted, being nearly equal to the climate of Moray, and greatly surpassing the most part of the
county in the fertility of the soil, the improvement of its agriculture, aud the richness of its productions.
Rivers, &c. — The waters of this county are the Spey, the Livet, the Avon, the Feddick, the
Deveron, the Isla, the Conglas, and several more minute streams. The Deveron is not navigable;
but this, as well as the Spey, yields excellent salmon fishing, and as such is the source of much comfort
and wealth to the inhabitants. Along the coast there are a number of rivulets, which fall with a quick
descent, and are useful in propelling machinery in different little towns and villages where manufactures
are established, or have begun to mal^e their appearance.
Banffshire comprehends twenty-eight parishes, or parts of parishes, some extending into, and others
locally situate in, other counties ; aud it contains two royal burghs, Banff and Cullen : these are also
contributory burghs, or those which, in conjunction with others, are represented in the senate. One
member represents the shire at large. T
■ -it
POPULATION OF THE SHIRE IN THE YEARS 1801, 1811, 1821, 1831, 1841, and 1851.
The Italic letters I), and p. respectively signify Burgh and parish.
1801
1811
1821
1831
1276
1278
3711
2432
1385
721
1501
566
50
1593
467
S2S
1334
3361
.'20
4094
l Pop
1841
1352
14U7
3958
2434
1261
714
1501
c-27
70
1564
477
860
1391
34:2
17/1
4741
CUT!!
1851
1447
1402
iGai'tly (part
of),)
in I
e.p.)
1801
1811
1821
1831
1841
1851
815
1057
3571
1802
116!
589
1122
456
1076
'610
1270
2747
605
3052
923
991
3603
1904
1180
677
J 128
450
1070
mi
1378
2767
628
3052
106V
1079
3855
2235
1206
572
1290
562
71
1452
482
693
1356
3245
750
3716
Tot
514
1529
2!07
603
3284
1332
16o7
1876
510
3901
1061
isio
2260
533
3352
1386
2018
1767
521
4374
1067
445
1482
2481
577
3926
1570
2210
2041
506
5364
1154
543
1492
2648
589
4464
1741
2426
2633
655
6484
1228
483
1661
2417
689
1804
1576
2691
2594
637
6728
1227
444
tlrp.
...p.
...p.
4426
2347
136S
'13
1564
Aberdeenshii
Bohaim
Inveraven . .
Inverkeithny
Keith (d) .,..
Kirkmichael
...p.
...p-
.„..t
....p.
1851
2714
835
Caimey (a) . . .
Sfp.
...p.
..p.
...p.
■ P-
750
60
1853
597
917
1597
3807
695
2101
1558
2994 >
Deer, Old (b) .
Fergus, Saint.
j
..../>
2804
664.
7518
1413
...p.
)N OF
36968
39083
45382
50672
50258
54207
Note.— {a) The parish o/ Caimey is partly in Aberdeenshire, where the remainder of the population is entered.
~ (b) Old Deer parish is chiefly in Aberdeenshire, where, in 1801 and 1814, the population is wholly entered, and the re J
mainiier from 1821. The number of inhabitants in the parish in 1851 n>as 4,743.
(c) Glass parish is wholly entered in Aberdeenshire,- its population in 1851 was 972. -
(</) In 1841 and 1851 the population oj Keith was confined to the township alone; previously it extended to the whole
parish. ___^_— ..
The total anual value of Real Property, in Banffshire, as assessed
assessed to the Property Tax, in 1843. to £116,967. 16s. Hd.
vo
April, 1815, amounted to £88,942.; and the amount
399