BOYNDIE, or BOINDIE, a parish, in the county of
Banff, 3 miles (VV.) from Banff; containing, with the
village of Whitehills, 1501 inhabitants. This place, to
which Banff was united from the era of the Reformation
to about the year 1635, was anciently called Inverboyndie,
signifying " the mouth of the Boyndie ", in
consequence of the situation of the old church, now
in ruins, near the spot where the small stream of the
Boyndie falls into the sea. The word Boyndie is supposed
to be a diminutive of Boyn, the name of a larger
stream bounding the parish on the west. The parish is
washed by the Moray Firth, and is nearly of triangular
form, the northern line measuring between two and
three miles, the south-eastern about five miles and a
half, and the western boundary between four and five
miles. It comprises about 6300 acres, of which 4540
are cultivated, 750 in plantations, and the remainder
uncultivated, waste, and pasture. The surface is level,
with the exception of the fine cultivated valley of the
Boyndie, and is but little elevated above the sea. On
the north the coast is in general rocky, with a portion
of sandy beach, and at the extremity is the Knockhead,
a headland running out into a reef of rocks, visible at
half-tide, called the Salt-Stones. Here the coast turns
southward, forming one side of a bay; and the shore
between this point and the part where the Boyndie
empties itself into the sea, measures something less
than a mile, and consists of a beach of sand and gravel.
The harbours are, one at the fishing-village of Whitehills,
of small extent, with about ten feet depth of water
at spring-tides, used by two or three vessels employed
in the herring-fishery, and the importation of salt, coal,
&c.; and another a little to the east, at Blackpots,
affording also accommodation for the prosecution of the
herring and salmon fishings, and for the exportation of
tiles.
In the upper part of the parish the climate is humid
and bleak, but in the opposite part dry and salubrious.
The soil most prevalent is a light earth, on a retentive
subsoil; the exceptions being certain tracts in the centre
of the parish, chiefly clay and loam of rich quality,
and some land in the eastern portion, consisting of a
deep, black, sandy mould on a porous subsoil, which
produces heavy and early crops. This parish was one
of the first in the north of Scotland in which the system
of alternate crops and turnip husbandry were practised,
having been introduced here about the year 1754 by the
last Earl of Findlater, at that time Lord Deskford, who
also formed the older plantations in the place. Oats
and barley are the principal kinds of grain; and among
the green crops, the cultivation of turnips receives much
attention. The range of pasture is limited, but 1000
head of oxen are annually grazed, comprising the polled
Buchan and Banffshire horned breeds, with some crosses
with the Teeswater stock, many of which are fed for
the London market. The annual value of real property
in the parish is £4168. The rocks comprise greywacke,
primitive limestone, slate, and hornblende; and
to the east of Whitehills is a diluvial clay in extensive
beds, containing specimens of belemnites, comua ammonis,
&c., and supplying material for a brick and tile
work.
In this parish the wood, consisting for the most part
of Scotch fir, with sprinklings of larch, beech, and other
trees, is generally in a thriving condition. Near the
ancient castle of Boyn are some portions of hard-wood,
which, being favoured by shelter and a superior soil, are
in an exceedingly flourishing state. This mansion, which
was the family seat of the Ogilvies till the transfer of
the estates to the ancestor of the present owner, at the
beginning of the last century, is beautifully situated at
the western extremity of the ()arish, on the Boyn water,
but is now ruinous. The surrounding scenery, among
which are visible the remains of a more ancient mansion,
is highly picturesque; and attached to the castle is an
orchard, abounding in black and white wild cherries.
Agricultural pursuits occupy the greater part of the
population. The bleaching and preparation of threads
and stockings for market were formerly carried on to
some extent, but the only work connected with manufactures
now existing is a wool-carding mill on the burn
of Boyn, attached to which are works for the weaving
and dyeing of cloth. There are a saw-mill, a lint-mill,
a flour and barley mill, and several meal-mills. The
turnpike-road from Banff to Portsoy and Inverness runs
through the parish, from east to west, and a branch
diverges to Keith and Huntly, besides which there are
several good county roads, and numerous bridges over
the streams, affording facility of communication. A
cattle-fair has been instituted at Ordens, which is held
eight times a year.
Ecclesiastically the parish is in the presbytery of
Fordyce, synod of Aberdeen, and in the patronage of
the Earl of Seafield; the minister's stipend is about
£'200, with an excellent manse, lately built, and a glebe
valued at £1'2 per annum. Boyndie church, accommodating
600 persons, was erected in 1*73: the ruin of
the old edifice still remains, with its burial-ground, on a
site near the sea, where a battle with the Danes is supposed
to have taken place, in the reign of Malcolm II.,
to whose personal friend, St. Bovenden or Brandon, a
monk, the edifice was dedicated. The members of the
Free Church and the Wesleyans have places of worship.
The parochial school affords instruction in Greek, Latin,
and mathematics, in addition to the usual branches; the
master has a salary of £25. 12. 4., with £22. 12. fees,
and also shares in the Dick bequest. The Rev. James
Stewart, a native of the parish, in 1S09 left a sum now
amounting to £390, the produce to be equally divided
for the support of six poor persons, and for the education
of six boys, who are natives. There are several
remains of Druidical circles, of cairns, and military
works; and various minor relics of antiquity have at
different times been found, the most interesting of which
are, a short Roman sword, deposited in the armoury at
Duff House, and a seal, composed of fine clay-slate,
marked with the arms of Bishop James Kennedy, who
founded the college of St. Salvator in the university of
St. Andrew's. Thomas Ruddiman, the well-known author
of a Latin grammar, was a native of the parish.