ENZIE, a quoad sacra parish (for a time), formed of
part of the parishes of Bellie and Rathven, in the
county of Banff, 4 miles (N. E.) from Fochabers; containing
2103 inhabitants. The district is about six miles
in length and from three to four in breadth, and is
bounded on the north by the Moray Firth, and on the
south by the Aldmore hills and Whiteash. In general
the surface presents a very pleasing aspect, considerably
heightened by the interspersion of wood; and the views
embrace a large extent of the Firth, and of the opposite
coast of Ross-shire and Sutherland. The soil is various,
in some places rich and fertile, and in others hard and
thin; and the crops, which are usually early, consist
chiefly of wheat, oats, and barley, the first being most
cultivated. The Duke of Richmond is the principal
proprietor. On the hill of Parrymont, in the Rathven
portion of the district, is a quarry, whence an abundance
of blue slate and stone-flags is obtained; and at Gollachie
are a woollen-cloth factory and a carding-mill.
White-fishing is prosecuted with advantage; cod and
haddock are caught in considerable quantity, and the
former fish and ling are cured by the inhabitants, and
disposed of in the southern markets. There is a salmonfishing
station at Port-Gordon, the chief village, belonging
to a company in the neighbourhood; and here also
a pretty extensive trade is carried on in the exportation
of grain, and the importation of coal and salt. Eight or
ten vessels belong to the place, by which the commerce
in these articles is for the most part conducted; and a
kind of temporary harbour affords them a safe anchorage.
The north coast-road from Banff to Fochabers, and the
road from Keith to Port-Gordon, intersect the district.
Ecclesiastically Enzie is within the bounds of the
presbytery of Fordyce, synod of Aberdeen, and the patronage
is vested in the Committee for managing the
Royal Bounty: the stipend of the minister is £62, and
there is a glebe of eight acres, valued at about £1 per
acre, and for which the minister pays a ground rent of
two bolls of barley. The church is a small structure,
built in 1785, and enlarged by a gallery at the end in
1815, and by a side gallery in 1822, the whole containing
400 sittings: it is nearly equidistant from Rathven church
and the church of Bellie, about four miles from each.
The Roman Catholics have a place of worship near
Achinhalrig, a small hamlet; where, and at Starryhaugh
and Curfurrach, are schools supported by the Society
for Propagating Christian Knowledge. At Port-Gordon
is a school maintained by the Duke of Richmond. The
late celebrated Dr. Alexander Geddes, a Roman Catholic
divine, translator of Horace's Satires, and of a portion
of the Bible, was a native of the district. Enzie confers
the title of Earl on the Marquess of Huntly.