FORGLEN, a parish, in the county of Banff, 1 mile
(W. by N.) from Turriff, on the road to Banff; containing
771 inhabitants. This place is also called Teunan,
from St. Eunon, to whom a chapel, of which there are
still some vestiges remaining, is said to have been dedicated.
It is bounded on the south and east by the river
Doveron, which has its source in the mountains of Aberdeenshire,
and after receiving in its course numenms
streams from the higher grounds, falls into the Moray
Firth at Banff. The parish is five miles and a half in
length from south-east to north-west, and about four
miles in breadth, containing an area of 7'234 acres, of
which 3617 are in a state of profitable cultivation, 1433
in plantations, 1055 waste land and pasture, and about
1130 capable of being reclaimed and cultivated at a moderate
expense. Its surface is pleasingly undulated, and
the soil, though light, is fertile. The system of agriculture
is improved; the principal crops are barley and
oats, and wheat has recently been raised, but not in
sufficient quantities to remunerate the grower. Considerable
attention is paid to the rearing of live stock:
the cattle are of the Aberdeenshire and Buchan breeds,
with some of the Teeswater, Dunrobin, and Galloway;
the sheep are generally of the Highland breed, which
has been benefited by the introduction of the Cheviot,
Merino, and Leicestershire kinds. Much progress has
been made in inclosing the lands, but the chief fences
are of stone, and the farm-buildings are indifferent.
There are quarries of clay-slate in several parts, worked
for various purposes. The sahnon-fishery on the Doveron
was formerly extensive and profitable; but it has
greatly diminished within the last few years, and the
annual rental for an extent of three miles of the river is
at present not more than £5. The annual value of real
property in Forglen is £3210. Over the several rivulets
that intersect the parish are bridges in good repair; and
across the Doveron is a substantial bridge of red sand-
stone, erected in 18^6 at an expense of £2503, and connecting
this parish with the post-town of Turriff. Peat
and wood are the principal fuel, but coal is brought
from Banff. There is a parochial library, containing a
valuable collection of books on religious and general subjects;
and a savings' bank has been estabUshed, or rather
revived.
The parish is ecclesiastically in the presbytery of Turriff,
synod of Aberdeen, and in the patronage of Sir
Robert Abercromby; the stipend is £175. 5. 10., with
a manse, and a glebe valued at £14 per annum. Forglen
church, erected in 1806, and situated on the southeastern
boundary of the parish, is in good repair, and
will accommodate a congregation of from 400 to 500
persons. The members of the Free Church have a place
of worship. The parochial school is well attended: the
salary of the master is £34, with about £30 fees, and a
house and garden; also the interest of £100 bequeathed
by the Rev. George Bruce, minister of Dunbar, in 1793,
and a portion of the Dick bequest, producing about £30
per annum. There is likewise a female school, in which
children are taught to sew; the building was erected by
subscription. The poor of the parish are eligible for
admission into the Aberdeen infirmary, for which a collection
is made annuaily at the church: there is also an
annual collection for the Assembly's India Mission and
the schools in the Highlands and islands. From some
ancient charters preserved by the family of Abercromby,
it appears that the lands of this parish and the patronage
of the church formerly belonged to the abbey of Aberbrothock;
and, as already stated, there are still remains of
an old religious house, by tradition assigned to St. Eunon.
At a short distance from the church are two barrows,
which have not been opened; and in constructing a
road in 1827, an urn containing ashes was found. Three
similar urns have been found since, and others had been
found before. A silver coin of the size of a crown-piece,
with the date I67O, was lately discovered in the wall of
an old house; it seems to have been current in the
electorate of Cologne. The former house of Forglen,
supposed to have been originally built about the year
1 346, had over the entrance the arms of Scotland, sculp
tured in stone, with various inscriptions; the present
mansion, lately erected near the site of the former, which
is removed, is a spacious edifice, beautifully situated on
the bank of the Doveron, and adorned with fine old timber.
In the parish is also the house of Caruousie.