GARVOCK, a parish, in the county of Kincardine,
2 miles (E. S. E.) from Laurencekirk; containing 446
inhabitants. This place, the name of which, in the
Gaelic language, is descriptive of the general appearance
of its surface, formed part of the ample possessions of
the Keiths, earls-marischal of Scotland, who occasionally
resorted to it for the diversion of hunting; but since
17 15, when the estate was forfeited, the lands have been
divided among several proprietors, of whom the Earl of
Kintore is the principal. Though few traces of its
original character are now remaining, it appears to have
been one extensive forest; and within its limits, in the
reign of James I., was perpetrated the inhuman murder
of Melville of Glenbervie, sheriff of Mearns, whom Barclay,
laird of Mathers, and others, had treacherously invited
to join them on a hunting party. The parish is
rather more than seven miles in length, and nearly four
miles in extreme breadth, comprising an area of 8500
acres, whereof 2900 are arable, 100 woodlaud and plantations,
and the remainder, of which about one-half
might be reclaimed, moorland pasture and waste. In
the central portion the surface is a hollow plain, surrounded
by ascending grounds except on the east. In
other parts it is gently undulated, rising, towards the
south-west, into the hills of Garvock, which have an
elevation of 750 feet above the level of the sea, and
command from their summit an unbounded and richlydiversified
prospect. There are numerous springs of
excellent water in various parts, and at the north-west
base of Garvock hill is a spring strongly impregnated
with chalybeate properties; but the only river connected
with the parish is the water of Bervie, which forms a
portion of its north-east boundary, and falls into the sea
at Bervie.
The soil is naturally wet, resting on a subsoil of clay;
on the higher grounds, light and gravelly; and in the
lowlands, chiefly alluvial deposit. The crops are oats,
barley, and bear, with potatoes and turnips: wheat has
been raised, and also peas, though not with any degree
of success; beans, however, have been introduced with
every prospect of a fair return. Of late years, the system
of husbandry has been greatly advanced, and considerable
tracts of waste have been reclaimed and brought
into profitable cultivation by draining and the use of
lime; but the farm-buildings, with few exceptions, are
still of very inferior order, and the lands are only partially
inclosed. Great attention is paid to the management
of the dairy-farms, and the butter made here obtains
a decided preference in the market. The cattle
are generally the Angus, with a mixture of the Aberdeenshire
breed; much care is bestowed on their improvement,
and large numbers are sent to London: few sheep
are bred. The annual value of real property in the parish
is £328.5. There are some small remains of ancient
wood; and the plantations, which are chiefly of recent
growth, consist of larch, spruce, and Scotch firs, interspersed
with ash, beech, and plane, all which, with the
exception of the larch and Scotch fir, are in a thriving
condition. The rocks are mostly sandstone, conglomerate,
and trap. A coarse kind of limestone occurs in
the hill of Garvock, but from the difficulty of access, it is
not wrought. Red sandstone, of good quality for building,
is occasionally quarried.
There is no village, or even hamlet of any importance,
in the parish. A fair was formerly held annually on the
hill of Garvock, on the third Tuesday in July (O. S.), and
continued for three following days, for the sale of sheep,
cattle, merchandise, and for hiring servants; it was
called St. James' fair, but has been removed by the proprietor
of the custom. Facility of communication is
maintained by good roads. Ecclesiastically the parish
is within the bounds of the presbytery of Fordoun,
synod of Angus and Mearns. The minister's stipend is
£177. 11. 9-, with a manse, and a glebe valued at £20
per annum; patron, the Crown. Garvock church is a
neat structure erected in 177S, and contains 300 sittings.
The parochial school is attended by about sixty children;
the master has a salary of £31, with a house, and an
allowance of £2. 2. for garden, and the fees average £15.
The present minister, the Rev. John Charles, has assigned
the sum of £100, the interest to be paid to the
master for the gratuitous instruction of poor children:
it is invested in Aberdeen feu-duties, and pays for the
education of ten or eleven scholars annually. A parochial
library, now containing 490 volumes, was established
in 183.5; and a juvenile library of 120 volumes was instituted
in 1843. There are numerous cairns, and many
Druidical remains, in the parish; and on the farm of
Nether TuUoch, under three hillocks, have been found
three stone coffins, of which two contained only some
black earth, and the third an urn and a skeleton.