KNOCKANDO, a parish, in the county of Elgin,
14 miles (S.) from Elgin; containing, with the village
of Archiestown, 1676 inhabitants. Knockando derives
its name from two Gaelic words signifying " the black
hill", or " hill with the black head". It has the ancient
parish of Macallan, or Elchies, united to it, but no distinct
record of union is preserved: both parishes were
vicarages, the former depending on the parson of Inveraven,
and the latter on the parson of Boterie. This
is considered a Highland parish, but the provincial
Scotch, with a mixture of English, has entirely superseded
the Gaelic language, which is spoken in the neighbouring
parishes. A place here, called Campbell's Cairns,
is thought by some to derive its name from a buttle
fought between the Campbells and some other clan, in
which the former were defeated. Others, however, think
the name arose from Cossack Dhu, an ancient freebooter,
who is said to have concealed his plunder among the
cairns. The most important event in modern times
connected with the district is the terrible flood of 18'i9,
which produced appalling desolation to fields, houses,
mills, and every description of property within the range
of its fury, and the details of which have now become
interwoven with the history of Moray.
The I'ARiSH is of an irregular figure, stretching along
the bank of the river Spey, extending between sixteen
and seventeen miles in length, and varying from two to
six miles in breadth. It is bounded on the north by
Dallas and Birnie parishes; on the south by the river
Spey, which separates it from Inveraven and Aberlour,
in the shire of Banff; on the east by the parish of Rothes;
and on the west by the parishes of Cromdale and Edinkillie.
The surface is considerably diversified by a succession
of hills and glens, with several level haughs near
the river; and towards the west is an eminence called
James Roy's Cairn, supposed to be the highest ground
in Morayshire. In the moorlands are two lakes, Benshalgs
and Loch Coulalt; but the larger does not exceed
a mile in circumference. A number of burns, also, water
the parish, in all of which trout are found, and which in
a rainy season overflow their banks: in the celebrated
flood of 1829, they came down from the hills with tremendous
force, swollen to the size of rivers, and carrying
every thing before them to the river Spey. The Spey is
the most rapid river in Scotland, and many rafts of timber
are floated along its stream from the forests of Rothiemurchus
and Abernethy.
The SOIL varies very considerably, comprising black
gravelly mould, heavy clay, and moss; resting in some
parts upon clay, and in others upon gravel: the alluvial
deposits consist of clay, bog-iron ore, peat, fuUers'-earth,
and marl; and oak and fir roots, and whole trees, have
been found embedded in the several large mosses. Independently
of the estate of Knockando, which comprehends
about a third part of the parish, '2034 acres are
in tillage or pasture, 7986 are uncultivated, and 680
under plantation. All kinds of grain and green crops
are grown; but agriculture is generally backward, and
modern practices have been only partially adopted; very
few lands are inclosed, and the farm-buildings are usually
of an inferior kind. Improvements are, indeed,
advancing on the grounds of some of the larger proprietors;
but the want of capital, the smallness of the
farms, and the limited use of manure operate to prevent
the extension of these improvements throughout the
parish. The rocks are all of the primitive formation,
and consist of granite, felspar, mica, sandstone, and
rock-crystal. The annual value of real property in the
parish is £3857. The mansions are, Easter Elchies,
built in the year 1700, by the father of the late Lord
Elchies; the house of Knockando, built in 1732, now
partly in ruins, but capable of repair, and beautifully
situated near the banks of the Spey; and Wester Elchies,
a building of more modern date, in the castellated style,
belonging to the Grant family. The scenery around
these seats, particularly Knockando, is exceedingly picturesque
and beautiful. The only village is Archiestown;
it is three-quarters of a mile in length, and consists of
a double row of houses, with a square of about half an
acre in the centre. There are four meal-mills, a waulkmill,
a carding-mill, and saw and threshing mills: at
the waulk and carding mills, wool is dyed and manufactured
into plaiding and broad cloth, blankets, and
carpets. Spinning and weaving are carried on in the
parish; and there are two distilleries, which have a very
high character. On the Spey is a salmon-fishery, and
trout-angling is practised to a great extent on that river
and all the burns. A road to Elgin and a road to Forres
run through the parish, both of which are in good order;
but the other roads are in general in a deplorable state.
The bridge of Craigellachie atfords a transit over the
Spey; and there are numerous ferries; as well as wooden
bridges across the burns.
For ECCLESIASTICAL purposcs the parish is within the
limits of the presbytery of Aberlour and synod of Moray;
patron, the Earl of Seafield. The stipend of the minister
is £1.58, of which a small portion is received from the
exchequer; with a manse, and a glebe of about fourteen
acres, valued at £13 per annum. Knockando church,
built in 1757, and repaired in 1832, is a small plain
edifice, remarkably neat within; it contains 477 sittings,
and is conveniently situated for the population. The
Independents have a place of worship. There are two
parochial schools, each of the masters of which has a
salary of £25. 13., with a share of the Dick bequest, and
about £8 or £10 fees; instruction is given in Latin, the
mathematics, and the usual branches of education.
Three other schools are supported by the Society for
Propagating Christian Knowledge; two of them are
taught by females. In the parish are several mineral
springs occasionally used for medicinal purposes. Of
two ancient caves, one is designated the Cave of Hairnish
An Tuim, supposed to be James Grant, nephew of
the well-known Carron; the other is called Bane's Hole,
from Donald Bane, the robber, who is said to have been
shot and buried in the neighbourhood. Lord Elchies,
already mentioned, a distinguished judge, was born at
Easter Elchies; and Messrs. Grant, of Manchester, who
have established one of the most extensive mercantile
concerns in England, are natives of the parish.