LOGIE-BUCHAN, a parish, in the district of Ellon,
county of Aberdeen, 2 miles (E. by S.) from Ellon;
containing 7 13 inhabitants. The word Logie, expressive
of " a low-lying spot", was given to this place on account
of its applicability to the tract in which the church is
situated; while the affix is descriptive of the position of
the parish in that part of the county called Buchan.
Logie-Buchan is separated on the east from the German
Ocean by the parish of Slains, and is intersected by the
river Ythan, which crosses it in the centre in an eastern
direction, and after dividing it into two nearly equal
parts, falls into the sea about three miles below the
church. This river, the Itima of ancient geographers,
and at one time celebrated for its valuable pearls, has four
small tributary streams here, two of which separate the
parish on the north from Ellon, Cruden, and Slains, and
two on the south from Ellon, Udny, and Foveran. The
length of that portion of the parish in the northern
quarter is three miles and three-quarters, and of that in
the southern five and three-quarters; the breadth of the
whole varies from three-quarters of a mile to three miles.
The entire district comprises 6600 acres, the number of
which under tillage is 5900, and in plantation sixty;
the remainder is uncultivated. The surface is in general
level, and the highest hills reach an elevation of only 130
or 140 feet above the sea. The principal feature in the
scenery is the Ythan, which enters the locality through
a range of rocks, where there is a fine echo, and an
opening called the " Needle's Eye": beyond this point,
at which its breadth is not more than fifty yards, it
widens till it reaches the breadth of about 600 yards at
high water, and forms a noble basin. The river abounds
with various kinds of trout, also with salmon, eels, flounders,
and mussels; and pearls are still occasionally
found. It has a ferry opposite the parish church, where
its breadth at low water is about sixty yards; and two
boats are kept, one for general passengers, and the other,
a larger boat, for the conveyance of the parishioners to
church from the northern side. A tradition has long
prevailed that the largest pearl in the crown of Scotland
was obtained in the Ythan; and it appears that, about
the middle of the last century, £100 were paid by a
London jeweller to a gentleman in Aberdeen, for pearls
found in the river. The pearl-fishery was formerly confined
by patent, but this privilege was withdrawn by an
act of parliament of the reign of Charles I.
The SOIL, which in some parts is clayey, produces
oats, bear, turnips, potatoes, and grass for pasture and
hay. Many improvements in agriculture have been
introduced within the present century, including the
rotation of crops and other approved usages; the scythe
has taken the place of the sickle in reaping, and most
of the old farm-houses with thatched roofs have been
succeeded by others, two stories high, built of stone and
lime, and covered with slate. Oats and turnips are the
principal crops: the former are of excellent quality,
chiefly in consequence of the great care taken in the
choice of seed; the latter are much indebted to the
plentiful application of bone-manure. The influence of
steam-navigation on the interests of agriculture has been
here most powerfully felt; and the facility of communication
with the London market thus afforded has given
a decided impulse to the breeding and fattening of cattle,
which in general are crosses with the short-horned
breed. The annual value of real property in the parish
is £3178. A mansion has lately been built in the Elizabethan
style, on the estate of Auchmacoy, the property
of James Buchan, Esq., whose ancestors, from a very
early period, have been located here, and were conspicuous
in the political convulsions of several reigns, and,
with the other chief proprietors of the parish, advocated
the cause of the crown in opposition to the Covenanters.
Most of the inhabitants of the district are employed in
agricultural pursuits, a small brick-work recently established
being the only exception. The great north road
from Aberdeen passes through the parish, and the mail
and other public coaches travel to and fro daily. On
another road, leading to the shipping-port of Newburgh,
the tenantry have a considerable traffic in grain, lime,
and coal, the last procured from England, and being
the chief fuel. The river Ythan is navigable for lighters
often or twelve tons' burthen at high water. The marketable
produce of the parish is sent to Aberdeen. Logie-
Buchan is ecclesiastically in the presbytery of Ellon,
synod of Aberdeen, and in the patronage of Mr. Buchan:
the minister's stipend is about £19'-^, with a manse, and
a glebe of six acres, valued at £12. 10. per annum. The
church was built in 178", and contains 400 sittings.
The parochial school affords instruction in the ordinary
branches: the master has a salary of £25. 13., with a
house, and £9. 7. fees; he also partakes in the Dick
bequest.