MACHAR-NEW, a parish, in the district of Aberdeen,
and county of Aberdeen, 10 miles (N, W. by N.) from
Aberdeen; containing 1262 inhabitants. This parish, which
derives its appellation from its having been disjoined
from Old Machar, comprehends certain lands named
Straloch, in the county of Banff, though entirely surrounded
by the county of Aberdeen. These lands are
separated from the main portion of the parish by a
branch of the parish of Udny, uniting itself to that of
Fintray; this division of Udny has for several years
been annexed quoad sacra to New Machar, and the
lands of Straloch are now rated and politically attached
to the county of Aberdeen. The parish measures ten
miles in length from north-west to south-east, and its
average breadth is two miles and a half; comprising
8390 acres, of which 55*0 are arable, 958 pasture, and
810 occupied by plantations, chiefly of larch and fir,
with an intermixture of hard-wood. It is bounded on
the south by the river Don, and is for the most part
situated between hills of moderate elevation, gently
sloping, and inclining from north-west to south-east;
while the intermediate surface is agreeably diversified
by little hills, some of which are cultivated, and the
others under wood. A rivulet, crossing the parish in a
southern direction, and turning several corn-mills in its
course, falls into the Don near the bridge of Dyce; and
in the south-east end of the parish are two lochs. Of
these, one is situated in a rugged and uninviting district
but the other, anciently called Loch Goul, and now the
Bishop's loch from some of the bishops of Aberdeen
having resided in a humble dwelling on a small island
here, is stretched out in the midst of beautiful scenery,
and is extensive and well-wooded.
The son. near the river Don is a loam, resting on
gravel; and in the middle portion the land is of the
same kind, but of far inferior quality. In the northern
tract are some parts capable of good cultivation, lately
reclaimed by draining; but the soil in this quarter is
mostly indifferent, interspersed occasionally with loam,
and resting on clay. The produce consists chiefly of
barley, bear, oats, and the usual green crops, grown
generally under the five or seven shift rotation. Within
the last twenty years the improvements carried on here
have been very considerable, comprising principally
draining and liming; and not only much waste land
has been reclaimed, but that in tillage also has been
greatly improved. The farms vary in size from fortyfive
to 200 acres, and the rent of land is averaged at £1
per acre: the annual value of real property in the parish
is £5227. The cattle are the Aberdeenshire horned and
dodded, or crosses with the short-horned and Hereford
breeds. In this parish the rocks principally found
are granite and limestone; the former is especially
abundant in the southern part. The mansion of Parkhill
is a spacious modern residence, surrounded by
ornamental plantations, with a rich lawn beautifully
diversified with wood and water, and commanding a fine
view up the valley of the Don, bounded by the noble
elevation of Bennochie. Straloch, also a superior structure
finely situated, was once the property and residence
of the geographer Gordon; and the mansion of Elrick
is a neat and comfortable residence, skirted by thriving wood.
A post-office has been established; and the Aberdeen
and Banff turnpike-road runs through the parish from
north to south, and joins the Peterhead turnpike-road
not far from the old bridge of Don. The Aberdeenshire
canal passes within half a mile of the southern boundary
of the parish. The produce of the district is sold at
Aberdeen, whence coal is brought to this place, for the
use of those able to purchase it; but turf and peat are
burnt by the labouring classes, procured from an extensive
range of moss lying between this parish and Belhelvie,
and called " Red moss". A cattle-fair has been
established, at which, however, but little business is
done. Ecclesiastically the parish is in the presbytery
and synod of Aberdeen, and in the patronage of the
Earl of Fife: the minister's sti|)cnd is £217, with a
manse, and a glebe of nearly twenty acres, valued at
£17 per annum. New Machar church was built iti 1791,
and contains between 600 and 700 sittings. The members
of the Free Church have a place of worship. The
parochial school affords instruction in the usual branches;
the master has a salary of £30, with a house, and £5
fees. There are two parochial libraries, one confined to
religious works, and the other comprising nearly 500
volumes in miscellaneous literature. A savings' bank,
also, has been some years established, in which the
deposits are not less than £1200. Remains exist of
several ancient chapels; and the ground of one, called
St. Colm's, is still used as aburyinsj-place. A portion of
land in the parish is designated Kings-Seat, from the
circumstance, according to tradition, of King Malcolm
Canmore having sat down to rest upon a stone still renfeining
on the property, near which is a well called
Betteral well. Robert Gordon, the eminent geographer
and antiquary, was born in the parish in 1580: at the
earnest request of King Charles, he constructed an atlas
of Scotland, which was published in 1648, and went
through several editions. Dr. Thomas Reid, the wellknown
metaphysician, was minister here from 1737 till
1752.