CLATT, a parish, in the district of Alford, county
of Aberdeen, 10 miles (S.) from Huntly; containing
524 inhabitants. The Gaelic word Cleith, or Cleit, signifying
" concealed", appears to have given the name to
this place, in consequence of its secluded situation, it
being hidden from view on all sides. The parish lies in
the western extremity of the Garioch district, and measures
about four miles in length, and from two to three
in breadth, comprising .5130 acres, of which 2800 are
under cultivation, 250 pasture, 200 wood, and the remainder
waste and undivided common. It consists of
an uninterrupted plain, with the exception of a portion
of hilly ground on the north-west, and some rising
grounds on the declivity of the Suie and Coreen hills,
which bound it on the south, and belong to a mountain
range extending from east to west for more than twenty
miles. The Water of Bogie separates the parish on the
north from that of Rhynie; and it is also indebted, for
a considerable relief to its generally uninteresting aspect,
to the meandering course of the Gady stream, which receives
numerous mountain rivulets. This stream turns
twelve threshing-mills and a meal-mill, within the distance
of two miles, and after traversing a well-cultivated
country falls into the Urie. The land which has been
longest in cultivation consists of a rich, deep, loamy
soil, lying on a bed of sand or rock; and the basis of
most of the remaining portion of the best land is clay,
appearing under various modifications, according to the
manures that have been applied. The other parts comprise
alluvial matter, with sand and clay, especially on
the lands recovered by draining; light earth on sand or
rock, in the higher grounds; and heath, moor, and peatmoss.
A serious obstacle is presented to the farmer by
the deficiency of shelter, the parish having an elevation
of 600 feet, and being in the vicinity of a mountain 1300
feet high. Agriculture is carried on, however, with all
the modern improvements, and the quality of the soil
generally is favourable to the production of rich and
heavy crops. Great and successful efforts have been
made to advance the husbandry to a high state of excellence,
and within the last twenty years more than 300
acres of moss and moor have been reclaimed by extensive
drainage. Larch and Scotch fir have lately been
planted on the hills along the southern boundary, and
there are some on the lower grounds that present an
agreeable appearance. The breed of cattle, which has
been greatly improved, is a cross between the native and
the short-horned. The annual value of real property in
the parish is £2940. Granite, whinstone, and serpentine
are the principal rocks, and in many parts they are so
near the surface as to render the* expense of quarrying
unnecessary: there is also a mine of rock composed of
hornblende, quartz, and felspar. The mansion-house of
Knockespoch is the residence of the principal heritor.
The village of Clatt, beautifully ornamented with
many old ash and plane trees, is a decayed burgh of
barony, containing only a few houses. It received its
erection from James IV., in 1.501, with power to appoint
bailies and other officers, and to hold fairs every year,
and a weekly market, which latter has long since fallen
into disuse, though some of the inhabitants remember
the ancient cross. There are fairs still held at Whitsuntide
and Martinmas, the former for the 'sale of sheep and
black-cattle, and the hiring of servants, and the latter
for grain, and as a feeing-market. Ecclesiastically the
parish is in the presbytery of Alford, synod of Aberdeen,
and in the patronage of the Crown: the minister's stipend
is £158. 1 1. 4., of which about a seventh part is received
from the exchequer; with a manse, and a glebe valued
at £9 per annum. Clatt church, which is a very ancient
edifice, was thoroughly repaired and re-seated in 1828,
and contains sittings for 290 persons. The parochial
school affords instruction in Latin, book-keeping, mathematics,
and all the usual branches; the master has
a salary of £25. 13. 4., with a house, an allowance from
Dick's bequest, and the fees. This parish was the scene
of a fray in 1572 between the rival clans of Forbes and
Gordon, in which the latter slew Arthur Forbes, son of
Lord Forbes, and commonly called Black Arthur from
his dark complexion, and carried the pursuit to the gates
of Castle-Forbes, now Druminnor, the family seat of the
clan Forbes. Near the village is an eminence called
" Gallows Knoll ", the ancient place of execution.