DURRIS, a parish, in the county of Kincardine
5 miles (E.) from Banchory-Ternan, and 13 (W. S. W.)
from Aberdeen; containing 1109 inhabitants. It is
supposed to derive its name, often pronounced Dores,
from a Gaelic word signifying a mouth or entrance,
which is descriptive of this part as affording a principal
entrance into the Highlands. The parish was once a
chapelry belonging, as is generally thought, to the ancient
order of Knights Templai-s; but its primitive history
is involved in considerable obscurity. The estate
of JDurris, which extends into the neighbouring parish
of Banchory-Ternan, was formerly in the possession of
Lord Peterborough, who let it upon lease to the late
John Innes, Esq., of Leuchars, near Elgin. On the reduction
of this lease by the supreme court, the property
came into the hands of Alexander, fourth Duke of Gordon,
as next heir of entail; and by authority of an act
of parliament transferring the entail to other lands, the
estate was purchased from the fifth and last duke in
1834 by Anthony Mactier, Esq., late of Calcutta, by
whom it is at present held. The parish is five and a
half miles long, about three and three-quarters broad,
and contains about 17,000 acres. It is bounded on the
north by the river Dee, which separates it from the parish
of Banchory-Ternan, and from Drurnoak in Aberdeenshire;
and on the south by the Grampian mountains.
The surface is marived by great irregularities, consisting
of considerable tracts of f!at ground, alternated with
abrupt acclivities and the lofty hills of Mindernal, Mountpower,
Craigberg, and Cairnmonearn, the last of which
rises about 1200 feet above the level of the sea. There
are several rivulets, but the only one worth notice is the
Shiach burn, which, after a rapid course of twelve miles,
falls into the Dee at the church.
The SOIL on the haugh lands by the river side is in
some parts a rich and fertile loam, and in others light
and sandy; in a few places the soil has a mixture of
clay and gravel to a considerable extent, and rests upon
a stiff tenacious subsoil. In almost every direction
throughout the parish, and even in the cultivated fields,
occur enormous masses of gneiss. The hills are usually
covered with two or three feet of moss and heath, but
the naked rocks often protrude; in the hollows at the
base is a greater depth of moss, supplying peat in large
quantities and of the best description. Upwards of
4000 acres are under tillage, about 1500 in plantations,
and the rest in pasture, moss, and moor, 1000 acres of
which are capable of improvement at a moderate expense;
oats and barley are the grain raised, and of the
green crops turnips and potatoes are the chief The
sheep are the black-faced, and the cattle the blackdodded
kind, to which the Ayrshire breed has lately
been added. The five and the six years' rotations of
crops are generally followed; the farm-buildings are in
good repair, and all belong to the proprietor. Draining
on the plan of Mr. Smith of Deanston has been carried
on to a great extent; large tracts have been reclaimed,
and the appearance of the estate has been entirely
changed, since it came into the hands of Mr. Mactier.
The rocks consist principally of granite, whiustone, and
gneiss, the last of which is most abundant, and appears
to be inexhaustible; there is limestone in several places,
but it has never been quarried, and its precise quality is
not known. The annual value of real property within
the parish is £3778. The chief house is that of Durris,
comprising a modern structure connected with a more
ancient mansion by an extensive colonnade: both have
lately been subject to considerable additions and alterations.
There is no village. A turnpike-road runs through
the parish for about four miles, leading from Stonehaven
to Banchory; a new road from Aberdeen to Banchory,
completed in 1S40, passes through from east to west,
and several cross roads are well adapted to local convenience.
Fairs are held in May, June, and September,
for the sale of cattle and sheep. There are two or three
salmon-fisheries in the river, but they have for some
time past been decreasing, and are now in a very low
condition.
Ecclesiastically the parish is within the bounds of the
presbytery and synod of Aberdeen; patron, Mr. Mactier.
The stipend of the minister is £1.58, of which £81 are
received from the exchequer; and there is a manse, with
a globe of fifteen acres, valued at as many pounds per
annum. Durris church, a very plain edifice, was built
in the year 18'22 by the late proprietor, and accommodates
550 persons with sittings: part of the old church
still remains, bearing the date 1537. There is a paro-
chial school, at which Latin is taught, with the usual
branches of a plain education; the master has a salary
of £'29, with £20 fees. Another school, commonly called
Hogg's Charity School, was instituted by Mr. Hogg, a
native of the parish, who left £5 per annum to a teacher,
who was required to educate gratuitously ten poor children
recommended by the Kirk Session. The master has
also £4 per annum, the interest of money left for the
support of the school; a small plot of land, given by
the late proprietor; and the fees, making in the whole
an income of about £30 a year. The same branches
are taught in this school as in the parochial school, Latin
excepted. There are some Druidical remains, and tumuli,
and several chalybeate springs in the parish: one of the
last, called Red-Beard's Well, from a robber of that
name, who is said to have lived in a neighbouring cave,
is in considerable repute, and in many respects resembles
the Harrogate chalybeate water.