LEOCHEL-AND-CUSHNIE, a parish, in the district
of Alford, county of Aberdeen, 3^ miles (S. S. W.)
from Alford; containing 1084 inhabitants. These two
ancient parishes, the etymology of the names of which
is altogether uncertain, were united in I6I8 by a decreet
of the lords of I'lut; but this union was dissolved
about three years subsequently through the influence of
Bishoj) Patrick Forbes, a central church for the two districts
not having been built according to the conditions
of the annexation. In 1793, however, a process of annexation
was commenced on the part of the heritors;
and a decreet for the union was passed by the court of
Teinds on the SSth January, 1795, in consequence of
which, two years afterwards, a central church was built.
The Earls of Mar appear to have been the first possessors
of land in Leochel of whom any account remains,
Gilchrist, Earl of Mar, having, between the years 1165
and 1170, given to the church of St. Mary at Monymusk,
and the Culdees there, the church of Leochel,
with all its tithes and offerings, and the portion of land
in which the church was situated. This gift was confirmed
and enlarged by some of his successors, and was
also ratified by a charter of Alexander II., about the
year 1<234. The most ancient and the principal estates
in the district of Leochel are the lands of Corse, Craigievar,
Easter Fowlis or Fowlis-Mowat, Wester Fowlis,
and Lynturk; those in Cushnie are, Cushnie, and Hallhead.
The lands of Corse are locally in the adjoining
parish of Coull, but are annexed quoad sacra to this
parish, a union supposed to have taken place about 16'21,
when Leochel and Cushnie were disunited by the exertions
of Bishop Forbes.
The PARISH is situated in the upper part of the district
of Alford, and is rendered extremely irregular in its
outline by a projection on the north-west, and another
on the east, independently of which it measures about
five miles from east to west, and three and a half from
north to south. Its whole extent is 1 1,208 acres, of
which 54.5.5 are arable, 963 pasture, 3790 moor, and 1000
wood. The climate is rather cold, causing the harvests
to be in general somewhat later than those in the lower
part of the district; and the scenery partakes of the
variety and boldness produced by a combination of
mountains, hills, and valleys in almost uninterrupted
succession. On the western boundary is the Soccoch,
or hill of Cushnie, a mountain range rising 2000 feet
above the level of the sea, and from the base of which
four lofty ridges stretch eastward throughout the whole
length of the parish, each accompanied by its valley and
refreshing stream. The summits of these eminences are
barren, the cultivated ground lying on the northern
and southern slopes, and in the beds of the valleys, the
lowest parts of which are only 500 feet above the level
of the sea. The prospects are extensive and beautifully
picturesque, especially those from the hill of Cushnie,
comprehending in the panoramic range the fertile vale
of Croraar on the south, backed by the lofty Grampians;
Morven and Benaven on the west; the windings of the
Don along the valley of Towie, the mountain of Benrinnes,
the Buck of Cabrach, and the Tap of Noth, to
the north-west and north; and, towards the north-east
and east, the vale of Alford, well cultivated and wooded,
with the district of Garioch, and the level tracts reaching
to the Buchan coast. There are various rivulets in the
locality, generally flowing from west to east, and falling
into the principal stream, the burn of Leochel, which,
after a circuitous route of ten miles through the parish,
joins the river Don at Alford. All these waters abound
with trout, especially the Leochel; and frequently, by
their sudden and violent floodings, they occasion much
damage to the bridges and the adjacent lands.
In some parts the soil is a rich loam, and in the valleys,
and near the streams, occasionally exhibits alluvial
deposits; in general, however, it is much mixed with clay.
It is commonly incumbent on a retentive clayey subsoil.
Grass and turnips succeed best, but a considerable por-
tion of grain is raised, averaging annually in value about
£8000; and about 500 head of black-cattle are sold
yearly: these are of the Aberdeenshire horned or polled
breed, and are the chief live-stock, very few sheep being
kept. Great improvements have been for some time in
progress in husbandry, which is here practised sometimes
by the six-shift, but most frequently according to the
seven-shift, course; the farm-buildings are in good condition,
and threshing-mills have been considerably multiplied,
forty-five being now in operation, besides four
meal-mills. The rocks in the parish consist principally
of granite, of a red colour in some parts, and in others
inclining to grey: limestone has been also found, but in
too small quantities to repay the expense of quarrying.
The annual value of real property in Leochel and Cushnie
is £3298. The plantations are mostly of Scotch fir
and larch, but the latter, after about fifteen years' growth,
generally decays: the whole of the wood has been
planted since the year 1S20, with the exception of some
fine trees in the vicinity of the several mansions. Craigievar
Castle, the seat of Sir John Forbes, Bart., is in
perfect repair, having been new-roofed in 1826. It is
considered a fine specimen of the old baronial mansion
of the period of James VI. The hall, a noble apartment,
with its lofty roof, its spacious fire-place, and venerable
aspect of feudal grandeur, is particularly admired; and
the grounds of Craigievar, ornamented with ancient ash
and beech, render the scenery highly interesting. The
house of Cushnie and that of Hallhead are each about
150 years old, and are dilapidated and untenanted.
The chief manufacture in the parish is that carried on
at a carding-mill, where plaids and blankets are made to
a small extent. Many aged women are engaged in knitting
stockings, from worsted, for a house at Aberdeen,
and their labours produce a total annual return of
between £70 and £100. The fuel chiefly in use was
formerly peat and turf; but these are now obtained with
great difficulty, the mosses in the parish being nearly
exhausted, and coal is frequently procured from Aberdeen.
The Alford and Aberdeen turnpike-road passes
within five miles of the centre of the parish, on the
north; and that from Tarland to Aberdeen runs along
the southern border of the lands of Corse. A good
commutation road joins the Alford line at Whitely, in
the parish of Tough; and the government road from
Donside to Deeside intersects the lower part of the
parish of Leochel and Cushnie. The nearest post-offices
are those of Alford on the north-east, and Tarland on
the south-west, each six miles distant from the middle
of the parish. The chief communication for the sale of
produce is with the market at Aberdeen. Fairs for
cattle, horses, sheep, and wool are held on a moor near
Scuttrie, on the estate of Craigievar, in April, May, July,
August, and September.
Leochel and Cushnie are ecclesiastically in the
presbytery, of Alford, synod of Aberdeen; and Sir John
Forbes, Bart., and the Rev. Henry Thomas Lumsden,
proprietor of Cushnie, are alternate patrons of the
united parish, as respectively representing the patrons
of the two old churches. The minister's stipend is £197,
with an allowance in addition from the proprietor of
Corse of £4. 16. 2. for ministerial services to the tenants
of that district, a manse, and a glebe valued at £18 per
annum. The church, containing 500 sittings, is in a
dilapidated state, though built as late as 1797- The old
churches are unroofed and ruinous, but the buryinegrounds
attached are still used. A small place of worship
belonging to the United Presbyterian Church is
situated near the eastern boundary. There are two
parochial schools, affording instruction in the ordinary
branches: the masters have each the minimum salary,
with a house and garden, from £1'2 to £15 fees, and an
allowance of £30 from the Dick bequest. A school is
supported by the General Assembly, and two others are
maintained partly by endowment, one having a bequest
of £300 from the late Charles and Peter Ritchie in Wester
Leochel, and the other school having been endowed by
the late Peter Mc Combie, Esq., of Lynturk. There is a
small library in each of the two parochial districts;
and considerable benefactions have been made for the
use of the poor. About the year 1826, a gold coin of
the Roman Emperor Constantius was dug up iu Cushnie
and in 1S39, a silver coin of James VL, struck after the
union of the crowns, was found near the manse. The
chief antiquities are, several subterraneous places called
Picts houses, some intrenchments on the hill of Corse,
and the ruins of the castles of Lynturk and Corse.
Patrick Forbes, Bishop of Aberdeen, a prelate distinguished
for his learning and piety; and his son. Dr.
John Forbes, professor of divinity in King's College,
Aberdeen, were both proprietors of Corse; and the latter
was buried in the family aisle at Leochel. Dr. Matthew
Lumsden, the celebrated Orientalist, and professor of
Persian and Arabic in the college of Fort-William, Bengal,
belonged to the ancient family of Lumsden of Cushnie.
Sir John Forbes is styled a Baronet from the property
of Craigievar.