PORTLETHEN, a village, in the parish of Banchory-Devenick,
county of Kincardine, 7 miles (N.
E. by N.) from Stonehaven; containing 265 inhabitants.
This is a small village on the eastern coast; the inhabitants
are employed in white-fishing, and during the
herring-season several of them are engaged in the Moray
Firth. Within the last few years a new chapel has been
erected here, together with a manse and offices, and a
glebe of eight acres improved; the expense, about £1400,
was defrayed by subscription. The chapel is erected on
the site of the ancient edifice, which, notwithstanding
the additions made to it from time to time, was
inadequate to contain the increasing population of the neighbourhood.
The minister is supported by seat-rents, by
annual donations from the parish minister and from
some of the heritors, and by a small bequest left for the
purpose, the whole amounting to about £80 per annum.
A school was erected at the sole expense of the Rev. Dr.
Morison, and the interest of £'200 was assigned by him
as an eudowment to the master, who has likewise hitherto
received £10 a year for teaching thirteen children
under Dr. Milne's bequest. The Aberdeen railway has
a station in the vicinity of the village.