RHYNIE-AND-ESSIE, a parish, in the district of
Alford, county of Aberdeen, 3^ miles (W. by N.)
from Clatt; containing 1035 inhabitants, of whom 240
are in the village of Rhynie, or Muir of Rhynie. This
place occupies the south-western portion of the ancient
lordship of Strathbogie, granted by King Robert Bruce
to the family of Gordon, of whom Sir James Gordon
took the title of baronet from Lesmorc, in the parish,
and of whose residence of Lesmore Castle there are still
some remains. The lands of Lesmore were at one time
alienated by the branch of the Gordon family that held
them, but were purchased about half a century ago by
Alexander, Duke of Gordon, and, on the demise of the
last Duke of Gordon, came to the Duke of Richmond,
who is the sole proprietor of the parish. No events of
historical importance are recorded in connexion with the
place. Some tumuli at the foot of the hill on the northwest
of the parish, were raised over the remains of those
who fell in a battle that occurred in the reign of Malcolm
Canmore, between the forces of Macduff and those of the
usurper Lulach, in which the usurper was slain.
Thep.\RiSH is bounded on the east by the river Bogie,
and is nearly five miles in length and almost of equal
breadth; comprising about 4000 acres of arable land,
and some extensive tracts of moorland pasture, moss,
and waste. Its surface is diversified with several hills
of considerable height; but the only one deserving the
name of a mountain is that of Noth, which has an elevation
of more than 1000 feet above the level of the sea.
The river has its source in the adjoining parish of
Anchindoir, and, flowing north-eastward, falls into the
Doveron at Iliintly j the water of Kirkney has its source
in the moss of Essie, and, after a course of nearly eight
miles through this jiarish and part of the parish of (iartly,
flows into the Bogie. These two streams abound with
trout of excellent quality, affording good sport to the
angler. There are several smaller streams in various
parts, of which the principal is the Craigwater; all forming
tributaries to the Kirkney. The soil is various;
near the banks of the Bogie, a deep rich loam; around
the bases of the hills, light and gravelly but fertile; in
some of the lower grounds, clay; and in others, tracts
of moss. The crops are, grain of different kinds, potatoes,
turnips, and the usual grasses. Of late years the
system of husbandry has been rapidly improving; and
large tracts of land, previously unproductive, have been
brought into a state of profitable tillage. The facility
of obtaining lime from the neighbouring parishes has
greatly contributed to the amelioration of the lands, and
bone-dust has been introduced as manure in the cultivation
of turnips. On the hills and moorlands is good
pasturage for sheep and black-cattle, and from the
mosses of Essie may be procured ample supplies of peat
for fuel. The chief substrata are sandstone, whinstone,
and slate; boulders of granite occur in various places,
and quartz is also found in small quantities: the sandstone
has long been wrought. The annual value of real
property in the parish is £"2716. The village, situated
on the west bank of the Bogie, was built on lands leased
by the Gordons, for the accommodation of the surrounding
district, about the close of the last century;
and is chiefly inhabited by persons engaged in agricultural
pursuits, and in various handicraft trades. Facility
of intercourse is afforded to the inhabitants by the turnpike-
road from Huntly to Aberdeen, which passes through
the parish and the village. A post-office has been established
under that of Aberdeen, with which it has daily
communication by a mail-gig; to Huntly there is a
runner. Fairs for sheep, cattle, and horses are held in
April, June, September, and October; and also, for
hiring servants, at Whitsuntide and Martinmas. The
grain and other agricultural produce are sent chiefly to
Inverury, but partly also to Banff and Portsoy. There
are two hamlets in the parish; one in the district of
Essie, called Belhennie; and the other in the district of
Rhynie, called the Raws of Noth; but neither of them
is of any importance.
For ECCLESIASTICAL purposes this place is within the
limits of the presbytery of Strathbogie and synod of
Moray. The minister's stipend is £1.58, of which £10
are paid from the exchequer; with a manse, and a glebe
valued at £13 per annum: patrons, the Duke of Richmond
and the Earl of Fife. There were formerly
churches in both districts, in which divine service was
performed on alternate Sundays, by the minister of the
united parish, from the time of their union till about
the year 1774, when the service at Essie was discontinued.
The present parochial church, at Rhynie, was
built in 1823, and enlarged in 1838 by the addition of
an aisle; it is a plain substantial structure, and in good
repair. There are also places of worship for Independents
and members of the Free Church. The parochial
school, to which a library is attached, affords instruction
to about eighty children; the master has a salary of
£24. 7- 8., eight bolls of meal, a house and garden, and
the fees. A parochial library at Essie is supported by
subscription. On the hill of Noth, which is of oblong
form, and rises into a conical peak towards the eastern
extremity, are the remains of a vitrified fort; the walls
appear to have been ten feet in thickness. In making
the turnpike-road several stone coffins were discovered,
some of which contained human bones of large dimensions;
and Roman coins have also been found in the parish.
There are likewise remains of Uruidical circles.