Banffshire

History

Considerable evidence of prehistoric human habitation exists in the area, particularly near the coast. Examples include the cairn at Longman Hill and Cairn Lee, near the Burn of Myrehouse.

The area also includes the ruins of several medieval castles and the 12th century kirk of Gamrie.

Banffshire's origins as a shire (the area administered by a sheriff) are obscure. There is some evidence that it was a shire from the time of David I (reigned 1124–1153), but the earliest documented Sheriff of Banff was in the 13th century.

The sheriff's jurisdiction covered a number of provincial lordships which then existed between the larger provinces of Moray to the west and Buchan to the east. The lordships included Boyne and Enzie on the coast, plus the inland areas of Strathisla and several small lordships along the eastern side of the strath of the River Spey and its tributaries, including Glenlivet, Strathavon and Glenfiddich. The shire was long and thin; the main towns were generally in the wider part to the north near the coast, but the shire had a long, more sparsely populated, tail extending some 50 miles (80 km) along the Spey into the Grampian Mountains.

The boundaries of the older provinces were not always firmly defined, and some of the smaller provincial lordships were sometimes deemed to be subordinate to a larger province. Banffshire was sometimes said to include parts of the provinces of Moray and Buchan.

In 1242, Alexander II granted five named properties associated with the king's forest of Banff in the hills flanking the Deveron Valley to Waleran de Normanville.

Over time, Scotland's shires became more significant than the old provinces, with more administrative functions being given to the sheriffs. In 1667 Commissioners of Supply were established for each shire, which would serve as the main administrative body for the area until the creation of county councils in 1890. Following the Acts of Union in 1707, the English term 'county' came to be used interchangeably with the older term 'shire'.

Geography

Banffshire consists of a 30-mile stretch of coast along the Moray Firth from Spey Bay to Cullykhan Bay, the immediate hinterland, plus a long, tapering 'tail' stretching inland some 55 or so miles, thus giving the county an elongated shape.

Civil parishes

Civil parishes are still used for some statistical purposes, and separate census figures are published for them. As their areas have been largely unchanged since the 19th century this allows for comparison of population figures over an extended period of time.

From 1845 to 1930, parishes formed part of the local government system of Scotland, having parochial boards from 1845 to 1894 and parish councils from 1894 to 1930. Following the boundary changes of 1891, there were 21 parishes in Banffshire:

Settlements

Aberchirder

Banff

Boyndie

Buckie

Charlestown of Aberlour

Cornhill

Craigellachie

Cullen

Dufftown

Findochty

Fordyce

Gardenstown

Glenlivet

Ianstown

Keith

Macduff

Marypark

Milltown of Rothiemay

Newmill

Portessie

Portgordon

Portknockie

Portsoy

Rathven

Sandend

Spey Bay

Tomintoul

Upper Dallachy

Whitehills

Transport

The Aberdeen–Inverness railway line runs through the town of Keith in the north of the county.

Architecture

Principal mansions

Principal mansions in Banffshire c. 1854 The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland (1854) Vol. I. by the Rev. John Marius Wilson lists the following :

Castles in Banffshire

Auchindune Auchindoun Castle

Balveny or Balvenie

Banff

Cullen (near Cullen)

Deskford

Edinglassie

Findochty

Galval or Gouldwell Castle (Boharm Civil Parish)

Grange

Inchdrewer, Banff Parish

Park

Scuth

Flag

In 2023, the Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire organised a competition to design a flag for the county. The winning design is gold, white and blue, and represents rivers, bridges, whisky barrels and the sunset.

Notable residents

James Abercromby, (1706–1781), born at Glassaugh House, Fordyce, British general in the French and Indian War

Francis George Cumming (1861–1941), salvation army officer, chaplain, social worker and probation officer

Captain George Duff (c. 1 February 1764 – 21 October 1805) was a Royal Navy officer during the American War of Independence, the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars, who was killed by a cannonball at the Battle of Trafalgar. Born in Banff

James Ferguson (1710–1776), born Rothiemay, astronomer and instrument maker

George Gauld (surveyor)

James Grant (1706–1778) Roman Catholic priest who served as an underground missionary on the Isle of Barra and later as the vicar apostolic of the Lowland District of Scotland

Saint John Ogilvie, (1579–1615), born in Keith was a Scottish Catholic martyr.

George Stephen, 1st Baron Mount Stephen, 1829–1921, Canadian railway executive who named Banff, Alberta, after his birthplace; Banff National Park and Banff Springs Hotel are linked to Stephen back to Banffshire.