New Deer ( gd, Achadh Reite) is a settlement in
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire ( sco, Aiberdeenshire; gd, Siorrachd Obar Dheathain) is one of the 32 Subdivisions of Scotland#council areas of Scotland, council areas of Scotland.
It takes its name from the County of Aberdeen which has substantially differe ...
, North East Scotland, which lies in the valley of Deer. It is located at the junction of several roads crossing through the Howe of Buchan. It was founded after monks from
Deer Abbey
Deer Abbey was a Cistercian monastery in Buchan, Scotland. It was founded by 1219 under the patronage William Comyn, jure uxoris Earl of Buchan, who is also buried there.
History
There was an earlier community of Scottish monks or priests, nev ...
,
Old Deer
Old Deer ( sco, Auld Deer, gd, Dèir) is a parish and village in the district of Buchan, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The population in 2011 was 152. The village lies on the Deer or South Ugie Water, west of Peterhead and from Mintlaw.
Industri ...
, built a chapel at Auchreddie, which translates as "field of the bog myrtle", and lies clustered on both sides of the slope of a tributary of
South Ugie Water. Around 1507 the register of Deer Abbey lists its lands in the "new paroche of Deir". The name Auchreddie has dropped in significance over the years; however, the southern end of the village is still known by this name.
In 1805, New Deer was extended to the north by the third
James Ferguson James Ferguson may refer to:
Entertainment
* Jim Ferguson (born 1948), American jazz and classical guitarist
* Jim Ferguson, American guitarist, past member of Lotion
* Jim Ferguson, American movie critic, Board of Directors member for the Broadca ...
of
Pitfour (1735–1820), the elder brother of
Patrick Ferguson
Patrick Ferguson (1744 – 7 October 1780) was a Scottish officer in the British Army, an early advocate of light infantry and the designer of the Ferguson rifle. He is best known for his service in the 1780 military campaign of Charles C ...
.
[ Also involved were the Gordons of Cairnbanno, who were seeking to improve the old community of Auchreddie.
]
Attractions
Churches
There are three churches in the village, only one of which (St Kane's) still functions as a religious establishment; it belongs to the Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland ( sco, The Kirk o Scotland; gd, Eaglais na h-Alba) is the national church in Scotland.
The Church of Scotland was principally shaped by John Knox, in the Scottish Reformation, Reformation of 1560, when it split from t ...
. The former St Kane's Church was built in 1622. Virtually nothing of it survives, except for a stone built into the wall of the Session House. Only the offices and the 1828 sundial survive of the manse. Their website has updates on activities, including a link to Malawi
Malawi (; or aláwi Tumbuka: ''Malaŵi''), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast ...
. One is now used as a gym
A gymnasium, also known as a gym, is an indoor location for athletics. The word is derived from the ancient Greek term " gymnasium". They are commonly found in athletic and fitness centres, and as activity and learning spaces in educational ins ...
hall of the primary school
A primary school (in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and South Africa), junior school (in Australia), elementary school or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary e ...
and the other has been built into flats
Flat or flats may refer to:
Architecture
* Flat (housing), an apartment in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and other Commonwealth countries
Arts and entertainment
* Flat (music), a symbol () which denotes a lower pitch
* Flat (soldier), ...
. In 2014, Mintlaw Community Church, as part of an outreach to the community, started to hold a weekly Sunday Morning Service in former church building in Main Street.
St Kane's opened a church centre in 2003, next door to the church. The building was previously a long-running local general store and accompanying house. The centre includes a café and is used for various community activities.
New Deer (St Kane's) Primary School sits behind the main church, in the centre of the village.
The former New Parish Church dates to around 1840, designed by John Smith.
Savoch of Deer Kirk dates to 1834, possibly another work of Smith. The nearby Presbyterian Church, 1828, was designed by James Balfour.
Public Hall
The public hall, opposite the church centre, is run on a not-for-profit basis and hosts various activities including parent-and-baby groups and exercise classes, as well as being a venue for theatrical productions.
Culsh Monument
Stands on a hill to the north of the village and commemorates William Dingwall Fordyce
William Dingwall Fordyce (31 March 1836 – 27 November 1875) was a Scottish Liberal politician. He was elected MP in 1866 to represent Aberdeenshire and, following the reorganisation of constituencies by the Representation of the People (Scotland ...
. Local Brucklay estate landlord, Fordyce was an Aberdeenshire MP. Constructed in 1877, the monument is high and was designed by James Matthews. Situated at the highest point in New Deer, above sea level, it is prominent on the skyline on all major approaches to the town. Historic Scotland
Historic Scotland ( gd, Alba Aosmhor) was an executive agency of the Scottish Office and later the Scottish Government from 1991 to 2015, responsible for safeguarding Scotland's built heritage, and promoting its understanding and enjoyment ...
designated it as a Category B listed building
In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...
in April 1971.
Fedderate Castle
The ruins of Fedderate Castle
Fedderate Castle is a ruined castle near New Deer in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, dating to around 1474 and built by the Crawford family. It was extended by the family in 1519. A drawbridge and causeway provided access to the castle. The walls are ...
are to be found north of the village.
Mains of Fedderate, near the castle, is a large farmhouse dating to around 1825.
Pubs
New Deer is currently host to three public houses, the Brucklay Arms on Main Street, the Howe (Earl of Aberdeen Arms), situated on Auchreddie Road East and the Royal British Legion, opposite St Kane's Church.
Banks
There has been a bank in the village since at least 1847. For many years this was the Clydesdale Bank
Clydesdale Bank ( gd, Banca Dhail Chluaidh) is a trading name used by Clydesdale Bank plc for its retail banking operations in Scotland.
In June 2018, it was announced that Clydesdale Bank's holding company CYBG would acquire Virgin Money for ...
until 2006 when the Royal Bank of Scotland took over the branch. The RBS branch remains open, open three days a week. Historically the New Deer Savings Bank (est. 1847, and which became part of Trustee Savings Bank
A bank is a financial institution that accepts deposits from the public and creates a demand deposit while simultaneously making loans. Lending activities can be directly performed by the bank or indirectly through capital markets.
Becaus ...
(TSB) in 1863), also provided a service to residents, but TSB left the village in the 1980s. The villagers' successful campaign against the removal of banking facilities was partly responsible for it winning the "Calor Gas Scottish Community of the Year" award in 2006.[ ]
Amenities
The Grampian Wildlife Rehabilitation Trust provides help to various wildlife including seals.
After local consultations and fundraising spanning 10 years, during April 2013 construction began on New Deer All Weather Facility at the village's play park. The first stage was building a storeroom and changing rooms.
Other amenities in the village include builders, butchers, seasonal café, pharmacy, general grocery store, hairdressers, photographer, post office, delicatessen, vets, Chip Shop and a Chinese.[
]
Events
The New Deer Show is an agricultural show
An agricultural show is a public event exhibiting the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry. The largest comprise a livestock show (a judged event or display in which breeding stock is exhibit ...
that has been running for over 150 years.
Other annual village events include a gala and a barn dance.
Local notables
*William Dingwall Fordyce
William Dingwall Fordyce (31 March 1836 – 27 November 1875) was a Scottish Liberal politician. He was elected MP in 1866 to represent Aberdeenshire and, following the reorganisation of constituencies by the Representation of the People (Scotland ...
(1836–1875), MP
*Bertie Charles Forbes
Bertie Charles Forbes (; May 14, 1880 – May 6, 1954) was a Scottish-American financial journalist and author who founded ''Forbes'' magazine.
Life and career
Forbes was born in New Deer, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the son of Agnes (Moir) a ...
(1880–1954), was born and buried in New Deer.
*William Leslie of Nethermuir
Sir William Leslie of Nethermuir (1802–1879) was a Scottish architect and building contractor who served as Lord Provost of Aberdeen 1869 to 1873.
Life
He was born at New Deer in Aberdeenshire into a Congregationalist family.
By 1828 he ...
(1802-1879) Lord Provost of Aberdeen
* Alexander Falconer Murison (1847–1934), professor and journalist.
*William Fordyce Mavor
William Fordyce Mavor (1 August 1758 – 29 December 1837) was a Scottish teacher, priest and compiler of educational books, many of which passed through numerous editions. He also invented a system of shorthand, which he explained in a treatise e ...
(1758–1837), educationalist, was born in New Deer.
* J. Murdoch Henderson (1902-1970), fiddler and composer, born in New Deer.
In the early 19th century a local miller named John Fraser had a reputation of being in league with the Devil, who was said to operate the mill for him. As of 1990, a mid-19th-century mill was still in existence, with its kiln and 16-foot overshot wheel.
References
Bibliography
*
{{Authority control
Villages in Aberdeenshire