Town Crosses, Fountains, Armorial, etc.

Solid granite built, pill box like well housings in the village of Aberchirder which like many 18th century planned villages is better known by the name of the farm toon that preceded it, in this case Foggieloan Moss from two Gaelic words foidh (peat moss) and lon (meadow), so Foggieloan means peaty or boggy meadow.

Category B, Abercrombie coat of arms, St Mary's churchyard inset into exterior wall

A commemorative drinking fountain in polished pink granite with contrasting gray decorative columns.
The inscription reads:
"Erected by the inhabitants of Aboyne and neighbourhood in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Victoria 1897 and the coronation of His Majesty King Edward VII 1902.

Pair of double wrought iron gates with masonry pillars with ornamental capstones, decorated with a bronze relief showing the Marquis of Huntly's Crest (being used as the Gordon clan badge?) with a ten tined stag's head and neck affrontee issuing from a coronet and the motto Bydand. Following a suggestion from the Marquis of Huntly, the Games' Chieftain, it was decided to echo the design of the tops of the gate pillars at the Parish Church across the Green, on the gates leading on to the Green and on to Huntly Road. (A similar pair exists in the grounds of Aboyne Castle). The more 'cylindrical' form of the Fountain was also incorporated by making the tops more circular in plan with a view to reflecting that influence thus effecting a degree of compatibility. The main parts of the pillars are constructed with local stone and blend well with surrounding buildings, particularly the Huntly Arms Hotel.

A restored and gilded marriage datestone for John Anderson and Helen Ogilvie dated 1699 above a religious text.

Polished granite. Small free standing Gothic drinking fountain. Baptismal font style circular bowl on octagonal pier with scroll supports at splayed faces; corniced, open square columned canopy above, each face with round-arch and decoratively-tooled spandrels supported by central column and 4 corner colonettes with stiff-leaf capitals; this surmounted by ornamental pyramidal spirelet rising from decoratively-tooled gablets, inscribed E gablet reading '1897 Presented to the Town of Stonehaven by George Barrie, Law Agent and Notary Public, Edinburgh', tooled band course and square-plan stiff-leaf capital capped by metal colonette (probably for gas lamp, lamp now missing). Associated horse trough, probably later, adjacent (see below).
HORSE TROUGH: plain, rectangular granite horse trough on stand, with rectangular bowl beneath; 2 pink granite supports; 2 freestanding bollards.

Ornate Victorian Gothic drinking fountain with crown head, designed by John Rhind in 1878, commemorates Walter Biggar, one of the founders of the herring trade with the Baltic. The inscription on the Biggar fountain reads 'Presented to the town of Banff in Memory of Walter Biggar Esq. And Mrs. Anne Duff, his wife. 1878.' Biblical inscriptions on the East and West panels. I think the spouts are intended to represent fish heads, possibly dolphin fish?

Category C listed.
Polished grey and red granite memorial fountain bearing a portrait bronze plaque, erected by local worthy Dr. Walford Bodie ("Dr" Walford Bodie, billed as "Electrical Wizard of the North," a show business personality with national reputation.) in memory of his daughter Jeannie. Originally sited by Macduff harbour, it was moved to Macduff Duff St, Macduff to make way for harbour improvements moved again to present site 2009. Bodie, a hypnotist, ventriloquist and performer of electrical tricks in Britain's music halls and theatres, had the (since demolished) public swimming pool and baths built on MacDuff High Shore. His use of "Dr" and "MD" (which he said stood for "Merry Devil" ) upset a number of doctors of the day. Bodie died in 1939.

Gothic style fountain with lion mask spout over a stone trough. It is inscribed centre front - 'Victoria diamond jubilee fountain 1897'. Nearby to the same loop of old military road are two old healing wells HACKLEBURNIE WELL at NJ 472 448 (The spring still flows from a pipe into the garden of a modern bungalow, though its water is also used by a hotel on the hillock above.) and BOGFORGUE WELL at NJ 467 449 (a healing well; on the bank of the Burn of Cairnie, beneath an electricity power line; not easy to get at.)

A polychrome 3 dimensional armorial panel, with the belted royal arms dexter and the Duchese's ? sinister, (I am unsure of the material this is made from it appears to be some sort of plastic compound, like coed stone or gesso).

A neo-gothic style decorative fountain with 4 polished pink granite columns supporting arches carrying a pyramidal roof. Erected in 1870 by “tenants, neighbours and friends” in memory of Colonel William Burnett Ramsay of Banchory Lodge who died on 6th November, 1865, another monument to the same man is at Strachan Kirk

A memorial plaque set into the wall in front of the new church over a now filled in stone arched space that would originally have held a waterspout. The fountain dedication is now badly eroded but was dated 1866, the same year as the ‘new’ church was dedicated and is “in remembrance of William Burnett Ramsay of Banchory Lodge” who died in 1865. A slightly later and far more ornate monument to the same man is in Banchory.

A very simple inscribed slab of polished pink granite, pierced with a spout that presumably once tapped a spring and fed the stone trough below. Erected in memory of John Carnie who volunteered for active service in South Africa (Boer War) and died from fever on 11th May 1900 aged 22. Perfect position on high point of road with view towards Clachnaben.

Photo 1:Carved sandstone, fragmented, set in the front of Fetternear House which was destroyed by fire in 1919.
Text of top fragment Reads abbr, Jesu Maria with a Greek Cross and another symbol, lower fragment shows the letters PEL, M and I, an outline holly leaf and the date1691.
Photo 2: Carved sandstone set in the front of Fetternear House shows the Coat of arms of the Count Patrick Leslie 1693.

A very deteriorated primitive hand painted coat of arms and sign.

Crathes is particularly known for its ceiling paintings. Photography is not allowed in the castle but there are excellent photographs in the RCAHMS "canmore" database see: http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/36693/digital_images/crathes+castle/ .
Castle; an L-plan tower-house built in the mid-16thC with a later projecting wing. It is built of granite with rounded angles and rises to four storeys and an attic. The lower storeys are plain but above the first-floor level there is a profusion of corbelling, stringcourse, angle- and stair-turrets, heraldic decoration, gargoyles, and gabling which are unique to Scottish castellated architecture. The entrance, in the re-entrant angle is protected by an iron yett. The interior is famed for its plaster & magnificent wooden painted ceilings. The castle was built for the Burnetts of Leys who received the charter for the land from Robert the Bruce in 1323. Within the castle is a jewelled ivory horn, the Horn of Leys, which is said to have been presented to Alexander Burnett by the Bruce when he received the charter. The castle came into the hands of the National Trust for Scotland in 1951. SMR
Crathes Castle NO 735 966 doocot
doocot Small square, rubble, with forestair and slated pyramidal roof. Probably early 19th century. Rebuilt on present site 1935. Inset stone from Houses of Parliament. LBR
The sundial has an interesting decoration of 4 grotesque portrait masks but I can find no record of its date or creator.

A re-sited 17th century carved stone armorial panel. Inscribed "DOCTOR ALEX DOVGLAS BAMFIAE PRAEFECTVS ET VICECOMITAVS COMMMISSARIVS HOC OPVS EREXIT D A.D. ANNO DOM (next line illegible) 165*

Listed category A. Domed peristyle Well in Forecourt accompanied by Garden of Remembrance. The new Banff Castle, built by Lord Deskford in 1750, stands on the grounds of the original fortified castle.

Substantial Baroque mansion 3 story on raised basement fluted Corinthian pilasters to tower heads, pediment to principal floor. The South (principal) elevation has the pedimented centre piece with exuberant armorial carving Duff Arms and Motto. The original lead statues are preserved in the house and have been replaced by fibre glass copies which stand above the pediment, representing Mars, Apollo and Minerva. On the north elevation Bacchus, Mercury and Diana.
House open to the public. See their website for details.

A small classical pedimented pavilion with Venetian windows (now blocked and painted with false panes). A solitary survivor of a pair that guarded the eastern entrance of the Duff House policies. It has been relocated and truncated and is now used as an electricity sub-station and the basement for supermarket trolleys.
Well weathered sandstone crests - May show a lion rampant which is the Fife family heraldic device and crest, adorn the East and West pediments of the gate house.

A large, curious and very imposing armorial plaque on the wall of the estate office in 1920s style. The supporters are particularly unusual they are on the dexter side a man in a diving suit, and on the sinister side a figure in sandals and a fringed poncho intended as a Mexican paeon. These are the arms of Weetman Dickinson Pearson, 1st Viscount Cowdray and MP ( born July 15, 1856, Shelley Woodhouse, Yorkshire, Eng. died May 1, 1927, Dunecht House, Aberdeen, Scot.) who became the sixth richest man in Britain out of the huge wealth he made from exploiting Mexico's first oil production under the dictator Porfirio Diaz. His extensive interests in Mexico, from construction of railways, dams, harbours and tunnels to mining and manufacturing, from rural estates (on the eve of the Mexican Revolution in 1910 Pearson's Mexican Estates Company controlled well over a million acres of land) to his ownership of the 'El Aguila' oil company, meant that he was so often absent from the House of Commons that he earned the nickname 'The Member for Mexico'.

The castle; probably occupies the site of a prehistoric fort. St Ninian established a church here about the beginning of the 5thC. It may also be the -Dunfoithir- besieged in 681. In the reign of William the Lion (1165-1214) -Dunnottar- was the place where warrants were returnable for the Mearns, and -le castiel de Dunostre- is mentioned at the beginning of the 13thC. Another castle was erected at the end of the 14thC. In its final form the castle was forfeited in 1716 and the roofs and floors removed and sold. In 1925 the systematic repair and excavation of the ruins was begun.In its present form the extensive remains date from various periods. The oldest portion is the early 15thC keep with a range of buildings extending to the E containing stables & storehouses. The gatehouse is approached by a steep path and defended by three tiers of splayed gun-loops. The arched entrance is the only opening on a solid wall of masonry set into a cleft in the rock; a very impressive and dominating entrance. The buildings to the NW grouped round a courtyard date from the late 16th or early 17thC, including a chapel. A huge water system lies within the courtyard. There is also a bowling green to the W of this later range. The Scottish Crown jewels (The Honours of Scotland) were hidden here in 1651 as it was considered one of the strongest places in the kingdom. In 1685 167 Covenanters were packed into a small vault, (the Whigs Vault) where 9 died due to the terrible conditions. Privately owned (Dunecht Estates) and open to the public. An oval motte was noted in 1970.

Apart from the original Preston tower this is not a building with serious defensive intent, more a stylish country palace. As with the tomb for the same client and the other castles he was involved in the design of, Leper has combined what was then modern style with older traditions to create a fusion that is peculiarly Scottish. He has an approach that resonates with C. R. Mackintosh in a much later era.

Fettercairn will have had some kind of market cross since 1504 when the status of a free burgh of barony was first granted. It is is said by some that the shaft of the current cross originally stood in the burgh of Kincardine which declined and eventually ceased when the judicial headquarters of the county moved to Stonehaven in 1600. There is no historical record of the cross being moved in this manner.

The royal license to hold markets in Fettercairn was renewed in 1670 and the shaft may indeed have been relocated at that time, at the same date the capitol was made and added to the cross. It bears that date 1670 on the north side, alternatively the shaft may pre-date the capitol and be the (Fettercairn) original from 1504 (it certainly appears older than the capitol). The capitol bears a sundial on the south side, the lion rampant from the royal arms of Scotland on the west and the coronetted initials of John, First Earl of Middleton, the local seigneur at the time on the east.

The shaft is octagonal and set on six sandstone steps. On the west of the shaft a deeply cut line marks the length of a Scot's ell (95.25cm or 37.5inches) the measurement used by traders in the market. There is also an iron hasp with two links still attached, presumed to be for the attachment of 'the jougs' an iron collar, persons found guilty of minor offences were restrained in this collar and exhibited at the cross as a punishment.

There are two Fraser/Saltoun Mausoleums the old one which is situated adjacent to the Old Parish Church and a more recent ? one which stands by itself in the Kirkton cemetery. They are almost identical in Gothic style, with curious stepped pyramid roofs surmounted by obelisks topped with an egg shape. The older 18th cent one is harled and the more recent is in exposed dressed granite.
The Jubilee fountain has been moved from elsewhere in the square. It consists of a geometric carved granite base with 4 basins at 2 heights (presumably for dogs and people) surmounted by a blue painted cast iron Victorian extravaganza of a finial adorned with four heraldic beasties, (wyverns ?). It is sad that so many of our fountains no longer provide water or are even connected to a water supply.

A polychrome market cross with the Royal Arms of Scotland on the North side surrounded by the insignia of the Order of St Andrew, on the South are the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom surrounded by the insignia of the Order of the Garter,on top of a shaft dating from 1736. The south of the shaft bears the burgh arms of Fraserburgh and the north the burgh arms of Faithlie. Faithlie being the burgh that preceeded and grew into Fraserburgh. The granite base dates from 1845. The finial was replaced in 1988 and the whole monument was moved a short distance in 1997.

A polished pink granite fountain in a neo-gothic style. Inscribed ‘ Presented by captain A.H. Gordon 1875 John 13 – 14’

Corrennie granite Cross (erected 1868) and cairn – all
that remains on the site of the former St Mary’s priory Fyvie a cell of Arbroath Abbey. Founded in
1285 by Reginald de Cheyne. (the last traces, of the buildings, vanished in 18th century).

An Italianate fountain with a sophisticated urban look that does not really suit its current location where it looks a bit lost.

A beautifully engraved source. Engraving: possibly by Sir William Cuncliffe Brooks, Laird of Glentanar who
died in 1900.

"Drink weary traveller in the land
and on thy journey fare
t'is sent by God's all giving hand
and stored by human care"
There are several other inscribed stones on the estate many at the sites of springs/wells.

Carved stone panel on the exterior of the castle with the arms of the Irvines of Drum Family The crest is a banded sheaf of nine holly leaves. The motto is "Sub sole sub umbra virens" Increasing both in sunshine and in shade

A fountain in various granites that looks as though it was designed to show of stone masons virtuosity. It is adorned with gilded Biblical texts relating to water.

A small carved stone armorial plaque embellished with gilding. Plaque dated 1780. The plaque pre-dates the building it is affixed to. It shows the monogram JJ, the motto, of the Innes family,"ORNATUR RADIX FRONDE, The root is adorned by the foliage" with the palm frond crest of the Innes family. I believe the plaque may relate to John Innes, 8th of Edingight, Provost of Banff (b 22.02.1721, d 07.06.1790).

A column shaped fountain with 4 basins in black polished granite on a stepped pedestal of contrasting light stone.

In memory of James Mitchell (1773-1857), carrier, and to provide water for carters' horses, a late symphony in local granites, comprising a well and urn of pink granite with a square grey (Kemnay) granite arched superstructure bearing a sensitive pedestrian statue of Mitchell with roped pack, all in a railed hemicycle granite-walled enclosure with gate piers.
The inscription reads: "IN MEMORY OF JAMES MITCHELL, CARRIER 1773-1857, ALL YE WHO THIRST, COME DRINK FROM THIS FLOW OF PURE WATER WHICH SPRINGS AT DALFLING IN THE SHADOW OF BENNACHIE"

An ornate stone fountain in a somewhat confused idiom, on a stepped base, the cover supported on 4 polished pink granite columns is surmounted by a squat column terminating in a carved crown.

In pink granite an inscribed arch, over a horse trough, set into a low wall of dressed stone. The arch keystone decorated with a crown in relief.

Probably early 19th century. Four ashlar piers, inner piers with eagle finials, outer pair with acorns (according to LBR but they look more like cones to me). category c listed. piers also bear armorial decorations.

A stone carving of a lion crouched to spring in the middle of a large circular pool.

A standard issue 19th Century? cast metal 'UK Royal Arms', England, Scotland and Ireland (of a form first used from 1838) made by Walter Macfarlane & Co cast at the Saracen Foundry Glasgow. It originally adorned a 'public soup kitchen' at 21 High St. opened in 1887 to mark Queen Victoria's Jubilee, subsequently the building was the town's library (for man does not live by soup alone). The arms are of course displayed inverted (for Scotland) in Scotland the Unicorn of Scotland should be shown on the dexter side of the shield in England it is shown sinister. I do not of course know if this was the result of Victorian imperialist cultural insensitivity, bureaucratic ignorance or centralised mass production of soup kitchen décor.

Category B listed granite cross incorporating small carved plaque at apex, inscribed narrow slabs as arms mounted on square tooled granite plinth. Carving on apex depicts a figure on horseback and bears the arms of the Earl of Fife. Dated 1783 but incorporating earlier fragments. The cross bears the inscription, on 2 panels one on either side: Macduff Cross. Rebuilt at Macduff by the Earl of Fife, 1783 when the town was constituted a Royal Burgh by George III. May it flourish, increase in number and opulence, ----- while it's inhabitants gain the blessing of life by industry, diligence and temperance." The words on the inscription are taken to refer to the fact that a stone was taken from the ancient Macduff Cross in Fife and built into the Macduff one, to form some sort of symbolic connection between the ancient and modern bearers of the name Macduff. At the beginning of the last century it was popular for youths to light fires at the foot of the cross. As a result the cross fell and is now shorter.

A shield shaped datestone decorated with an anchor and 2 monograms

Situated above the entrance to Old Meldrum town hall are a polychrome armorial plaque of the 'Meldrum Arms' modelled in high relief and bearing the date 1741 in Roman numerals, immediatley below is a datestone also in Roman numerals bearing the date 1877

Like many post reformation Scottish mercat crosses not actually a cross at all. The chief purpose of these structures was to show the town or burgh had a right to hold a market in the place indicated rather than a religious one. It is a simple polygonal sectioned column surmounted by a cone-shaped ball on similarly polygonal stepping on a polygonal dais.

Five carved 17th and early 18th century monogrammed pediments and armorial panels reset in the South return gable of the Royal Bank. The panels were removed from the house of Thomas Ogilvy which formerly occupied the site. The property later became the town house of the Baird of Auchmedden, later being demolished and reset into The National Commercial Bank (now Royal Bank) in 1937. The Royal Bank, 1937 by James McCallum, Architect and Master of works, Commercial Bank of Scotland. The panel in the fourth photograph has the Ogilvy motto "secundat vera fides" (true faith prospers).

Carved sandstone shields with a lion holding a falchion type sword, The inscription is virtute et opera "by virtue and deeds"

Monument; erected in 1833 , it was erected by local ‘Tories’ (Conservatives) on the site of the market cross to celebrate Parliamentary reform. A Roman Doric column surmounted by the arms of the Earl Marischal with a lion above; this coat of arms was originally in a gateway to Inverugie castle, recently restored.

A Victorian pink granite basin and cover carved with a scallop shell motif, for a spring traditionally associated with the dark age St Drostan who is supposed to have landed on this beach before evangelising the Buchan area in Pictish times.

An Ornate cast iron fountain topped by an ostrich which is part of the town's crest.

Category B listed building. Coat of Arms dated 1675, built into arched gateway. Plaque initialled IG IS to John Gordon and his wife Janet Saunders, incorporating coat of arms. The plot of ground was called Saunders Heritage. The plaque was reset above the archway at the East return gable of Banff's former Police station, later the Post Office.

Carved granite marker with the fascinating wording: "The worm of the still is the deadliest snake on the hill" and a reference to whisky distilling that took place in this area of the and gave its name to a place called Snakeswell. Built by Sir William Cunliffe Brooks, Laird of Glentanar who died in 1900.
Snakeswell: noted as a Spring on the OS 1:10,000 map of 1972, Within a semi-circular drystone-walled compound, there are a spring and a stone which bears this inscription. There are several other inscribed stones on the estate many at the sites of springs/wells.

Granite boulder marking the well, inscribed with the words "well beloved" and a cross in concentric circles. The well marks the boundary of the parish of Birse to the south. The laird of Glen Tanar Sir William Cuncliffe Brooks, Laird of Glen tanar who
died in 1900, had the words "well beloved" inscribed on the stone in the 19th century. There are many beautifully inscribed stones on the Glen Tanar estate, particularly at springs and wells, some poetic and some enigmatic in sentiment.

Rubble built tunnel type entrance, the well is said to have been built in the early part of the 7th century. The well 2ft diameter, and still flowing, is now covered by a stone cupola with an arched entrance. The well is hidden away in an earth mound (Perhaps a burial mound since it is adjacent to the cemetery) You can only see the well if you actually enter the cemetery by the gate at the bottom of the hill opposite the caravan for the warden of the caravan site. The plaque, made from the soft unstable yellow sandstone of the area, is just recognisable as St Colm's well but will be lost soon, the plaque dates from when the well was restored in 1893 though the date is now hardly readable.
Near the site of an ancient chapel, or oratory, said to have been dedicated to St Columba the last remnants of which disappeared in the early 1800s.

Well; The original -St Yarchard's Well- is a covered spring of which there is no trace. The water was piped to a public fountain, 400yds to the SW (NO 592 997), which is built of masonry, surmounted by a small iron cross; built in the mid-19thC. it no longer functions. (see related artefact). This new well with continuous running water has been built to the east side of the road, opposite the original site; it is named St Erchard's Well.

Spelt “St Erchan” in inscription and dated 1858 but recently restored by Alastair Urquhart in 1997. Square masonry housing for fountain with iron lion mask spout and iron finial.

The original -St Yarchard's Well- is a covered spring of which there is no trace. The water was piped to this public fountain, 400yds to the SW, which is built of masonry, surmounted by a small iron cross; built in the mid-19thC. it no longer functions. A new well with continuous running water has been built to the east side of the road, opposite the original site; at NO 595 997 it is named St Erchard's Well. (see related artefact)

Relief carved stone panel in an architectural style with crenellated top and side columns, with armorial decoration, memorial to the Rt. Hon. Sir Robert William Duff of Fetteresso, Governor of New South Wales 1893-95. Presented by the 'women of New South Wales' as a tribute of sympathy to Lady Duff.

An elegant pedimented fountain of Peterhead granite, the basin is backed by an ornate niche decorated with a carved scallop shell in high relief. The plaque reads "St Kierans well erected by public subscription A.D. 1860"

A deep relief carved red granite plaque showing the attributes of St. Peter (crossed keys and mitre) in ecclesiastical heraldry.

Two badly eroded and lichen covered armorial monuments, they are now hard to read or distinguish the devices but enough remains to indicate a high quality of decorative carving.

A superb white marble tombstone to the memory of Rbt. Wllm. Duff of Fetteresso, dated 1834, features a finely carved armorial panel in a good pediment. Also inscribed to his wife Mary Abercromby Duff who died 1833, it was erected by their son Robert and the inscription also commemorates his early death at the age of 31 in 1861.

A fascinating surviving burial ground of medieval origin in the heart of a town. It exhibits an almost theatrical assemblage of memorial art. It is enclosed by low rubble wall with railings and containing late 16th century Banff aisle, burial enclosures and tombstones. See external link for a complete list of inscriptions.
The old Kirk : The old kirk of Banff was erected in 1471 and demolished in 1797, the partially reconstructed 16th - century "Banff
Aisle" is all that remains. A low canted aisle with geometric traceried window and stone slab roof. Contains memorial tablet
dated 1580 recording erection of aisle. Also table tomb of Sir Walter Olgilvy of Dunlugas (and Banff), died 1558 and his wife Alison Hume died 1557.
Tombstones : There are approximately 220 table-top and recumbent tombstones of which 48 are significantly decorated, with many hundreds of upright stones dating from the 16th - to the 19th - century. There are amongst others, a fine
recumbent figure tomb of George Baird of Auchmedden, an exceptionally well executed pyramidal tomb with a white statuary marble tablet carved in relief, and a superb 1698 Renaissance style memorial complete with Corinthian columns and trumpeting angels.

It is a simple stone-shafted cross, square at base but splayed above, resting on an octagonal base. The head of the cross was replaced by the present one which bears the Marischal Arms in 1887 when it was remodelled for Queen Victoria's golden jubilee visit.
The public barometer installed in 1852 on wall of Old Town House (1790, datestone over door) can be seen in the background of the top photograph. The town house clock tower is itself of interest; dated 1790; 4 stage, 1 window each face, quoined ashlar; cross-pattern timber balustrade, octagonal timber belfry stage with semi-elliptical triple key blocked openings, lead spire with weathercock; pedimented clock dated 1896; built by public subscription.

A spring flowing into a granite trough in what was once an elegant architectural setting with a curved backing wall flanked by fluted carved stone columns surmounted with carved balls. This fountain like so much of Aberdeenshire's public built environment has been rather spoiled by a disastrous combination of un-sympathetic 'restoration/stabilisation', neglect and the megalomania of the roads department. We make getting by car from A to B such a priority that we risk destroying any good reason to go, except of course pointless working and shopping which is the only reason for our existence in the minds of our leaders. The purpose of the new ashlar housing seems to be to display an ugly sign to tell us this is not drinking water. When did it cease to be and why?

The Stuart Royal Arms built into wall adjacent to Banff's Town house steeple, situated at The Plainstones, res-et and painted.

After the union of the monarchy of England and Scotland 10th April 1603 after the ascension of James the VI in 1578 (James the I of England) In Scotland the Unicorn of Scotland is shown on the dexter side of the shield in England it is shown sinister.

A combined seat, weather vane and bell mount, set on a cobble stone circle. The main frame in green painted tubular steel supports at its base a circular wooden seat and at its apex a bell surmounted by a weather vane in the shape of a swan.
The concept is from accounts of the (then new) village in 18th century "A bell mounted on a pole at The Square was rung three times a day to regulate the working life of the village".

Polychromed stone relief showing a griffin holding a star and quarter section of a solar disc. Built into a fascinatingly
designed house on the Beltie Road.

Tarlair – Art Deco outdoor swimming pool and boating pond opened in the 1930’s, it was once very popular with tourists, now falling into disrepair, no swimming allowed any more, disused since 1995, currently only used by model boat owners. Classified ‘A’ listed in 2007 by Historic Scotland.
John C Miller (Macduff Burgh Surveyor) 1930-31 with minor later alterations. Art Deco tidal swimming pool, boating pool and paddling pool surrounded by curved walkways, with associated tea pavilion at head of boating pool and changing rooms and kiosks to side. Concrete pools and buildings.

BOATING POOL, SWIMMING POOL AND PADDLING POOL: D-plan boating pool bounded by 3 broad walkways swept round from tea pavilion at head of pool; shallow steps cut into walkways at regular intervals; ramp for boats to E of tea pavilion. Rectangular paddling pool with curved corners enclosing natural rocky outcrop within the boating pool and directly in front of tea pavilion. Rectangular swimming pool to N (sea side) of boating pool with changing rooms at W end; continuation of lower walkway divides boating pool from swimming pool; middle walkway continued round to E end of pool.

TEA PAVILION: single storey, break-fronted rectangular-plan, flat-roofed Art Deco tea pavilion with 3-bay colonnade between taller end pavilions; steps at outer bays leading to roof terrace; simple horizontal railings to roof. Later 2-bay addition to W. Doors and windows boarded up (2006).

CHANGING ROOMS: low, flat-roofed group of 4 linked blocks with slightly advanced outer bays. Strip windows at eaves level (boarded up, 2006).

KIOSKS AND FENCE: probably early 1950s. 2 1-bay, roughly square-plan kiosks at pool entrance. Curved concrete fence with perforated top extends towards tea pavilion.


Tarlair Well – Tarlair Well a chalybeate spring east of Macduff was discovered in 1770 and ten year later in 1780 the Earl of Fife built the ‘Well House’ and the croft. The well was once renowned for its medicinal properties and was very popular for the ‘taking of the waters’ in the 19th century. The well ceased to flow after a German mine exploded when it came ashore in ‘World War Two’. Local drinks manufacturer Sangs traced the source of the well and are said to make all their drink products with this water. The well-house remains although in poor condition, nothing remains of the croft. The well house is category C listed.
Later 18th-early 19th century. Small rectangular rubble wellhouse with later harling. Blocked entrances in E and W gables. Small soak-away vent in base of N elevation. Piended bellcast concrete roof, probably replacing earlier stone slab covering.
INTERIOR: vaulted rubble interior; dished stone gutter runs through centre; rough stone benches against W wall.

A cottage/crofthouse once stood nearbye but during WW2 the same mine which came a shore destroyed it.


The Crazy Frog (Face in the rocks)
A natural face in the rocks which has had its mouth eyes and nostrils added to bring it out.
Painted in 2007.



Cleaved Head, Macduff – Site of a promontory fort, typical in type of the iron age, a scheduled ancient monument, two ditches and traces of a third are evident. The construction of a golf course (Tarlair Royal Golf Club) has altered the landscape around the ditches, but the easternmost ditch is still the best preserved, having a scarp 1.5m high and a counterscarp 0.5m high; no evidence of fortification was seen on the flattish top of the promontory . Grid ref NJ 721 647. Spectacular views of the rugged coastline eastward to Troup Head can be had from here.

Scheduled, Category A Listed,Site of Regional Significance. The cross depicts the Crucifixion on one side and on the other the Virgin and Child. The Mercat Cross originally stood where the Biggar fountain now stands, but because of it's size and it's interference with the traffic was removed in 1767 and custody given to the Earl of Fife, who erected the capital on top of a dovecote at NJ682 632. In 1900 the cross was restored within the bounds of the burgh, and in 1994 an exact replica of the 16th century cross, polychromed as it would originally have been, was placed on its 17th century shaft, and restored to almost it's original location. The original carving was placed in Banff Museum. The Reformation in Scotland was begun by John Knox in 1541, and eventually led to a widespread destruction of artworks and manuscripts by iconoclasts. The Mercat Cross survived and was given a new shaft in 1627. It is a rare survival of such overtly religious pre reformation work.

Red Well is a well fed by a chalybeate spring said to have healing properties. It lies within a tall circular structure with a beehive-shaped or domed roof. An iron gate forms the entrance.

The oldest building in Fraserburgh, probably named from a past use as a wine cellar or possibly a corruption of "wynd tower".

Its original purpose is still the subject of some academic debate. It is roughly built of rubble with three vaulted storeys, the centre reached by a hatch from the uppermost. This first floor level is lit only by one small window in the E wall. The original entrance is at second floor level and had been reached by a ladder or moveable stair, arriving at a landing supported by two stone corbels which are still extant. The outer doorway admits to a small vestibule which is closed by an inner door beneath which is the hatch to the two lower levels. The upper chamber has a window in each of its four walls and has a remarkable series of finely carved heraldic pendant bosses, three in the main vault and one in each of the four arched window soffits. Bryce suggests that this upper chamber was designed to serve as a Roman Catholic chapel. The fact that this chamber was raised, concealed, semi-defended and provided with two -secret- chambers below, points to the true date of this enigmatic structure as belonging to the period of the Reformation in Scotland. from SMR

The Tolquhon Monument, built by Thomas Leper in 1589, of a chocolate- coloured sandstone, to commemorate William Forbes of
Tolquhon (perhaps to Forbes' design) and his wife Elizabeth Gordon, is supposed to be the relic of the S. aisle of the old kirk. Rich arched altar tomb mixed gothic and Renaissance motifs inspired by Dunbar tomb at St. Machar's, Cathedral.
It is somehow very Scottish in style.
Present pedimented setting probably of 1798. The monument is housed in a classical surround believed to be of 1798 in date, though a large porch has been erected by Historic Scotland consisting of sheets of perspex with bronze structural supports. The tombstone is remarkably well preserved with its representative figures, though the structure preserving it rather resembles a domestic green house.

Coats of arms as shown for William is 'Forbes quartered with Preston' and shown for his wife is 'Forbes impaled with Gordon'.
The charges on the shields show, heads of boars, unicorns and muzzled bears. The unicorns appear again at the top of the arch either side of the crown flanked by hounds hunting on the right a deer and on the left another animal I cannot definitely identify (perhaps a fox or martin).

The present 20 foot high cross was erected in 1865 and is made from red sandstone like most of the town. Octagonal pillar rises from a Gothic style base by James Duncan with sculptures by Thomas Goodwillie

Reputed to be the site of a 13th - century kirk, there was said to be no visible signs of its position within the yard though a four-sided structure is present to the rear of the site bearing a carved stone lintel and chamfer-edged doorway. This enclosure, is said to be a burial ground. Built into a corner of the kirkyard is a small old watch-house with a good secure door and a small watch window.
There are approximately 10 recumbent tombstones, of which 3 are particularly well-decorated. There are several burial enclosures of particular note: - The Stratton of Kirkside enclosure,complete with original railings, contains a huge polished pink sarcophagus, a memorial with a bronze portrait by John Steell and a shattered 17th - century sarcophagus.The most visually commanding structure is the Graham of Morphie Aisle. Rebuilt in the 19th -century of a crow-stepped form, it sports a good armorial panel over the doorway.
The three carved figures, shown in one of the photographs, although presumably representing biblical characters, are a little reminiscent of the genii cucullati (hooded gods) figures of Romano Celtic Europe/Britain in pose if not in hoodies.

An ornate neo-classical granite fountain.