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Banchory - History

The recorded history starts in the 5th century when St Ternan (a native of the area) founded a monastery near Banchory Lodge on the banks of the river Dee. He was a pupil of St Ninian and studied under Pope Gregory the Great whilst in Rome. The carving in the wall of the present manse dates from this early Christian period although the discovery of flints from the Palaeolithic period suggests a settlement here of a much earlier date. To the west of the town (3 miles along the A957) lie the ruins of Tilquhillie Castle, a 'Z' plan tower house built by the Douglas family in 1575. A new village was built in 1805 named Arbeadie but the arrival of the railway in 1853 brought new prosperity to the area and led to the merging of this and other small villages, into the town we know today. Banchory, known originally as Kirkton then Townhead, was first mentioned in 1324. It had a market cross at its centre but only fragments of this survive and can be seen in the Burnett Park. A memorial tablet in Banchory High Street commemorates Scott Skinner (1843-1927). He was a native of the town and known as the "Strathspey King" for his fiddle music. One of his best known tunes is the Strathspey "The Miller o' Hirn" (the mill lies just north east of the town). Last updated April 2000 © Scottish Towns