Glenbucket

   GLENBUCKET, a parish, in the district of Alford, county of Aberdeen, 2 miles (N. E.) from Strathdon, on the road to Aberdeen; containing 542 inhabitants. This place is supposed to derive its name from the stream of Bucket, which, rising among lofty mountains, intersects the parish, and falls into the Don near the castle of Glenbucket, the seat of the Gordons of Glenbucket. The last laird of this ancient family espoused the cause of the Stuarts, and held a distinguished command in 1715 and 1745: he was consequently compelled to make his escape to France, when a very aged man, after the fatal battle of Culloden. The length of the parish is about ten miles, and its breadth about two and a half; it contains upwards of 12,000 acres, of which 1000 are arable, 200 planted, and there is some good pasture and meadow land. It is bounded on the north-east by the parish of Cabrach; on the north-west by Banffshire; on the south-east by the parish of Fowie; and on the south by Strathdon. The district is altogether mountainous, and is entered from the east by only a narrow and romantic pass, commencing at the confluence of the rivers Don and Bucket below the castle, which stands on the acclivity of the hill of Benneaw, rising 1800 feet above the level of the sea. The greatest elevation is the hill of Craigenscore, on the north, the height of which is about 2000 feet. The climate is subject to the extremes of heat and cold, the summers being sometimes intensely hot, and the winters bringing keen north winds, deep snows, and sharp and longcontinued frosts. The soil is in general good, and the improved system of husbandry is adopted; yet the deficiencies in draining, inclosing, and planting, and the want of roads, form great obstacles to rapid advances in prosperity. The produce of the farms is usually sent to the markets of Aberdeen. The rocks consist of granite, gneiss, &c., with several others of the primitive formation: there is a good supply of superior limestone, which is wrought to advantage by the tenants, both for their own use and for sale. The inhabitants are all employed in agriculture: the parish is the property of the Earl of Fife, and its rateable annual value amounts to £989. The ecclesiastical affairs are directed by the presbytery of Alford and synod of Aberdeen; patron, the Crown. The stipend is £158, of which £125 are drawn from the exchequer; there is an excellent manse, with a glebe of about £10 value. The church, built about fifty-five years since, is a plain commodious edifice. There is a parochial school, the master of which has the medium legal salary, school fees, a house and garden, with three acres of land. The parish also contains a parochial library. Burnett's mortification, shared in by all the parishes in the synod, and of which no parish can receive more than £50, nor less than £20, comes to Glenbucket about once in eight years. The old castle, now nearly in ruins, is a highly picturesque object.