Transactions

OF THE

BANFFSHIRE FIELD CLUB.

THE STRATHMARTINE BanffshireTRUST Field Club

The support of The Strathmartine Trust toward this publication is gratefully acknowledged.

www.banffshirefieldclub.org.uk 71

SATURDAY, June 26, 1886.

EXCURSION TO CULLEN. A JOINT-EXCURSION of tbe Banff and Huntly Field Clubs was made on Saturday. The following ladies and gentlemen took part in the excursion :—Sheriff Scott Moncrieff, Mr James Watt, sen., Mr James Watt, jun., Mr Neish Watt, Mr and Mrs Allan, Elgin ; Mrs and Miss Mason, Miss Forbes, Mrs and Miss Walker, Mr George Smith, Mr Brown, Dr Clark, Miss C. G. Wilson, Mr G. Birnie, Dr Shearer, Rev. Mr Sutherland, Mr Butler, Dr Milne, King.Edward; Masters John and Thomas Milne, Mr Runcieman, Miss Watson, Miss Cruden, Master Bramley Moore, Mr William Runcieman, Messrs G. Bill, A.M.; Shand, W. Cramond, Jas. Gurnell, Chas. Proctor, John W. Simpson, Alex. Simpson, W. Dempster, B. G. Troup, J. M'D. Troup and A. D. Spence, Mrs Cramond, Miss Smart, Dundee; Miss Fender, Broughty Ferry; Mrs A. B. Yule, Miss M'Pherson, Miss Spence, Misses Gray, Miss Sim, and Rev. Mr Boyd. The party arrived at Glassaugh Station about ten a.m., where they were met by Mr W. Cramond, Cullen, who acted as conductor. Proceeding along the sea braes the botanists in the party succeeded in obtaining a few interesting plants, and Dr Milne, on' arrival at the village of Sandend, explained the chief features of the limestone and other rocks appearing at that place. Findlater Castle was soon reached, and the striking character of its position, and the singular wildness of the rocks in the neighbourhood, were viewed with much interest; while Dr Milne pointed out the most noteworthy geological features. The tradition that the slater who roofed the castle was put to death that no other house might enjoy tbe distinction of having a slated roof, was received unanimously with disfavour. BanffshireA second legend was similarly discardeFieldd with almos t Club like unanimity, viz., that a son of the house having fallen from a window and been killed, led to the abandon, ment of the castle, it having been pointed out that Sir Walter Ogilvie's family were all of marriageable age years before the family removed from Findlater Castle to 72

Cullen House in 1602. As a lecturer on this subject lately remarked, the castle was abandoned only when the stormy passions of men's hearts showed themselves less wildly than the angry waves surrounding the surf- beaten fortress. The lands of Findlater appear in record from the 14th century, and in 1445 James II. granted permission to Sir Walter Ogilvie to build towers and fortalices to the castle, the original grant being still preserved in the charter.room of Cullen House. On reaching Cullen the party were gratified to find displayed for their inspection in the Town Hall a large collection mainly of local objects of antiquarian and scientific interest. As the collection included almost all such objects of interest in the town and neighbourhood, and as no similar collection has hitherto been shown here, the following somewhat detailed account may be given of it. Dr Clark exhibited an arm chair considered to be about 200 years old, and to have once been in the Castle of the Boyne ; also a table made from a log washed ashore in Cullen Bay, extensively bored by the Teredo navalis. The feet of the table were of native bog oak. He also showed a curiously wrought work box. Mr Thomas Drew showed ft fine ftrm chair, dated 1736, which was labelled—' Rescued from the devour- ing element by the courage and devotion of Mr Ander- son, engineer,' it having been the sole object saved in the late disastrous fire at Mr Drew's premises. Mr Drew also showed a fine large willow-pattern bowl, supposed to date from 1720, and what was designated as the shackles of Macpherson, who was hanged at Banff in 1700. Judging from their appearance they may have been of still older date than Macpherson. They were purchased as old iron from the jailor at Banff a few years ago. Mr Cramond had a large num- ber of articles for exhibition, among which were the following—A large collection of Banffshire shells, made by the late Thomas Edward, Banff, and said to be the most complete collection in existence -and the fruit of upwards of 20 years' labour on the part of Mr Edward. Also a collection of dried specimens of wild flowers of the district; a collection of Tynet, Gamrie, and Caith. ness fossils, a collection of minerals illustrative of the geology of the coast from Cullen to Portsoy, a collec- Banffshiretion of sword-bayonets, shells , needlFielde gun, mitrailleuse Club, and other cartridges, iron cross, &c., from the Franco- German war, also maps drawn by scholars, copy books written in Cullen School upwards of 70 years ago, photographs of Cullen scholars ten and fifteen years ago, a sword-stick formerly used in Cullen, a collection 78

of local literature embracing the annals, reminiscences, &c., of Cullen, and the history of the churches of the district; a local rent book 166 years old, a MS. copy of •The Whig's Supplication' 1667, a book of sermons 1634, the various Ordnance Survey maps of the district, wood carvings from the Old Church of Rathven, Norwegian lobsters caught off Cullen, deer's horns, shells and bones from Portlong Cave, vitrified stones from Castle Hill, Cullen, Dunnydeer, and Knock Farrell, Mr T. J. Anderson, the Square, Cullen (bank agent, Aberchirder), had an interesting and valuable collection embracing the sword and dress sword of Capt. Duncan, a native of Cullen, who saw not a little service in the days of Nelson ; sword of the Captain of the first Cullen Volunteers, 1797 ; miniature monuments showing the adaptability of Portsoy serpentine for ornamental purposes ; copy of * Edinburgh Courant," 1705 ; Water- loo sword, pistol taken from Culloden field the day after the battle, Malay grease, three antique Cullen toddy ladles, ancient farm horn spoon from Farskane, Cullen burgess ticket, 1816; Banff burgess ticket, 1784 ; commission of James Smith as 1st Lieut, in the Cullen Company of Volunteers, 1797. Miss Gray, teacher, had an extensive and fine collection of mounted specimens of local plants. Mr Kemp, Tochieneal, showed an old harpoon, an assegai, an Andrea Ferrara sword, old flint lock, amulet or charm, &c. Mr J. W. Stuart exhibited a very large and good collection of coins, several being of local interest; a large number of native birds, including snow bunting, puffin, &c.; also a wrasse, caught off Cullen; a sword, seized from a preventive, man in a Portlong smuggling encounter, &c. Extensive collections of birds' eggs of the district were shown by Masters C. Thomson, F. Grant, and W. Wood. One of the most attractive features in the Exhibition was a large number of finely.stuffed local birds in a glass case, exhibited by Mr H. Lowe, Cullen House. Among them were two herons, two falcons, yellow lark caught at Cullen, blackcock, owl, hawks, goat-sucker, and an otter caught at Findochty. Along with these were a splen- did specimen of the United States owl, small American owl, American ground hogs, squirrels, &c. Mr C. Y. BanffshireMichie's contributions were oFieldf great interest an d Club very instructive. Among them were specimens of black Italian poplar that had stood in a paling for thirty years, peculiar growth of birch (in the form of a serpent), specimens of wood showing the healing pro- cess after a wound, how a pruned branch heals over, 74

how rapidly the Cupresses Lambertiana grows, how pruning affects the ash, how beautiful is the graining of the Turkey oak, how decay does not always originate in the softest part of tha wood, earth showing from analysis that the chemical properties of the soil do not account for difference of growth of trees. He also showed elm and birch burs, peculiar base of branch got in a peat moss, section of elm bur, tree strangled by a hoop, very large juniper, whin, and heather stems, the whin being 30 years old ; and section of a tree 109 years old, during 76 years of which small growth was made (only 4 1/2 inches diameter), while during the remaining 33 years great growth was made owing to trees adjoin- ing having been cut down. Mr John Thomson, Cullen House, exhibited Cullen School Catalogue 1832, fine case of Indian shells, &c. The oil paintings and water-colour drawings were of special interest and merit, and were all executed by parties resident in the district, among the most notice- able being- 'The Limekiln of Fordyce,' by Mr J.. Oswald Stewart, artist (exhibited by Mr Cramond) ; drawings of Findlater Castle, &c„ by Mr John Smith, Post-Office J boat by Mr T. J. Anderson ; portrait of Provost Smith by Mr J. O. Stewart, and of Provost Duff us by Mr W. Dow, artist; 'Cullen House and Sunnyside," by Mr John Gordon (exhibited by Mr J. Thomson); ' Logie Head," by Mr J. Gordon (exhibited by Dr Hendry); the ' Bow Fiddle,' by Mr H. Lowe; ' The Whale's Mouth," by Mr Gordon, and exhibited by Mrs M'Hattie. There were, also, from Mr Kemp, Fordyce, an old lithograph of Fordyce Church; from Mr K. M'Donald, bored wood, ram's horn, ancient Cullen mirror, Episcopalian Book of Devotion (Hickes') washed ashore in Cullen bay; from Master D. Legg, shells, coral, &c.; from Mr Stephen, Milton, stone celt found in the Bauds; from Mr H. Lowe, stone celt from the gamekeeper's garden ; from Mr E. M'Rae, gnarled wood; from Master E.Hay, gnarled wood from Crannoch Hill; coins, and coal; from Mr Campbell, gnarled wood, slag jug, curious Indian stones, model of lion made in Cullen, &c.; from Mr G. Mitchell, Deskford Street, model of plough, buffalo horns ; from Mr G. ROSS, very old key found in making railway cutting, Cullen; from BanffshireMr W. Shaw, local maps, &c.j froFieldm Master "W. Wood , Club flying fish, and shells ; from Mr M'Rae, plumber, glass ship, case of foreign birds, old map; from Mr Yeats, Lintmill, quern, snuff mill made of burred wood, Cullen, old family Bible, curious old sword from Ardiecow; from Mr J. Bremner, a casting of ' Souter Johnny,' 75

dug out in making the railway viaduct pier, Cullen; from Bailie Skakel, stone with crystals, and very old bush of a cart wheel. Fine ram's horns were shown by Mr Hay, flesher, Dr Clark, and Mrs John Gillies; ram's horn by Master Thomas Reid ; ships inside bottles by Mr R. M'Rae; and other sea weed from Gulf Stream by Mrs Mitchell; opium pipe and various curiosities by Miss Pirie; -, photographs by Messrs G. Ross, G. Seivwright, J. Thomson, W. Cramond, and others; models of ships by Messrs J. Runcie, Ken. Gardiner, Andrew Mitchell, and John Hay ; stuffed sea bird by Mr John Duffus, junior j ancient brooches and coins by Mary Cushnaw, Red Row ; stuffed pheasant by Mr John Paul; live bullfinch, caught at Cullen, by Master M'llvride; cage containing live falcon and jackdaw, both caught on Cullen rocks by Master Roberts; large elephant's tusk and American shoes by Mr W. L. Gammie; northern diver by Mr W. Bennett j foreign pecten, washed ashore at Cullen, by Mr Miller, Seafield; and boar's tusk, from lime in Findlater Castle wall, by Mr Harvey. The exhibition was open to the public gratis in the evening, during which time the hall was densely crowded with visitors. The members of the united Clubs, after viewing the exhibition, examined the old notary books, &c., belonging to the Town Council, of date from 1541, and then had lunch iu the Seafield Arms Hotel, after which they walked to the Castle Hill and the Old Church. Here Mr Cramond pointed out the leading features of interest in connection with the building, aud interesting additional remarks were made by Sheriff Scott Moncrieff, Rev. Mr Sutherland, and Dr Milne. Mr Bryson now met the company, and intimated that Lady Seafield granted them liberty to view the interior of Cullen House. Much gratification was expressed at her ladyship's kindness and conside- ration. The party remained longer in the church than was arranged, all expressing themselves charmed with the romantic situation of the church, the beauty of the interior, and its interesting monuments and in- scriptions. Entering the conveyances at the Old Mill, they then drove to the base of the Bin. The drive was greatly enjoyed, the many charms of the glen Banffshireboth surprising and delightin Fieldg the company. Severa Clubl of the members ascended to the top of the Bin, from which a magnificent view was obtained. Returning by the High Glen, Cullen House was soon reached. The picture room, drawing and dining rooms, and her lady- ship's boudoir were severally inspected, and the fine paint- ings, tapestry, carving, and articles of vertu were greatly 76

•admired. The portraits of the late Earl and his father, by Mr Clifford, met with no small share of attention. The ladies especially seemed unwilling to leave the rooms. Before leaving the hall, Dr Milne, in name of the company, expressed their high appreciation of the kindness of the Countess of Seafield in affording them such a treat, and which had added so greatly to their day's enjoyment. The following plants were met with during the day, or shown freshly gathered in a botanical case in the town-hall :—Arum maculatum, anemone apennina, periwinkle, small meadow rue, bulbous crowfoot, rock rose, grass of Parnassus, avens, marsh cinque-foil, enchanter's nightshade, white meadow saxifrage, marsh penny wort, wild angelica, common filago, figwort, butcher's broom, juniper, wild hyacinth (found in greater profusion in the glen than in any other part of Scotland), allium ursinum parietaria officinalis, cranberry, marsh wortleberry, oak fern, briza minor, triglochin palustre, &c. Before leaving Cullen Station, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Cramond.

Banffshire Field Club