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Other leaflets in this series include: Explore Ellon Sports and Leisure Wildlife •Heritage• walk

Supported by ‘Awards for All’ llon is a very long established site Ellon & District Historical Society Ein the North East of Scotland, Council graphically described by the ancient and Gaels as ‘The land at the bend in the The European Union ocean.’ Important as the first fording point on the Ythan, Ellon became the focal point in the early history of ...... Ellons past, postcards and photos •Heritage•walk•

t the East end of the Car park is Now turn back the way you came and take the A a modern sculpture comprising diagonal path on your right which bounds the a granite cylinder surrounded by 17th fairway of Ellon McDonald Golf Course. seats. This represents the site of the Turn right at the end of this path and take Moot or Earls Hill (1). It was close to the tarred lane, turning left at the end. You this point that the Mediaeval Earls of should come out on to Station Road. Turn left Buchan held their courts and meted and head back in to the town centre. On your out justice. This is the first historic site left is the imposing Victoria Hall (10) built to on the walk. Look for the plaque and the Ellon Heritage Walk logo. The commemorate Queen Victoria’s jubilee. Note also the recent plaque significance of this site is that it is at a ford on the River Ythan. Because commemorating the centenary of the building. The clock tower on the of this ford, Ellon and the New Inn which was an old coaching Inn were left of the building was not original but was built to commemorate strategically placed. James Hampton Brown who as treasurer of the committee was instrumental in raising the funds to build the hall. Unfortunately he From here walk eastwards i.e. with the died in a climbing accident before the hall was completed. river on your right hand side. You will pass a modern block of flats and after a further At the fork in the road, take the left fork along Union Street. About 50 yards, you will find the site of the“Old half way along there is a modern building. This is the RC Church (11) Schools”(2). The building itself has been completed in the early 1990s. It replaced the earlier church which modernised but dates back to the 16th was founded by Victoria Ingrams, daughter of Sir James Reid. Against century and is the oldest building in Ellon. Indeed, the 12th century difficult odds and family opposition, Victoria founded the church in Book of Deer refers to scholars at Ellon. This picture from the 1900s her mother’s garage. This church served the RC population of Ellon for shows the closeness of the school to the Church. nearly 50 years

Now walk up the lane beside the Old Schools coming out on to Castle Continue along Union Street to its junction with Bridge Street at the Road. The high wall opposite is known as the Deer Dykes (3) which new Police Station. Turn right and walk down Bridge Street to the were built in 1854 following the completion of Ellon Castle and gave corner. The imposing building which is now flats was once the home continuing employment to the masons. Now turn left noting the of Sir James Reid (12) – physician to Queen Victoria. He was a local original 16 mile stone at the base of the wall. lad – son of one of the Ellon doctors. He bought the house, called the Chestnuts along with the house next door called “Cosy Neuk” and Go through the painted black gate in to the Ellon Parish converted these two substantial dwelling houses into a single house. Churchyard. There are two significant historical items here. You can still make out the link between the two houses. The first is an ancientsymbol stone (4) which possibly dates back to pre-Christian Pictish times. This stone is built into the Continue down Bridge Street to Neil Ross Square on East wall of the Church about 5 feet off the ground below the your right. The sculpture (13) in the square records stained glass window. A short distance to your left, if you are the fact that on this site until fairly recently was the looking at the symbol stone is the Annand Aisle (5). This is biggest tractor works in the north of Scotland. This the only remaining part of the mediaeval church in Ellon. It sculpture was done by Frank Pottinger and represents records in Latin the deaths of members of the Annand family. various aspects of agriculture such as plough shares, rolling fields, parts of harvesters and so on. It is Now come out of the Churchyard, noting therefore the only link with a major employer in Ellon the unique war memorial which features and indeed a significant feature of Ellon town centre. a Gordon Highlander. The next historic feature is on the gable wall of the building Continue down Bridge Street to occupied by Raeburn Christie. High up on the Aul Brig(14) noting the otter the wall you will see the Coat of Arms (6) sculpture on the roundabout. of Baillie Gordon. This building is on the site of the Ellon Tolbooth Among the many species of wild life and the Coat of Arms were taken from the original tolbooth building. in the Ythan, otters can regularly be Notice also when you are here the paving done on a criss-cross with seen at the bridge, by the viaduct the date 1926 and the logo of the builder FMcR for Farquar McRae. and at the Meadows. If you are patient around about nightfall, Ellon was built round the mediaeval castle of Ardgith you will be rewarded with a sighting of these graceful creatures. The which was built on the site of the more recent castles. Ythan was once noted as a source for pearl fishing and indeed a pearl The ruins of the 1850s castle still remain and the present from the Ythan forms a centrepiece in the Scottish crown jewels. It is a castle is a small part of the most recent castle which was wonderful river as it meanders through Ellon. Over time, islands have substantially removed in the 1920s. Many of the houses been formed in the Ythan and it is sometimes claimed that Ellon gets in the square were part of the Castle policies. Head up its name from the gaelic word –Eilean meaning an island. The crown Schoolhill with Costcutters on your left and take a detour round the jewel of Ellon however is its old bridge. Built in 1793, it replaced the back of the health centre with the high castle garden wall on your right ford as the main crossing point of the Ythan and was used until 1940. hand side. Continue until you find the remains of the castle ice house Note the date 1793 on the roundel of the East pillar next to Market (7) used to keep meat products fresh. Street.

Return to the main road and walk along past Ellon Academy’s 1970s The final point on the walk is theEpiscopal building until you come to Golf Road. Church of St Mary on The Rock (15). It is a most beautiful building designed by the Turn right and cross the road at the controlled famous Victorian architect G E Street, the crossing and go into McDonald Park. There are a same architect as designed Haddo Chapel. number of interesting features in the McDonald Note the beautiful stained glass windows Park. The first of these known as the obelisk is the and the cleverly designed bell tower. The Foundation Stone (8) which marks the gifting Episcopal Church in Ellon can trace its clergy of the McDonald Parklands to the people of Ellon back over 800 years and parishioners in by Sir James McDonald. Continue along this Ellon were involved in the Jacobite Risings broad avenue until you come to a rough hewn after which their place of worship was stone marking the Coronation (9) of George V1 burned down. Note also the statue in the in 1937. Note the wording which refers to his Churchyard which – originally from Ellon Scottish queen. was “rescued” from Fort Augustus when the Abbey closed.