Cluny

<B>Cluny,</B> a parish of Aberdeenshire, whose church stands 2 miles SSW of Monymusk station on the Alford Valley railway, this being 20&frac34; miles NW of Aberdeen. It has a post office under Aberdeen, with which it communicates daily by coach. Irregular in shape, it is bounded N by Monymusk, NE by Kemnay, E by Skene, S by Echt and Midmar, SW by Kincardine O'Neil, and W by Tough. Its greatest length from E to W is 7<SUP><FONT SIZE="-2">5</FONT></SUP>/<SUB><FONT SIZE="-2">8</FONT></SUB> miles; its breadth from N to S varies between 1 and 3<SUP><FONT SIZE="-2">1</FONT></SUP>/<SUB><FONT SIZE="-2">8</FONT></SUB> miles; and its land area is 9741 acres, including a detached portion (1&frac12; x 1 mile) lying &frac12; mile S of the western extremity of the main body, and surrounded by Midmar and Kincardinc O'Neil. Much of the southern boundary is traced by Kinnernie Burn; of the northern, by Tor Burn, which from the interior receives the Burn of Cluny, with its affluents, the Douglas, Corsindae, and Linton rivulets. The drainage belongs thus partly to the Dee, but chiefly to the Don. The surface sinks on the Tor Burn to 260 feet above sea-level, and over the eastern half of the parish nowhere much exceeds 600 feet; westward it rises to Black Hill (608 feet) and Green Hill (1607), which culminates right upon the Midmar border. Granite is the prevailing rock; and the soils vary from deep yellowish loam along the streams to light, dry, moorish earth on the hill slopes. A large area is under wood, the plantations of Scotch firs and larch ranging in age from 20 to 100 years, and in extent from 1 to 900 acres. Antiquities are three Caledonian circles, five standing-stones, and, in the western half of the parish, the ruins of Tilliecairn Castle, once held by Matthew Lumsden. who died in 1580, and who was author of <I>A Genealogical History of the House of Forbes.</I> Cluny Castle, rebuilt (1840-72) on the site of the 15th century stronghold of a Huntly Gordon, stands 1&frac12; mile S of Monymusk station, and is a stately castellated pile of grey granite, with central quadrangle, high parapets and corner turrets, a richly decorated oratory, and a pinetum comprising 400 varieties. Its owner, the widow of John Gordon, Esq. of Cluny (182278), who held 20,395 acres in the shire, valued at &pound;13,714 per annum, in 1880 married Sir Reginald Cathcart, Bart. of Killochan. (See also Belchester.) Other mansions are Castle Fraser and Linton House, the latter 3 miles SSE of Monymusk station; and in all 4 proprietors hold each an annual value of more, and 6 of less, than &pound;100. Cluny is in the presbytery of Kincardine O'Neil and synod of Aberdeen; the living is worth &pound;224. The parish church is a plain old building; and there is a Free church near Linton House. Four schools-Cluny public and Free Church, Corennie Gordon's female, and Castle Fraser proprietary-with respective accommodation for 153,99,64, and 29 children, had (1880) an average attendance of 60,71,57, and 21, and grants of &pound;43,10s., &pound;43,1s. 4d., &pound;48,17s., and &pound;13, 16s. Valuation (1881) &pound;7526,13s. 9d. Pop. (1801) 821, (1841) 959, (1861) 1254, (1871) 1366, (1881) 1298.&#151;<I>Ord. Sur.,</I> sh. 76,1874. </p>