Old Deer
Encyclopedia
Old Deer a parish and village in the district of Buchan
, Aberdeenshire
, Scotland
. The population as of 1901 was 4,313. The village lies on the Deer or South Ugie Water
, 10.1 miles west of Peterhead
, and two miles from Mintlaw
station on the Great North of Scotland Railway Company's branch line from Aberdeen
to Peterhead.
Industries include distilling, brewing
, and the manufacture of woollens, and there are quarries of granite and limestone.
The village is the birthplace of David B. Henderson
, one of only two foreign born Speakers
of the United States House of Representatives
.
The thriving village of New Deer
(formerly called Auchreddie) lies about seven miles west of the older village; to the north of New Deer is the ruined Fedderate Castle
.
and his nephew Drostan
founded a monastery here in the 6th century, of which no trace remains. The Book of Deer
is a most interesting relic of the monks, which was discovered in 1857 in the Cambridge University library by Henry Bradshaw
. It was probably stolen during the Wars of Scottish Independence
by English troops. It is a small manuscript of the Gospel
s in the Vulgate
, fragments of the liturgy of the Celtic church
, and notes, in the Gaelic script of the 12th century, referring to the charters of the ancient monastery, including a summary of that granted by David I of Scotland
. These are among the oldest examples of Scottish Gaelic. The manuscript is also adorned with Gaelic designs. It had belonged to the monks of Deer and been in the possession of the University Library since 1715. It was edited by John Stuart
for the Spalding Club
, by whom it was published in 1869 under the title The Book of Deer (Leabhar Dhèir in Gaelic).
In 1218 William Comyn
, earl of Buchan, founded the Abbey of St Mary of Deer
, now in ruins, 3/4 miles farther up the river than the monastery and on the opposite bank. Although it was erected for Cistercians from the priory
of Kinloss
, near Forres
, the property of the Columban monastery was removed to it. The founder (died 1233) and he and his countess were buried in the church. The parish is rich in antiquities, but the most noted of them is the Stone of Deer, a sculptured block of syenite
, which stood near the abbey; it was destroyed in 1854.
Buchan
Buchan is one of the six committee areas and administrative areas of Aberdeenshire Council, Scotland. These areas were created by the council in 1996, when the Aberdeenshire unitary council area was created under the Local Government etc Act 1994...
, Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The population as of 1901 was 4,313. The village lies on the Deer or South Ugie Water
River Ugie
The River Ugie or Ugie Water is a river in Scotland. Located in the north east, it flows into the North Sea on the east coast at Peterhead, north of Cruden Bay. There is considerable evidence of prehistoric within the Ugie drainage basin, especially in the South Ugie Water catchment basin...
, 10.1 miles west of Peterhead
Peterhead
Peterhead is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is Aberdeenshire's biggest settlement , with a population of 17,947 at the 2001 Census and estimated to have fallen to 17,330 by 2006....
, and two miles from Mintlaw
Mintlaw
Mintlaw is a small town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland lying along the A952 road and is geographically a route centre...
station on the Great North of Scotland Railway Company's branch line from Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
to Peterhead.
Industries include distilling, brewing
Brewing
Brewing is the production of beer through steeping a starch source in water and then fermenting with yeast. Brewing has taken place since around the 6th millennium BCE, and archeological evidence suggests that this technique was used in ancient Egypt...
, and the manufacture of woollens, and there are quarries of granite and limestone.
The village is the birthplace of David B. Henderson
David B. Henderson
David Bremner Henderson , a ten-term Republican Congressman from Dubuque, Iowa, was the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1899 to 1903...
, one of only two foreign born Speakers
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.
The thriving village of New Deer
New Deer
New Deer is a settlement in Aberdeenshire, North East Scotland that lies in the valley of Deer. It was founded after monks from Deer Abbey, Old Deer built a chapel at Auchreddie, which translates as "field of the bog myrtle". Around 1507 the register of Deer Abbey lists its lands in the "new...
(formerly called Auchreddie) lies about seven miles west of the older village; to the north of New Deer is the ruined Fedderate Castle
Fedderate Castle
Fedderate Castle is a ruined castle near New Deer in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. A drawbridge and causeway provided access to the castle. Lord William Oliphant with Jacobite forces, took control of Fedderate Castle and held out against the forces of Hugh Mackay for more than 3 weeks, surrendering in...
.
Monastery
ColumbaColumba
Saint Columba —also known as Colum Cille , Colm Cille , Calum Cille and Kolban or Kolbjørn —was a Gaelic Irish missionary monk who propagated Christianity among the Picts during the Early Medieval Period...
and his nephew Drostan
Drostan
Saint Drostan , also Drustan, Dustan, and Throstan, was the founder and abbot of the monastery of Old Deer in Aberdeenshire. His relics were translated to the church at New Aberdour and his holy well lies nearby. Saint Drostan's day is July 11.-Biography:A Scottish abbot who flourished about A.D....
founded a monastery here in the 6th century, of which no trace remains. The Book of Deer
Book of Deer
The Book of Deer is a 10th-century Latin Gospel Book from Old Deer, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, with early 12th-century additions in Latin, Old Irish and Scottish Gaelic. It is most famous for containing the earliest surviving Gaelic literature from Scotland...
is a most interesting relic of the monks, which was discovered in 1857 in the Cambridge University library by Henry Bradshaw
Henry Bradshaw
Henry Bradshaw may refer to:*Henry Bradshaw *Henry Bradshaw *Harry Bradshaw, Henry "Harry" Bradshaw, , English football manager*Harry Bradshaw...
. It was probably stolen during the Wars of Scottish Independence
Wars of Scottish Independence
The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of military campaigns fought between the independent Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England in the late 13th and early 14th centuries....
by English troops. It is a small manuscript of the Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
s in the Vulgate
Vulgate
The Vulgate is a late 4th-century Latin translation of the Bible. It was largely the work of St. Jerome, who was commissioned by Pope Damasus I in 382 to make a revision of the old Latin translations...
, fragments of the liturgy of the Celtic church
Celtic Christianity
Celtic Christianity or Insular Christianity refers broadly to certain features of Christianity that were common, or held to be common, across the Celtic-speaking world during the Early Middle Ages...
, and notes, in the Gaelic script of the 12th century, referring to the charters of the ancient monastery, including a summary of that granted by David I of Scotland
David I of Scotland
David I or Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim was a 12th-century ruler who was Prince of the Cumbrians and later King of the Scots...
. These are among the oldest examples of Scottish Gaelic. The manuscript is also adorned with Gaelic designs. It had belonged to the monks of Deer and been in the possession of the University Library since 1715. It was edited by John Stuart
John Stuart
John Stuart may refer to:*Sir John Stuart, 4th Baronet , MP for Kincardineshire*John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute , Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1762–1763...
for the Spalding Club
Spalding Club
The Spalding Club is the name of successive antiquarian societies founded in Aberdeen.The clubs were named for the seventeenth century historian John Spalding....
, by whom it was published in 1869 under the title The Book of Deer (Leabhar Dhèir in Gaelic).
In 1218 William Comyn
William Comyn
William Comyn can refer to:*William Comyn *William Comyn, jure uxoris Earl of Buchan*William Comyns Beaumont, British journalist, author and lecturer*William Comyns silversmith late 19th century....
, earl of Buchan, founded the Abbey of St Mary of Deer
Deer Abbey
Deer Abbey was a Cistercian monastery in Buchan, Scotland. It was founded by 1219 AD with the patronage William Comyn, jure uxoris Earl of Buchan, who is also buried there. There was an earlier community of Scottish monks or priests...
, now in ruins, 3/4 miles farther up the river than the monastery and on the opposite bank. Although it was erected for Cistercians from the priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
of Kinloss
Kinloss
Kinloss is a village in Moray, Scotland. It is located near the shore of Findhorn Bay, around 3 miles from Findhorn and 2.5 miles from Forres. RAF Kinloss is located northeast of the village, and is transitioning to an Army barracks.The Cistercian Kinloss Abbey was created in 1150 by King David...
, near Forres
Forres
Forres , is a town and former royal burgh situated in the north of Scotland on the Moray coast, approximately 30 miles east of Inverness. Forres has been a winner of the Scotland in Bloom award on several occasions...
, the property of the Columban monastery was removed to it. The founder (died 1233) and he and his countess were buried in the church. The parish is rich in antiquities, but the most noted of them is the Stone of Deer, a sculptured block of syenite
Syenite
Syenite is a coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock of the same general composition as granite but with the quartz either absent or present in relatively small amounts Syenite is a coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock of the same general composition as granite but with the quartz either absent or...
, which stood near the abbey; it was destroyed in 1854.
See also
- Abbot of DeerAbbot of DeerThe Abbot of Deer , was the head of the Cistercian monastic community of Deer Abbey in Buchan. It was founded in 1219 by William Comyn, jure uxoris Earl of Buchan. There was an earlier community of Scottish monks or priests which was probably absorbed by the new foundation...
- Deer AbbeyDeer AbbeyDeer Abbey was a Cistercian monastery in Buchan, Scotland. It was founded by 1219 AD with the patronage William Comyn, jure uxoris Earl of Buchan, who is also buried there. There was an earlier community of Scottish monks or priests...
- Old Deer Community Website