Monumental

A fine recumbent figure tomb set in a gabled enclosure, the Medieval meets the Renaissance in a particularly Scots idiom. There is an interesting central motif below the figure of corn springing from bones. The wild boar in the crest is extremely rotund and has something almost oriental in its design. Inscriptions: (motto at top) Dominus fecit. (main plaque) An. Dom. 1636. Positum a Georgio Baird de Aucbmedden praeposito Burgi de Bamff in honors Dei & in memorii praedicessoru quorum corpora in die resurrectionis . hic sepulta jacent.(underneath with memento mori) G. B. Mors sceptra ligonibus aequans. Spes altera vitae. Coelum non solvm quaero.

A roughly cut granite menhir with an inscription cut in relief. The Gaelic inscription reads: "Cuimhnichibh La Coire Fraoichidh" or "Remember the day of Corrichie". The battlefield is now mainly covered by commercial forest.

A baroque extravaganza of a tomb.

Listed Category B. Polished pale grey granite ashlar cenotaph, standing on shallow steps in shallow hemicycle wall Plaques recording the names of the fallen,1914-19 and 1939-45 set in the outer ends of the hemicycle, the chequered granite blocks with voids reveal glimpses of Banff. The foundation stone for the War memorial was laid by HRH Princess Royal, 27th May 1921.

The 80ft (24m) Culsh Monument, erected 1876 in memory of William Fordyce MP of Brucklay , Aberdeenshire's first MP.
Viewing platforms are provided at the base, and at the top of the spiral staircase within the tower. On a clear day the distant Caithness Hills can be seen to the north, Ben Rinnes at Dufftown in the west, the Grampian Mountains to the south and Peterhead to the east.

Gravestone erected by the Earl of Fife, in memory of families pet dogs Bevis (1872) , Tip (1873) and Barkis. Decorated with crown and coronet with dog's names and initials M and F (male / female?).

Rectangular Gothic Mausoleum and re-sited late 17th Century tomb. Fine cast and wrought iron gate incorporating complex designs of foliage, anthemion, rosettes, Earl of Fife's coronet and monogram JF. Deep stone frieze below eaves, 2 Coade stone crocketed pinnacles survive. Re-sited against centre of S elevation is a round headed figure tomb, decorated with symbols of mortality and rebirth. The tomb was supposed to be that of Robert the Bruce and was taken to give spurious antiquity to the new Earldom of Fife, however it was actually the tomb of Provost Douglas of Banff, with the inscription covered until in 1990 when it slipped uncovering the true identity. House open to the public. See their website for details.

Carved pillow stone erected in memory of Isabella Henry or "La Belle Electra" assistant to Dr Walford Bodie.

A triumphal arch of Rhenish Romanesque style; round arch between two high buttressed octagonal towers with short gabletted spirelets and wrought-iron finials. The top of the arch is finished with a crenellated parapet with a curvilinear gablet feature at the centre. It was the winner of a competition, assessed by Queen Victoria, to commemorate a visit by Victoria and Albert in 1861.

Gravestone carved in high relief with a winged 'grim reaper' death figure, with a scythe and hourglass.

Located at side of narrow road, no parking facility. The stones include:
First image, An unusual pointed gravestone with carved figure. Holding what appears to be an hour glass in one hand (a symbol of passing time and immortality). Stone initialled "I E" . No date or name.
Third image, A more elaborate, less naïve version of the winged angel, as a symbol of immortality. In contrast, above, sits a simple skull, a symbol of mortality.
Fourth image, A fine example of monumental art with two angels carrying a basket of corn and winged angel's head, symbols of mortality and immortality. Also appears to display some trade emblems within a crest. It was customary around this period to show tradesmans tools as a mark of respect to the deceased worker.
Fifth image, shows a winged head at the top, in the centre above memento mori are a square and compasses that may indicate a Freemason.

A very geometric neo-classical almost Egyptianate monument.
Inscriptions: Ornatur radix fronde (The root is adorned by the foliage) with the palm frond crest of the Innes and Memor esto, (be mindfull) beneath the boar's head.
Left panel. "To the memory of Alexande lnnes of Rosieburn, third son to John Innes of Edingight, who died 16th April, 1761, aged 60,
and of his spouse Katharine Abercromby (second daughter of Alexander Abercromby of Glassaugh, M.P.), who died the 8th October, 1784, aged 76.
Sacred also to the memory of their son Thomas Innes of Rosieburn, who died the 24th August, 1784, aged 35 years. Sacred also to the memory of John Russel, post captain in the Royal Navy, eldest son of Thomas Russel of Rathen, and Ann Innes of Rosieburn, who died at Aberdeen 16th October, 1813, aged 45 years."
Centre panel "To the memory of John Russel of Rathen (second son of Patrick Russel of Montcoffer), who died 3rd May, 1755, aged 55, and of his spouse Margaret Calder (eldest daughter of Sir Thomas Calder of Muirtown, Bart.), who died 11th July, 1770, in her 56th year. Katharine Russel, daughter of John Russel of Rathen, and spouse to John Hay, 3rd son of Andrew Hay of Mountblairy, died 12th August, 1775, and was buried in the church of Alvah. The remains of Mr. John Hay (who died in London 1785) are interred in St. Bartholomew Church. Sacred also to the memory of Ann Innes of Rosieburn, spouse to Thomas Russel of Rathen, who died 13th November, 1814, aged 67, and of Thomas Russel of Rathen, who died 12th April, 1827, in his 85th year."

right panel "Sacred to the memory of the following sons and daughters of the late Thomas Russel of Rathen and Anna Innes of Rosieburn, his spouse, all buried here, except where otherwise mentioned. Mary Abercrombie Russel died at Aberdeen 4th March, 1814, aged 29 years, and was buried there. James Russel, R.N., died at East Stonehouse, Devon, 27th February, 1829, aged 58, and buried there. Helen Russel died at Aberdeen 23rd of March, 1838, aged 59 years. Catherine Russel, wife of George Russel, Esq., Skelmuir, died at Aberdeen 28th March, 1844, aged 69, and buried there. Aletha Russel died at Aberdeen 22nd July, 1849, aged 67. Margaret Russel died at Aberdeen 8th July, 1851, aged 74- Jane Maxwell Russel, wife of the Reverend James Cordiner of St. Paul's Chapel, Aberdeen, died at Aberdeen 14th August, 1854, aged 67, and buried there. Elizabeth Russel died at Aberdeen 16th October, 1865, aged 82 years. Grace Russel died at Fraserburgh 21st April, 1866, aged 78."

Category B listed Dominating the skyline in Macduff, the Knowes War Memorial stands 70 ft in height, an octagonal granite tower, erected in 1921 to commemorate those who gave their lives in the The Great War, 1914-1918.
It commemorates the dead from both World War I & II. It is a tall slender octagonal 5-stage tower of tooled grey granite, bullfaced at lower stages, on stepped based. There are tooled granite dressings with the lower stage defined by cornice with keystoned occulus immediately below in each face. Each face (except that with recessed doorway) has polished grey granite plaques inscribed with names of fallen of 1914-18 and 1939-45 wars. There are rectangular barred openings, to light internal stair, in alternate faces of the 1st stage and randomly sited in 2nd and 3 stages. A deep crenellated wallhead stage is delineated by a blocked cornice with blind crosslet in each face. There is a plaque stating that the foundation stone was laid on 15 April 1920 by Prince and Princess Arthur of Connaught, who was a daughter of the Duke of Fife.

2 Panels depicting Virgin and Child, first datestone 1628, second much weathered possibly pre 1600's.

A tall tapering five storey tower, Greek cross in section, with a crenellated parapet corbelled out over the remainder.
In the photograph it is being towered over by an oil rig in the bay ' Galaxy I' estimated at around 100m high since the monument is 58m above sea level. the stone over the door is inscribed; Reform Tower Erected 1832, Renewed by Kenneth Smith Of Meethill 1907

Unusually for the artist, Frank Bruce, this is a large stone carving. Made to celebrate the 2000 millenium.

Grave of Mary Walford Henry, or "Mystic Marie" assistant to Walford Bodie ("Dr" Walford Bodie, billed as "Electrical Wizard of the North," a show business personality with national reputation.). Upright dark grey/black polished granite tombstone with carved marble angel figure erected on top, also has portrait bronze plaque in the same style as Bodie Fountain.

The 4th photograph is a contemporary photograph of Marie Henry (Walford was a stage name) for comparison with the bronze.

The 5th shows the cover of some sheet music "The Bodie Hypnotic Waltz" based on "Dr Bodie's" and "Mystic Marie's" stage act. It is a good example of exuberant Victorian/Edwardian graphic design.

A minimalist monument consisting of a menhir of undressed granite, inscribed with the numerals 2000, recalling the megaliths of prehistory.

A monument consisting of a simple pillar of dressed granite, topped by a granite pyramid on a pedestal of coursed granite rubble with part dressed corners, in a formal setting of paving and planting with commemorative wooden benches. In the recent past New Pitsligo was noted for its granite quarries, all now closed, and was home to many masons and stonecutters. The form of this monument with its reused stone recalls this aspect of local history.
The inscription reads:
"1787 - 2000
NEW PITSLIGO (CYAAK)
This planned village was founded in 1787 by Sir William Forbes (1739-1806) descendant of Alexander Forbes last Lord Pitsligo, Lt Colonel in the cavalry of 'Bonnie Prince Charlie' at the 1745 uprising.
This monument and garden were created by, and for the people of New Pitsligo in 2000 A.D. to honour our history and mark the new millennium."

Magnificantly carved ogee-arched altar tomb of the Ogilvies of Findlater.
Remains of church; dates from before 1272; ruinous Medieval church; all that remains now is the roofed bell-tower in a fair state of preservation; the obvious later steps to the first floor on the E side of the tower bears an inscription and the date 1721. The old church consisted of a nave with aisles on the W & S; the former aisle belonged to the Ogilvies of Durn, and the latter, now divided into two, belonged one to Birkenbog and the other to Findlater & Boyne. W portion contains mural wall tomb of Ogilvy of Findlater; E portion a mural tomb of a recumbent effigy in armour c1509. A Post-Reformation tower stands with a richly carved double-arched bellcote dated 1661; the Abercrombie of Glassaugh burial aisle is late 17thC with small apex bellcote; burial ground has an interesting range of tomb stones. Church replaced in 1804 by present parish church.

An elegant elongated cone shaped cairn with in-curved sides in coursed dry stone, without any interpretative sign. It is on the lands of Auchleuchries that Patrick Gordon belonged to.

A monumental pyramid of cut granite stones

A cone of coursed rubble

A stout cone of coursed granite rubble

A cone of coursed rubble. The inscriptio reads: Prince Louis of Hesse D'Armstadj - The Princess Alice of England - Married 1st July 1862

A cone of coursed granite rubble

A cone of coursed granite rubble

Cone of coursed granite rubble. The inscription reads: HRH the Princess Louise of England- The most noble The Marquis of Lorne-Married the 21st March 1871

A four sided obelisk of roughly dressed granite stones surmounted by an orb

A bit of an ugly and intimidating monument to the hereditary principle and the divine right of the aristocracy/rich to rule the rest of us for their own advantage, however it is worth the climb up both the hill and the stairs for the view toward Bennachie. Erected to the memory of the Prime Minister the Fourth Earl of Aberdeen. A square tower of coursed red granite with dressed quoins and a corbelled and crenellated parapet. The lower stage is steeply battered. SMR

Cone of coursed granite rubble

The inscription reads:
"This memorial commemorates the men and women who served with the six multi-national squadrons which formed the Banff Strike Wing at R.A.F. Banff between September 1944 and May 1945. Under the command of group captain the Hon. Max Aitken the mixed Mosquito and Beaufighter units mounted concentrated attacks on German surface vessels and U-boats in the North Sea and along the Norwegian coast. Their success in the closing months of World War II was important in the defeat of Germany and strike wing aircraft operating from the airfield near here inflicted heavy damage on enemy shipping and supply routes. Many thousands of tons of vital iron ore and other supplies were lost to the German forces as a result of rocket and cannon attacks carried out by this gallant strike wing. Losses amongst R.A.F. commonwealth and Norwegian squadrons were high. More than 80 aircrew gave their lives flying with the R.A.F. Banff Strike Wing."

Monument; erected in 1833 , it was erected by local ‘Tories’ (Conservatives) on the site of the market cross to celebrate Parliamentary reform. A Roman Doric column surmounted by the arms of the Earl Marischal with a lion above; this coat of arms was originally in a gateway to Inverugie castle, recently restored.

Headstone erected by local branch of SANDS organisation (SANDS Stillbirth And Neonatal Death Society) and set in a small garden of remembrance, in memory of local children who died at birth or in infancy. Polished grey granite stone engraved with baby cradled in a hand.

Decoratively carved Caen stone pulpit designed by Arthur Clyne, built under the supervision of sculptor James Bremner of Broughty Ferry, incorporating quatrefoil panels with carved heads of (according to the Listed Building Record): St. James, King David of Scotland 1124-1153, Bishop Forbes, Bishop Keith and Bishop Jolly bishop of Moray 1798-1838. This above information is contradicted by the information given in the church and Booklet on the history of St. James Church, available in the church, this lists the heads on the pulpit as: St Ninian (of Candidacasa aka Whitehouse) 397-432, St David King of Scotland 1124-1153, John Sinclair bishop of Brechin 1565-66, Alexander Jolly bishop of Moray 1798-1838, and Alexander Penrose Forbes bishop of Brechin 1847-75 (my own view based on the clothing/facial hair, much more like a Victorian interpretation of Middle Eastern clothing than Brythonic Celtic, is that the LBR is right about the first head being intended as St. James). Carved with the quote "heaven and earth shall pass away but my words will not pass away". The green marble balls at the angle of the panels above and below come from Egypt and the red from Victoria in South Africa.

Renaissance style memorial complete with Corinthian columns and trumpeting angels. The relief lettering is badly eroded and now mostly illegible. However it is given in Annals of Banff list of inscriptions (see external link) as
"Memento mori. Time Flieth, Death persueth, Mind Mortality, Conquer Eternity. Sub hoc cippo reconduntur exuuiae generosae mulieris Sabellac Ogilvie, Gulielmi Scott aurificis huiusque urbis burgen: quondam coniugis quae fatis cessit 15 Augusti ann. dom. 1697 aetatis suae 55 ille . . ."

1869. August 16th Marshal Keith monument unveiled by the Earl of Kintore.
Marshal Keith (James Francis Edward Keith) was born at the family home, Inverugie Castle, near Peterhead in 1696. A professional soldier, he was forced into exile for his activities on behalf of the Stuart pretender to the throne (1715 and 1719). It must be remembered that the Old Pretender, James, chose Peterhead as his secret port of arrival when he came home to Scotland to raise an army in December, 1715. James Keith went on to serve Frederick II as Field-Marshal in the Prussian army and after a distinguished career, was killed at the Battle of Hochkirken in 1758. The statue, which stands outside the Old Town House in Peterhead's Broadgate, was a gift to the town from King William I of Prussia, a copy of the original which stood in Berlin. James' older brother, George, was the last of the Keiths to bear the title Earl Marischal. The title originated when Malcolm II knighted Robert Keith and created him hereditary Grand Marischal of Scotland after Robert defeated the Danish army under Camus in the early years of the eleventh century. This high office continued through the family until 1715.
The Keiths were Jacobites who, like many others who shared their loyalties, had their land confiscated by the Crown when the Jacobite cause was lost.

A small stone sculpture by Frank Bruce.

A large symbolic wood carving by Frank Bruce

The two arches of this bronze symbolise the bridges over the River Don and the Aberdeenshire Canal since it is because of these that Port Elphinstone (that part of the settlement on the South bank of the Don) came into being. The plinth section represents standing stones, The spaces between the three sections of the granite base represent the river and the canal. The symbols in the top surface were designed and executed together with children from Port Elphinstone school and represent episodes from the history of the town.

A Bronze plaque portrait on the gravestone of Thomas Edwards, a local naturalist and member of the Linean Society.

A 16th century grave slab relocated to the wall of the ruined St Drostan's

Neo Classical style tomb.

Reputed to be the site of a 13th - century kirk, there was said to be no visible signs of its position within the yard though a four-sided structure is present to the rear of the site bearing a carved stone lintel and chamfer-edged doorway. This enclosure, is said to be a burial ground. Built into a corner of the kirkyard is a small old watch-house with a good secure door and a small watch window.
There are approximately 10 recumbent tombstones, of which 3 are particularly well-decorated. There are several burial enclosures of particular note: - The Stratton of Kirkside enclosure,complete with original railings, contains a huge polished pink sarcophagus, a memorial with a bronze portrait by John Steell and a shattered 17th - century sarcophagus.The most visually commanding structure is the Graham of Morphie Aisle. Rebuilt in the 19th -century of a crow-stepped form, it sports a good armorial panel over the doorway.
The three carved figures, shown in one of the photographs, although presumably representing biblical characters, are a little reminiscent of the genii cucullati (hooded gods) figures of Romano Celtic Europe/Britain in pose if not in hoodies.