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Fetterangus:
- from the Celtic "Fo-thir Aonaich", meaning Land before a Hill.
Locally known as 'Fishie'
Fetterangus as a settlement dates back to pre-history, but
today's village was established in the 1750's as a "planned
village", laid out by the third James Ferguson of Pitfour as a
centre for his estate workers and for trades people servicing
the Estate.
Once established, the village became self generating. The
populace then required services in turn which would have brought
the first butcher, the baker and probably the proverbial
candlestick maker.
In 1795 the population of the village was given as 81
inhabitants. In 1891 it was recorded as 358. The population
declined from the 1930's onwards to reach a low point of around
250 by the 1960's. New privately built housing and the
reconstruction of older properties since the 1970's has seen a
slow but steady rise in numbers, and the population is again now
touching 360.
Reasons for this abound (including tales of fish wives and
harbours) but a Gazetteer of Scotland dated 1780 concludes this
byname has some connection with an earlier settlement.
 School
Fetterangus Primary School was first established in the early
part of last century. At one stage the roll reached almost
eighty but in modern times has dropped to around fifty. The
school was modernised in 1961 with the addition of a small
assembly hall, new classrooms and a
kitchen. For pre-school children, there is Fetterangus
playgroup, and also a mother and toddler group.
The "local" secondary school is Mintlaw Academy, two miles
distant.
The Village Church
Fetterangus lies within the Parish of Deer and the Parish Church
is in Old Deer village. Fetterangus Church was built during the
first half of the 19th century as a "Chapel of Ease" to relieve
villagers of the need to journey to Old Deer.
Morning services are conducted weekly in the Parish Church, with
evening services now held at 6.00 p.m. in Fetterangus on
alternate Sundays.
The building is stark in the traditional Presbyterian style.
During the first half of the 19th century a Free Presbyterian
Church was built on the northern half of the village Square.
Following the union of the U.F. Church with the Church of
Scotland in 1929, the less ornate Church of Scotland building
became the "village church" and the Free Church was sold off and
demolished soon afterwards. The southern end of North Place was
upgraded and driven through the site in the late 1940's.
Cemetery
Quarter of a mile to the west of the village is the cemetery and
many interesting old gravestones, some dating back to the 17th
century.
The ruined chapel within the cemetery was built by the monks of
St. Thomas in the 13th century and stands on the site of an
earlier place of Christian worship established by St. Fergus in
the 6th or 7th century.
Adam King's "Calendar" gives the year Fergus landed on the
Buchan coast as 505 AD, pre-dating Columba's arrival on Iona by
sixty years, but alternative dates as late as 700 AD have also
been put forward. Evidence suggests the site chosen by Fergus
had been held sacred by
earlier pagan religions stretching back into the mists of time.
The gateway to the cemetery was erected in the 1920's as the
village War Memorial and now carried plaques bearing the names
of those lost in both World Wars.
Public Hall
The Public Hall and "Chalmers Institute" was built in 1896. It
is community owned and replaced an earlier low thatched roof
Hall at the opposite end of the village.
The old Hall stood on the site now occupied by the dwelling
houses at 30-32 Gaval Street.
The "Institute" (a meeting place and a public library) was
endowed by the Rev Andrew Chalmers, a locally born man of
literary note who was vicar of St. John's Church, Wakefield,
Yorkshire. The author of a number of books including travel
sketches (Sundays in Strange Temples,
Transylvanian Recollections,etc.), Andrew Chalmers also issued
three volumes of devotional literature and wrote numerous hymns
which made his name familiar to cultured people of many creeds
throughout the world. He died in July 1912 and was laid to rest
in Fetterangus cemetery. The two thousand or so volumes in the
library, including many valuable first editions, were disposed
of during the Second World War.
The Hall was extended and updated in 1981 and serves as a
community centre.
Bowling Green
The Bowling Green is located behind the Public Hall at the west
end of Ferguson Street.
Having no full time greenkeeper it is not always open but
visitors are welcome (to play or simply spectate) whenever any
member of the village Club is present. The Green has one of the
best playing surfaces in the north-east.
Children's Playground
Adjacent to the Hall, and behind the Public Toilets, is the
children's playground. Beyond the Bowling Green (with vehicular
access off Chalmers Place) is the playing field.
Village Shop/Post Office
As recently as the 1960's the village still had a bakery, two
grocery shops, and a separate post office-cum-draper. Ten years
earlier it could also boast a shoemaker/cobbler and tailor, but
times change and the shop-cum-post office at the eastern end of
Gaval Street is our sole
remaining shop. The shop is open daily but the Post Office
section provides only a "Community" service during the mornings.
Half-day closing is Thursday.
Hostelry
The Lounge Bar on the village Square is a friendly oasis for
visitor and resident alike.
Industry
The major employer in the village is Grays of Fetterangus,
manufacturing a range of agricultural machinery including
tractor Loaders (Loading Shovels) and associated implements for
materials
handling, field cultivators, bale and forage handling products.
Much of the company's output is for the UK market but export
markets include Europe, Australasia, the Americas, Canada and
even Japan.
The Village is also home to Alexander Willox & Sons who
pioneered a unique cable laying method and specialise in laying
cables for British Telecom throughout Scotland.
Population and Housing
Population wise Fetterangus is a "young" village, with less than
12% of its 360 or so inhabitants over retirement age. Children
and young people account for 25% of residents. 48% of the
population make up the available workforce. Only 15% of the
workforce is employed within the
village. 85% commmute to work elsewhere. Significantly, an
almost equal number of people commute daily into Fetterangus to
work.
Some 75% of housing in the village is owner occupied, the
remainder being public sector housing. 72% of all housing is
post-1930. 85% of private housing has been built (or
reconstructed) within the last 30 years. One of the earliest
cottages (8 Duke Street) bears the date 1795.
Observation Tower
Prominent to the west of the village is the Observation Tower in
Drinnie's Wood. This 18th century vantage point has recently
been redeveloped and is open to the public. Even from the base
of the Tower the views of the surrounding countryside on a clear
day are quite spectacular. Parking space is provided at the
pathway leading to the Tower a little way beyond Den o' Howie
Farm.
Walks
There are a number of popular Walks in the near vicinity, which
are described in a booklet covering many Walks within Central
Buchan. One takes you in a loop by the cemetery, the Standing
Stone at Gaval Farm and the Mill of Gaval.
Others are Forest Walks around Drinnie's Wood (with its
Observation Tower), the Stone Circle in Louden Wood, the
Racecourse and the White Cow Wood where there is again a- Stone
Circle-
Sculpted Stone
Affixed to the inner wall of the cemetery (to the right on
entering) is an ancient stone probably of Pictish origin. The
markings on the stone, weatherworn so as to be now barely
visible, are an ornamental cross and the Triad symbol of three
circles bound by a central line.
This symbol is found in both pagan and early Christian
monuments, representing the Divine Trinity to Christians and the
divine triad of Thor, Frey and Odin to those of early Norse
culture.
The Old Parish
The "Parish of Fetterangus" had since the time of Fergus been
allied to the coastal parish of Langley (now called St. Fergus)
to the north of Peterhead, but was formally separated in
November 1618 and united with Deer.
Interestingly, the old parish (landlocked within the northern
half of Aberdeenshire) was until 1890 judicially a detached part
of Banffshire.
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