New Pitsligo:

New Pitsligo lies on the A950 Peterhead to Banff road, and is but a mile off the A98 road from Fraserburgh to Banff. The village lies on the eastern slope of Turlundie hill, with views overlooking the hinterland of Buchan and out to the North Sea. It is surrounded by fertile farmlands improved down through the generations by hard work, and by peat mosses (or peat bogs).

Described once as a tired and somewhat dreary place, the village has been transformed quite remarkably over recent years into a revived and vibrant community whose residents are not yet satisfied that the task is complete

The village has an active Community Council which has organised much voluntary work.
The local authorities have helped considerably, with landscaping and tree planting along both sides of the main street demonstrating their ongoing commitment to New Pitsligo.

The village Square has been greatly enhanced and a new recreation area has replaced the old football pitch to the east of the Square.

Buildings Old and New.
The buildings in the village reflect both the old and the new. Many of the properties are listed buildings. St. John's Episcopal Church is listed under category B, and sixteen other buildings are listed under category C.

Many old houses have been renovated and modernised. Indigenous villagers and newcomers alike have restored, enlarged and modernised many roundown and even derelict properties.
Others have built attractive houses on what were vacant unkept sites.

Forbes Court sheltered housing complex was opened in 1986.

Historical Background
The lands of Pitsligo were the property of the Lords Pitsligo until the 18th century, and were forfeited by the last Lord Pitsligo because of his support for the losing side in the second Jacobite rebellion of 1745.

Part of the estate eventually went to his grand-nephew Sir William Forbes of Monymusk, a man of considerable wealth with banking interests in Edinburgh. It was he who founded the present village of New Pitsligo around the existing small hamlet of CYAAK (pronounced Ki-yack). Cyaak
even today is the byname for New Pitsligo and residents revel in being referred to as 'Cyaakers'.

To encourage settlers, Sir William charged little for the feus (traditional ¼ acre plots) in the village, and spent considerable sums in planning and laying out the mile long High Street. He offered settlers land (feus), stone (granite) for building, and peat for their fires from the nearby mosses.

Low Street and School Street were soon added, with their connecting lanes, and the Denburn was made a relaxing central feature by tree planting.At its peak the village had 2000 inhabitants and claimed the distinction of being the largest village in Scotland. It then had four churches and two schools.

The present population is around 1200. Two churches remain, and we have a thriving primary school.

The huge peat bogs, swept by cold winds from the north and east, must have offered a daunting propect to the early settlers but they dug themselves in producing peat from the moss and granite from the quarries.

Many of the menfolk developed great skill as masons and builders. The then relatively infertile land was worked by peasant farmers. Weaving and lace making flourished.

New Pitsligo Lace
Lace making was introduced to the village in the 1820's. Tradition has it that Lady Forbes brought the first lace makers up from her estates in Devon, but other accounts say the art was brought to New Pitsligo by a lady from Huntly.

New Pitsligo lace makers work the straight edge on the left of the pillow in the continental style, suggesting a strong European link.

Dean Webster, rector of St. John's Episcopal Church from 1841 -1893, turned the practice into a thriving industry and found outlets for the product in Africa and America. Queen Victoria is said to have been particularly fond of New Pitsligo lace.

The art has been passed down, without written instructions, for generation to generation and an active lace club of adults and children carries on the tradition today.

The Parish Church
The village lay within the ecclesiastical parish of Tyrie and a Chapel of Ease was built near the top of the hill of Turlundie in 1799, the Rev Alex Farquhar being ordained its first minister on May 28th of that year.

On January 21st 1853 New Pitsligo was disjoined from Tyrie and became a parish "Quoad Sacra". The church has beautiful lancet windows surmounted by decorative crosses, and an artistic belfry (the bell is inscribed "J Warner & Sons, London, 1853"). There are galleries on
three sides, in one of which is affixed a white tablet to the memory of The Reverend John Sharp, 25 years Schoolmaster and 33 years Pastor.

The kirkyard is old and interesting. One of the early headstones is "To the memory of Joseph Henry, inkeeper in New Pitsligo during the space of 32 years-from the year 1788". Mr Henry died 6th June 1820.

The Church of St John the Evangelist
Tne present Scottish Episcopal Church was completed in 1871 and replaced an earlier church erected about 1835. Designed by George Edmund Street, it is one of the best examples of his work in Scotland and was built by local labour. One of the memorial windows commemorates
William Mitchell, "Master mason of New Pitsligo, co-partner in the building of this church".

The Church has an unusual crypt supported by a central pillar. Six stained glass windows commemorating nine rectors of the church and its great patron Lord Clinton and an organ commemorating the Rev Wm. Webster, was presented by J. H. Bridges in 1898 in memory of his father. The churchyard here too has many old and interesting headstones. Canon
Bridges.

Schools
New Pitsligo and St. Johns Primary School for pupils up to secondary school age. There is also a pre-school toddlers group and playgroup for children aged three to primary age. Secondary school pupils are educated at Mintlaw Academy and Fraserburgh Academy.

The Public Hall
The Public Hall is one of the best in the area. Built in 1896 it was extensively renovated in 1969. It is owned by the village itself.

Events
Annual events include the Flower Show, held on the first Saturday of September, a Visual Arts Exhibition during the last weekend of September (including paintings, photography, 3D work and crafts), and Highland Dancing Festivals are also held.

Public Library
This listed building was the original village school and among its later uses became a shoemaker's shop. It was dismantled stone by stone in 1991, each stone being carefully numbered, and completely rebuilt to re-open in early 1992.

Four C's Cafe & Craft Shop
Run as a publicly owned community business this is a recent innovation which has benefited both visitors and local people.

It is open seven days a week from March to October for meals and snacks. Bus parties can be catered for by arrangement.

Bowling Green
Our bowling green was laid out in the early eighties on the site of the old tennis courts and has a clubhouse which caters for indoor bowling. Knowledgeable bowlers know it as one of the best greens in the north east.

Facilities
We have a football field, sports pavillion, and several scenic public country walks. Some of the housing estates have play areas for children. There is also a police office, and a doctor's surgery on School Street. There are two motor repair garages where vehicles can also be bought.

John Smith & Sons - Bakers
John Smith founded his family business in 1903, starting off by baking and selling his own products.The business expanded over the years and the third generation of Smiths have thriving factories in New Pitsligo and Aberdeen, along with excellent retail shops selling their quality
products including their renowned butter biscuits and oatcakes. Carry-out meals are also provided.

Other information
The village is well served by numerous other businesses and retail outlets. We have three licensed hotels (although neither of these provide accommodation) plus the Royal British Legion club, and two banks. There is also a grocery store and a post office and grocery store combined. These, along with the School, provide the main employment within the village, and many inhabitants work with the rural business of Lovie and Lovie Construction.

There is a daily bus service to Aberdeen and several to Fraserburgh. There is also a Buchan circular bus which travels to other villages in Buchan, where a connection can be made to Aberdeen.

An incredible range of active voluntary organisations and groups is sustained by the relatively small number of people resident within our Community Council area.

Leisure activities abound and Northfield Farm Museum and Bonykelly Dam (Reservoir) with its trout fishing are within easy reach.

New Pitsligo has a facinating history and is today, a lively and interesting modern village worthy of the attention of our visitors.