An Away Day With the Fairies in Brechin

 Is there something odd about Brechin? No, obviously not. But is there something supernaturally strange about the burgh? Maybe.

I only ask after uncovering the folk tale related below, which features Brechin as the favoured destination of a fairy queen and her hapless mortal abductee. Enjoy the tale for itself. I will be asking questions afterwards.

Brechin c. 1833

   In the book Dunblane Traditions, by John Monteath, first published in 1835, we are given many quaint historical traditions of the south Perthshire town. Also included (and this was a general nineteenth century trend) were picturesque pen portraits of eccentric and amusing characters who formerly inhabited the locality.

   The subject of this story was an old tailor nicknamed the Black Laird, who stuck to his old manner of clothing (blue bonnets and hodden grey clothes) long after the nation had moved on. Before the incident we are going to relate, the Laird had suffered an unsolicited encounter with the Devil, but afterwards he was loathe to communicate what had happened. His next supernatural encounter was decribed by Monteath as follows:

The Laird had been at Alloa on a visit to a friend, who accompanied him in the evening so far as Menstry, when, after a parting gill, they separated—the Alloa tailor returning by the way he came, and the Laird by the Brae of Menstry, as the nearest way home. At a green brae, adjacent to the farm-house of Loss, the Laird saw, by the clear moonlight, a vast number of little women in green-gowns collecting ivingle-straes, which they tied in small bunches. The Laird observed them with attention, while he leaned on the beam of a pleuch, which by chance was there, with the sock and coulter in the fur, as it had just been left by the ploughman not an hour before.

When the pigmies had collected about a handful each of the wingle-straes, one of them, a bonny little kimmer, stepped a-side to the Laird, and bade him just do with the pleuch-heam as he would observe her do with the handful of wingle-straes, and he should have a good supper before he went home. The Laird promised obedience, and accordingly, when he saw the Fairy Queen get astride upon her bunch of wingle-straes, he mounted his plough-beam. The Queen then waved her wand, crying, "Brechin to the Brithal," and instantly the whole group. Laird and all, having repeated Brechin to the Brithal, ascended in the air on coursers fleet as the wind, and white as the driven snow. 

They soon arrived at Brechin, entered the sumptuous apartments by the key-holes, preceded by the Fairy Queen; where, invisible to all the guests, they fared of the very best and savoury viands, and drank of the most delicious and costly wines. Having liberally partaken of everything good at Brechin, the Queen waved her switch and cried out, "Cruinan to the Dance," when presently the whole re-passed the key-holes "like a sough o' wind," and found their coursers below them on the outside, panting
for the dance at Cruinan. 

Up again they got, high in the air, and were instantly on the wings of the wind, flying to the dance, but just as they had returned to the spot whence they started the Laird, highly elated with the success of the adventure, could not help exclaiming, "Weel done, Watson's auld Pleuch-beam!" which, unfortunately for the Laird, had the effect of undoing the charm, and leaving him astride on the identical auld pleuch-beam, and exactly in the same position he had been previous to the commencement of his flicht to Brechin. The pretty  green-coated fairies, at the same time, disappeared, leaving the Laird to plod his way homeward in the best manner he could—a task which, with his good supper and wine, he felt no difficulty in accomplishing. 

It was of no use hinting to the Laird, when he told this story, that the Menstry gill with the Alloa tailor might possibly have occasioned his jiicht to Brechin during a nap on Watson's auld pleuchheam— and that instead of an old plough he had, in all likelihood, ascended on a gill-stoup. " Na, na," the Laird would reply to any such as ventured to question the truth of his story—" I couldna be mista'en, and ye ken weel aneuch there's mony ane been carried awa' by the fairies, an' never heard o' mair—forbye Davy Rae's wife o' Tullibody, that was seen ridin' on a clud twenty years after she was stown frae her ain man's side, ae Halloween night when he was sleepin'.

Brechin c. 1774

    Leaving aside the veracity of the man's kidnapping, we might first of all wonder where the scene of the abduction was. A prime candidate is the Hill of Airthrey, a notorious fair knowe located to the west of Menstrie. This place features in several other folk tales, including one in which a farmer's wife was kidnapped by the fairies which lived in the hill. He only managed to free her, some time later, when he made a random, odd physical gesture which broke the fairy spell. In another story, a farmer named Davy Rae made a compact with the fairies on the hill to steal away his errant wife.

   But why was Brechin the destination for the fairy adventure, I wonder? Is there anything which specially links Dunblane with Brechin. Both of course were centres of early Christianity: Brechin possibly had a Pictish monastery which was replaced with Irish clerics, while Dunblane seems to have been founded as a British ecclesiastic site dedicated to St Blane. The austere order of Culdees may have been prominent in both places before regular Roman priests and monks took over the establishments. 

   That apart, the matter is a mystery. There may be some special piece of buried lore about the Good People inhabiting the Ancient City of Brechin, but if there is, the tradition is as elusive as the fairies themselves, and I've never heard of it!

Tales of the Whales - Part Four

   To look back on Dundee's whale fishing industry is to wipe away the soot from a dirty window and peer in at a long gone where where everything is different. Not only is the idea of whale hunting abhorrent to modern sensibilities, the attitudes of those involved in the trade are sometimes difficult to discern. When the fishery was at its height the burgh was an odd mix of high poverty, entrepreneurial energy and religious intensity.  A story in George Martin's Dundee Worthies (Dundee, 1934, pp. 127-8) exemplifies this. The Greenland area was flourishing for Dundee ships in the first part of the 19th century. One whaling ship owner was a well to do merchant who resided in a mansion in the Nethergate. One of his chief employees was John Duncan, who was perturbed when his master's vessel did not return to the Tay after a whaling expedition at the dame time as other local vessels. After some delay it finally appeared on a Sunday morning and John eagerly went to tell his employer. A servant said the family were at breakfast, but John insisted on interrupting with his news. 'Mr T,' he burst out. 'The Greenland has come in and is anchored in the roads. ' His boss upbraided him for relaying this matter of business on the Sabbath, then his commercial senses kicked in and he asked, 'John, my man, did ye hear is she was weel fished?'  John Duncan, however, said he would take his boss's initial advice and leave the matter until the Sabbath was done and walked out of the mansion without a further word.

   Another, slighter anecdote from Dundee Worthies demands attention. A Dundonian lad called Jimmy was a new recruit to the whalers and was given his first major responsibility of taking the ships' wheel. He was told to steer straight according to a particular star in the sky. After about an hour the Captain noted that the ship was not ploughing the depth of water it should have been in. He went on deck and accosted the recruit: 'Why the - didn't ye steer for the star as I told you?' And Jimmy replied, 'Och! I lost yon star, but I found anither!' (p. 152)

Previous Posts on Whaling

Tales of the Whales Part One

Tales of the Whales Part Two: The Rise of Dundee and Montrose

Tales of the Whales Part Three: Strangers Brought Home

Ochterlony's Account of the Shire of Forfar - Part Three

  This is the third part of John Ochterlony's Account of the Shire of Forfar, written around 1682, and gives a fascinating, if brief and selective, picture of the county of Angus in the period.

 Links to previous parts of this work are at the bottom of this post.

Idvie. — The Laird of Gardyne of that Ilk, formerly spoken of, hath the most part of the Baronie of Gairdyne, except the house and maines which belong to a gentleman of the name of Ruthvene. Baronie of Idvie to Sir John Wood of Bonnietoun. Pitmowes, belonging to John Ogilvy, a grand-child of a second son of the House of Airlie; a good house well planted, and lyes pleasantly on the water of Evenie. Mr Ballvaird, minister. In the Diocese of St Andrews; Archbishop, patrone.


Guthrie. — The most part of the parish belongs to the Laird of Guthrie of that Ilk, a very ancient gentleman, and chief of his name; his house is well planted, good yards and orchards, good land, well grassed, and lyes pleasantly on the head of the water of Lounane in Strathbegg; Pitmowea and Commissare Wisehart have some interest there. Garbuddo, a gentleman of the name of Erskine, a cadet of the  House of Dun, lyes at a great distance from the kirk, and had a chapple of their own, wherein the minister of Guthrie preached every third or fourth Sabbath-day, but is now ruinous. It is abundantly served of peat and turf, not only for their own use, but for the service of the whole countrey 
about; is a murish cold countrey, and at a great distance from all gentlemen's houses and kirks about it. Mr Strachan, minister. In the Diocese of Brechine; Guthrie, patrone.






Panbryde, alias St Brigid.—The whole parish, except the Barronie of Panbryd, which belongs to the Earl Soutbesk, appertaines to Earl Panmure, wherein stands the house of Panmure, new built, and, as is thought by many, except Halyruidhouse, the best house in the kingdome of Scotland, with delicate gardens, with high stone walls, extraordinare much planting, young and old; many great parks about the new and old house, with a great deal of planting about the old house ; brave hay meadows well ditched and hedged; and, in a word, is a most excellent, sweet, and delicate place. The familie is very ancient and honourable, and has been alwayes very great, and were reckoned, before they were nobilitat, the first Barons of the shyre. They have allwayes been very famous for the loyaltie and good service to their Princes. Patrick Earl Panmure, grandfather to the present Earl, having served King James the Sixth and King Charles the First, of blessed memorie, loyallic, faithfullie, and truelie, in the qualitie of Bed-Chamber man, was advanced by King Charles the First to the dignitie of ane Earl, and did continue in his service and duetie to his Sacred Majestic in all his solitudes and troubles,through all the parts of the kingdome, in tlie tyme of the Rebellione; and afterward in all places of liis confinement, and at the Isle of Weight, till the bloodie traitors who afterwards imbrued their hands in his sacred blood, thrust

him from his attendance, but was the last Scotsman that attende his Majestic. 

It is lykwayes known liow the late Earl, his sone, being a colonell of horse, behaved himself when this present King, his Majestic, was in Scotland, both at Dunbar, Inverkeithing, and other places, and how his estate was robbed and spoylt by the usurper's forces here, and he fyned in a vast soume of money, whereby he was forced to redeem his estate from forrfaultrie. The place is also famous for that great battle fought there betwixt the Scots and Danes, wherein the Scots obtained a great victorie, and is called the Battle of Panmure.

There was one of the Lords of Panmure killed at the famous battle of Harlaw, and most of all his name in his Prince's service against rebells and usurpers. Balmachie, belonging to a gentleman of the name of Carnegy, of the Familie of Southesk. Mr Maule, minister. In the Diocese of Brechine; Earl Panmure, patrone, and has newly re-edified his buriall-place with a chamber above, with a loft in the kirk, most sumptous and delicate, lie hath at Panmure a most excellent breed of horse and cattle.

Barrie. — It belongs to severall heritors. Earl Panmure hath ane interest therein, and the whole parish pay him feu, hath a Bailiery, and keeps Courts there, Woodhill, Kid, a pleasant place. Grange of Barrie, Watsone. Ravensbay, pertaining to the Laird of Gairdyne of that Ilk. Pitskellie, Alexander. Carnoustie to Mr Patrick Lyon, Advocat; the rest are but small heritors. It is ane excellent countrey, good cornes, and well grassed. It is famous for that great battle fought betwixt the Scots and Danes in the Links of Barrie, wherein the Scots obtained the victorie, with great slaughter of both Scots and Danes, which is to be seen at this day by the great heaps of stones casten together in great heapes in diverse places of that Links, which is said to be the buriall of the dead there slain. Those of the Danes who escaped the slauchter of that battle fled with their general Camus, and were overtaken by the Scots four myles from that place, and defeated: their general Camus being slaine upon the place, with many others. Camus 
with all the dead were buried tnere, and a great high stone cross erected upon him, which is still extant, and gives name to the place, being called Camustone, and the pillar, the Cross of Camustone; it belongcth to the Earl of Panmure.

Within these two or thrie yeares the Cross, by violence of wind and weather, did fall, which the Earl caused re-erect and fortifie against such hazard in tyme to come. The remainder of the Danes that escaped that battle fled north-ward, where they were overtaken by the Scots at a place in this shyre called Aberlemno, ten myles distant from Camus-one, and there beat, and all of them, either killed or taken ; and there it is probable some great man was killed, there being ane cross erected there, and called the Crosstoun of Aberlemno ; they have both of them some antique pictures and letters, so wome out with tyme, that they are not legible, or rather, the characters are not intelligible in thir tymes. Barrie lyes midway betwixt Dundie and Arbroth, six myles distant from either. Mr Carnegy, minister. In the Diocese of St Andrews; the King's Majestie, patrone.



ANCIENT FAMILIES IN THE SHYRE.


Noblemen. — Earls Strathmore, Southesk, Airlie, Panmure, Lord Gray. Gentlemen. — Lairds of Edzell, Dun, Pitcur, Pourie, Fotheringhame, Fintrie, Claverhouse, Innerrarritie, Bonnietoune, Ouchterlony of that Ilk, Gairdyne of that Ilk, Auchinleck of that Ilk, Grange, Durhame, Balmashanner, Guthrie of that Ilk,Baljordie, Balfour, Ogilvy, Strathmartine, Nevoy of that Ilk, Buthvene, Deuchar of that Ilk, Thometoune of that Ilk.

Many great families are extinct in this shyre within these few years, as Earls Buchan, Dundie, Crauford, Lords Spynie, Olyfant, besydes many considerable barrens and gentlemen, whose estates are purchased by privat persones, and by merchants and burgesses of the severall burghs of the shyre.

The shyre is aboundantlie furnished of all things necessaro for life, such abundance of comes and cattle, that the consumption within the countrey is not able to spend the sixth part thereof.

I will add no more for our Familie of Ouchterlony of that Ilk but what I have said in the generall description of some places we have and had concern in, but that I have ane accompt of the marriages of the Familie these fifteen generations, viz. 1st, Stewart of Rossyth, in Fytfe; 2d, Maull of Panmure; 3d,

Ogilvy of Lentrathene, predecessor to the Lords of Ogilvy; 4th, Gray, of the Lord Gray; 5th, Drummond of Stobhall, now Perth; 6th, Keith, Lord Marishall; 7th, Lyon, Lord Glames; 8th, Cunninghame of Barnes: 9th, Stewart of Innermeath; 10th, Olyphant, of the Lord Olyphant; 11th, Scrimgeor of Dudope; 12th, Beatoun of Westhall; 13th, Peirsone of Loclilands; 14th, Carnegy of Newgait; 15th, Maull, cousine-germane to the deceist Patrick Earl of Panmure. All these are daughters of the above written families. The lamilie is very ancient and very great, having above fourteen score clialders of victuall, which was a great estate in those days.

My grandfather told me he saw a letter from Sir William Wallace, Governour of Scotland, directed to his trustie and assured friend, the Laird of Ouchterlony of that Ilk, requiring him in all haste to repair to him, with his friends and servants, notwithstanding his pass was not out; which pass did bear allowing him to travaill from Cunningharaehead to Ouchtermergitie, now Balmadies, which was his place of residence, about his lawfull affairs, and to repair to him againe in a short tyme therein prescrived—"for its lyke," sayes he, "we will have use for you and other honest men in the countrey within a

short tyme ;"—and accordingly the Barns of Air were burnt shortly thereafter.

The letter and pass are both together. Probablie the Laird of Drum, who purchased the estate, hath these and other antiquities of our Familie; but they cannot be had for the present. The armes of our Familie are thus blazoned—bears Azure, a lyon rampant, Argent, within a border Gules entoure, of eight buckles Or above the shield, ane helmet mantled Gules and doubled Argent ; and on the torse for a crest, ane eagle displayed Azure, with ane escallope in hir beek Argent, and the

motto above the crest — deus mihi adjutor.

Part One

Part Two