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Until 1187, the extensive lands of Culter along both
banks of the Dee were united under the stewardship of the Durward family of
Coull. This happy union was not to last and eventually Peterculter and Maryculter
became the twin parishes separated
by a river- the Dee -and by the vagaries of fate over 800 years
ago.
Today, the village of Peterculter finds itself within the boundaries of the City of Aberdeen ; Maryculter is part of the County of Kincardine.
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| The two were separated in the 12th century when William the Lion, King of Scots, gave a large grant of the lands of Culter, around 8,500 acres, which were south of the River Dee to the Knights Templar. |  |
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The Order of the Knights Templar was created to protect pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land.
The Knights made a distinctive sight in their white cloaks decorated with
the scarlet cross of the Order.
In 1225, a Preceptory of Templars was established by Walter Bisset of Aboyne. On the north bank, the lands of Culter were granted by King Alexander II to Robert Wauchope. A Chapel was built by the Templars, south of the River Dee, in 1287 which was dedicated to their patron saint, St Mary, The Blessed Virgin. A chapel had already been dedicated to St. Peter on the north bank of the river- so Culter was now divided into two parts: Peterculter and Maryculter |
| The Knights Templar became so wealthy and powerful they were disbanded, in 1312, by the Pope Clement V and King Philip IV of France. In the records of the Templars' trials which took place at the Abbey of Holyrood, Edinburgh in 1319 the name of the last Preceptor of the Templars, Willam de Middleton of the "tempill house of Culther" is noted. The land at Maryculter passed on to the Order of the Knights Hospitallers. They were also known as the Knights of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem. Their garb was a black cloak with a white cross. They remained until the Reformation when their lands passed to the Crown. However, in 1535, the Knights Hospitallers were able , by an Act of Parliament, able to feu their lands to "men of substance". Kingcausie estate was feued to the Irvine family, Auchlunies passed to the Collisons and Blairs to the Menzies. In 1827 the estate of Blairs was gifted by John Menzies to the Roman Catholic Church to establish a college for boys who wished to become priests. The college continued until 1986 and now houses the Blairs museum.
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The Church of St Mary, near Maryculter House, was in use
until 1782. The last minister of St Mary's is buried here, John Glennie
(1720-1801)
A table shaped stone in memory of the Reverend John Glennie, minister at Dalmaik for 13 years and at Maryculter for 39 years, bears a lengthy inscription in Latin extolling his virtues; it tells that he died in peace "after a life spent in preaching the Gospel, instructing the young and bringing up his children to live well and happily". A new parish church was built to the south- now the Kirktown of Maryculter . The tourist attraction Storybook Glen is close nearby. The City of Aberdeen Boys' Scout Association acquired part of the estate in 1935. This is now a camping and training ground for the Scouts of the area- Templar's Park. |
| The gravestone of Uphemia Arther who died in 1823, aged 102 years. |  |
KINCARDINE & DEESIDE DISTRICT COUNCIL