Place:Coull, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

[From A New History of Aberdeenshire, Alexander Smith (Ed), 1875], available on GENUKI

Coull, or Cult, both being from the Gaelic, Cull, which signifies "the back lying place or country," and is a very appropriate description of the position of this parish, which lies behind, or at the back of that extensive ridge of hills which run from Corrennie and Benaquhalie, by the hill of Corse, and Tirebeggar, to the Mortlich in Aboyne, where the ridge terminates.

It is bounded on the north by the parish of Leochel-Cushnie, on the east by the parish of Lumphanan, on the south by the parish of Aboyne, and on the west by the parishes of Logie Coldstone and Tarland.

Its greatest length in a direct line from north-east to south-west is about 9 miles; and its greatest breadth from southeast to northwest, also in a direct line along the "Howe of Cromar," is about 3½ miles. The whole area of the parish, including the portion attached quoad sacra, to Leochel-Cushnie, is estimated to be 9,053 acres.

The valley of Coull extends from below Balnagowan, in the parish of Aboyne, up to near the village of Tarland. The parish embraces both sides of the valley up to Bogmore, but it only embraces the west side from Bogmore up to Tarland. The lowest point on this stream, on the Aboyne boundary, is about 410 feet above sea level, and the highest point near Tarland is 430 feet. The highest land in the south-west division is on Gellan, and the Scarhill of Tillyduke is about 930 feet above sea level. On the ridge which forms the eastern boundary, the Mortlich hill, which overlooks Aboyne, is 1,247 feet above sea level; the highest point on the old Tirebeggar road, which leads from Lumphanan into Coull, is 1,313 feet; and the highest point on this ridge (the Leadlich), which bounds the O'Neil Corse lands and Lumphanan, is 1,563 feet. The Cross road, near Camphill in Lumphanan, is 937 feet; Corse Castle, in the valley of Corse, is 831 feet; and the Aberdeen and Tarland turnpike road, on the boundary between Coull and Tarland parishes, near to Tillylodge, is 529 feet.

[From F. H. Groome, Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland (1882-4), available on Gazetteer for Scotland

[Coull Castle], at the opening of the 13th century, was the seat of the great Durward family, of whom it was said that, a Durward dying, the church bell of Coull tolled of its own accord. A stately pile, it measured some 50 yards square, and had five turrets and four hexagonal towers. Corse Castle bears date 1581, and, though long roofless, is comparatively entire. The lands of Corse, forming part of the barony of Coull and O'Neil, were in 1476 bestowed on Patrick Forbes, armour-bearer to James III [of Scotland], and youngest son of the second Lord Forbes. Among his descendants were Patrick Forbes (1564-1635), Bishop of Aberdeen from 1618; and his son, John Forbes (1593-1648), the scholar and Episcopalian confessor, whose estate was repeatedly ravaged by the famous freebooter Gilderoy. The bishop's male line failing with his grandchildren, Corse passed to the Forbeses of Craigievar, and now is held by the late Sir John Forbes' second son, James Ochoncar Forbes, Esq. (b. 1837; suc. 1846), who owns 1946 acres in the shire, valued at £1679 per annum. His modern mansion, near the old castle, is 3¼ miles NW of Lumphanan station, and 4¾ NE of Coull church. Two proprietors hold each an annual value of £500 and upwards, 2 others holding between £100 and £500.

Population Growth

Populations 1801-1951 from A Vision of Britain through Time (http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk).
2001 population from Scotland’s Census (https://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk).

Research Tips

There was formerly a note on this page that the parish was linked to the Presbytery of Kincardine O'Neil, Synod of Aberdeen, Scotland. It would appear that since 1975 the organization of the presbyteries and synods has been revised. Readers are reminded that the Church of Scotland is Presbyterian in nature while in England the Church of England is Episcopalian. (See Wikipedia. )

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