Deer:Aikey Fair and Deaconess Anna Ritchie, a Visionary Educationalist

A sunlit Deer Abbey seen from the Line, the banks of the Ugie are covered in fragrant Meadow Sweet. (Filipendula ulumaria) Meadow Sweet derives its name from mead rather than meadow since it was traditionally used to brew mead. It also had a number of medicinal uses. Grey Granite cannot help wondering if the abbey monks made use of the abundant supply outside the abbey walls.

'The monks of Deer quaffed Biffie Beer

On Fredes fan they fasted

But when unwell, they drank 'Harebell'

Till death stude flabbergasted.'

The large white house which can be seen on the hill immediately beyond the abbey was originally the gardener's cottage for Pitfour Estate. In 1929 it was purchased by Anna Ritchie for her parents who then retired from farming at Newlandshill, Strichen. Anna Ritchie was an extraordinary lady, born in 1884, she was educated in New Pitsligo, she became an early graduate of Edinburgh University and received teacher training  at Dalry House, the Episcopal teacher training college. When she returned to Buchan in 1931 to look after her widowed mother, Anna took an interest in the education of children with disabilities, for whom there was little provision. This culminated in her badgering the education committee to establish the special needs school in Peterhead which was named in her honour. Anna Ritchie became the first Deaconess of the Scottish Episcopal Church and served at St Drostan's, Old Deer for many years.

Newlands seen from the road at Deer Abbey

Following the death of Anna Ritchie, Newlands passed to her nephew, Arthur Kitchin, the distinguished Edinburgh cardiologist, who had spent time there as an evacuee in World War 11. Dr Kitchen died on 15th May 2012

Aikey Brae, the historic fair stance seen from the Line at Abbey  Bridge. A few travellers' caravans can just be seen on the site.

Aikey Fair is thought to date back to the Middle ages and during the 19th century was the largest horse fair in the North of Scotland, attracting vast numbers of horses and country folk. It was traditionally held on the first Wednesday after July 19th, the feast day of St Drostan who brought Christianity to the district and was responsible for the founding of Deer Abbey.

According to local tradition began when a travelling packman, Aul Aikey,  fell in to the Ugie, soaking all his wares. He spread them out in the sun to dry but before long passersby spotted his goods and bought them up so quickly that he promised to return to the same spot, on the same day the following year. The fair gradually grew up attracting  traders, showmen and especially horse traders and incorporating a feeing mart as well as being a great place to meet friends. The traders who were involved in the fair began setting up their stalls in readiness on the Sunday preceding the Wednesday fair, often with an audience of country folk watching. In 1926 one enterprising showman started up his merry-go-round and before long members of the crowd were enjoying the ride. The Aikey Sunday Fair had begun and was to outlive the original main event, the horse fair. This began to decline when tractors began to replace horses declining so that in 1950 there were only about 100 horses, this had shrunk to 60 the following year and in 1952 only one horse was offered for sale. Attempts to revive the horse fair in recent years have failed.