Turriff

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Turriff is a town and parish in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is approximately 166 feet above sea level.

Turriff is known locally as "Turra" in the Doric dialect of Scots. The name appears to be Scottish Gaelic in origin, from torr meaning a mound or round hill, or tur meaning a tower.

Turriff has a primary school (Markethill Primary School) and a secondary school. People from the surrounding areas, including the villages of Cuminestown, Fyvie and King Edward attend the secondary school.

An annual two-day agricultural show is held in Turriff.

[edit] History

The Knights Templar appear to have had a base in the area, and a spot of land nearby is still known as "Temple Brae".

Early in 1639, the Marquis of Huntly assembled his forces here, and thereafter went to Kintore in lower Aberdeenshire, eventually marching from there to Aberdeen itself. The Marquis — being informed shortly after his arrival in Aberdeen that a meeting of Covenanters was to be held in Turriff on the fourteenth of February — resolved to disperse them, by occupying the town with 2000 men. The incident was known as the "First raid of Turray".

More recently, the 1913 Turra' Coo incident in the parish was the result of a local refusal to pay National Insurance when this was introduced by Lloyd George's government.