Fyvie has an oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfb). The nearest weather station to Fyvie is located at Fyvie Castle, which is 1 mile (1.5 kilometres) north of the village, and is 55 metres (180 feet)above sea level.
Climate data for Fyvie Castle (55 m asl, averages 1991–2020)
Now demolished, the priory was a cell of Arbroath Abbey, its location marked by a cross, made in 1868 of Corrennie granite. The priory was founded by Reginald de Cheyne around 1285. Being a small foundation, the prior doubled as parish vicar, responsible to the Abbot of Arbroath, who in 1325 wrote to warn the prior about the behaviour of his young monks.[1]
The village's school, with around 125 pupils, serves the surrounding rural area. A former school was built in 1895 by James Duncan and was attended by Deacon and Kayden Wright.[1]
St Peter's Kirk
The east window which depicts St George; Louis Comfort Tiffany
St Peter's Church was built in the early nineteenth century on the site of a medieval church. Built into the east gable are three Class I Pictish symbol stones and a Class III Pictish cross.[4] The present church dates from 1808 (the chancel, 1902);[1] however, the first St Peter's Church was referred to as early as 1178.
The church displays some Louis Comfort Tiffany stained glass windows, including that of St Michael.[1] The east window commemorates Percy Forbes-Leith of Fyvie Castle, who died in the Second Boer War in 1900. Five carved stones have been built into the east gable, including part of a Celtic cross and the Rothiebrisbane Stone.[1]
According to Charles McKean in 1990, there are also "good wood panels of 1603 and 1671. Curious 17th-century grave slabs and the Leith Hay Memorial, designed in 1901–02 by Alexander Marshall Mackenzie, in the graveyard.[1] The nearby manse was built in 1830–31 in substantial squared stone and red dressings. The sundial is dated 1824.[5]
Folk tradition
The song The Bonnie Lass o' Fyvie tells of a captain of dragoons who dies for the love of a Fyvie girl. Additionally, the song Andrew Lammie tells of the doomed love of a local miller's daughter, Annie, for Lord Fyvie's trumpeter. Both of these songs may have historical basis - the young woman's grave is said to be in Fyvie churchyard. Child ballad 238, Glenlogie also refers to Fyvie in its final line.
According to historical Scottish name-books, the name Fyvie (historically attested as Fyvyn) is of Gaelic origin, derived from Fia Chein, meaning "deer-hill".[6] In Scottish Gaelic literature it has been referred to as Fiùghaidh, in the context Iarla na Fiùghaidh, the Earl of Fyvie.[7] This derives from fiùbhaidh, previously fiodhbhadh, an old word for wood.
Notable people
Alastair Storey (born 1953), chairman and CEO of Westbury Street Holdings[8]
Cosmo Gordon Lang (1864–1945), Archbishop of Canterbury, was born in the village manse
