An introduction to the History of Lhanbryde.

Except for the remains of a stone circle and some Neolithic pottery found near Urquhart, and some continuance of Pictish presence in place names still in use today with the prefix ‘Pit’, there is little evidence of early settlement, and little or none of Roman or Viking occupation in the area.

The Church of St Andrew was granted by William the Lion in 1187 to Richard, Bishop of Moray, and the first mention of the Church of Langbride was in the Bishop Bricius’ great charter of the foundation of the Canonries at Spynie (1208-1215), with the Bishop Andrew granting the manor of Lamnabride to Robert Hood and his wife Matilda in 1225. Langbride was next mentioned in 1280 when Malcolm of Moravia, knight, gave all his lands of Lamabride to his son William, and again in 1350 when Alexander de Menerys, Lord of Lambrid founded a chaplaincy.

In 1509 a deed mentions “The Temple Lands of Longbride”, perhaps a connection to the Knights Templars. James Stewart, Earl of Moray, had in 1529, charters relating to Longbride from his father James IV.

Throughout the following centuries, the rural areas surrounding the two churches were slowly inhabited with farming being the main occupation. Only a small settlement of a few cottages around the church of Langbride, later to become the village of Lhanbryde, existed until the early 19th century.

Educational establishments were first mentioned in 1742 with a Parish School in Langbride tutoring 30 scholars, 16 being taught Latin and 14 English. It is possible the school had been in existence for many years as it was described as being “in bad repair”.

There are mention of many schoolmasters over the years, but one William McPherson appointed in 1744 went absent from his duties for several months during 1746. It is thought he may have been involved in the Jacobite Rebellion.

Ninety years later a parochial school in Lhanbryd had 61 pupils and another day school with 23 pupils. The subjects being taught included English, English Grammar, Writing, Arithmetic, Mathematics and Book-keeping, with the Latin, Greek and French languages.

St Andrews Lhanbryd parish came about with the union of two earlier parishes, that of St Andrews and St Bridget, or Langbride, on the 20th May 1780, when a new church was built at Darklands, just to the northwest of Langbride.

The Reverend William Leslie, former minister of Langbride, who then became minister of the new parish, suggested in 1791 that the name should be standardised as there were so many different spellings in use for the name of the parish. The decision was taken to use the Welsh or Gaelic words Lhan and Bryd, or Bridget, meaning the Church of St Bridget, and so the modern name of the Village of Lhanbryd(e) was born.

By the middle of the nineteenth century the village had expanded along its single main street and became the most important settlement in the parish. Merchants and tradesmen set up their businesses, and along the Lhanbryde burn several mills were built, making the village less dependant on the Burgh of Elgin, some four miles away. During the twentieth century further expansion took place with new roads and housing estates being built to accommodate the ever increasing population now standing at just over 2000, with the Primary School and the recently expanded Community Centre involved as learning centres and for access to public agencies.

For further information on their publications, please contact Janet and Bruce Bishop at jmnbb.bishop@virgin.net or visit their website www.scottish-genealogical-research.co.uk

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Bruce B Bishop FSA Scot., “The Lands and People of Moray” Parts 9 and 10.