The largest pearl placed in the ancient Crown of Scotland came from the River Ythan, so tradition has it. The Ythan in Aberdeenshire, once known as the 'rich rig of Scotland' was the most likely origin of this and other pearls in the crown.
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| The Crown of Scotland, upgraded in1620 |
The Ythan —
or Ituna as it was known to the Romans — rises in the upper parish of
Forgue, from three springs which are collectively known as the Wells of
Ythan. Half a mile from these springs, the Ythan receives its first
tributary, the burn of the Sorrel — in Doric known as the Soorick Burn.
This is near the base of the Kirkhill of Logie, at the summit of which
are the final remains of three druidical circles.
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| The River Ythan, 'the rich rig of Scotland', meets the North Sea near Ellon. |
The Crown of Scotland on Wikipedia
Skene, in his Succinct View of Aberdeen,
says that it was “for beauty and bigness, the best that was at any time
found in Scotland.”
On account of these pearls which were
found in the Ythan, the river was once called “the rich rig of Scotland”
and although pearls are still found there, there is no regular fishery
for them.
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