The
Knights Templar appear to have had a base in the area, and a nearby site is still known as "Temple Brae". In 1273, the
Earl of Buchan founded the Hospital of St Congan for a master, six
chaplains and thirteen poor husbandmen of
Buchan, though it is believed to have been in ruins before the time of
the Reformation. These can be seen in the east gable of today's Episcopal church. In 1512, Turriff became Burgh of Barony with two fairs — Lammas Fair and St Congan's Fair — and founded a grammar school. Turriff's
mercat cross, a
red sandstone octagonal pillar, was built before 1557. Its base was widened by James Duncan in 1865, with sculpture by
Thomas Goodwillie. It had an iron railing around it in the 19th century. An earlier St Congan's church, now ruined, is medieval in date. Its eastern tower remains, capped with a richly-carved 1635 double
bellcote. The kirk's bell is dated 1556, and the clock (made in
Carnoustie) dates from 1797. It was still working as of 1990. Demolition in the 19th century exposed a brightly coloured
fresco of
St Ninian on a white background in the
splay of a window in the southern wall of the church. There is a record of a courtyard house (probably of the 17th century), known as Castle Rainy, which was used for a time as the town hall, in Castlegate until the late 19th century. Turriff was notable as the scene of the first engagements of the
Wars of the Three Kingdoms (1639–51). 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 "Raid of Turriff" and was followed a few days later by a minor engagement at nearby
Towie Barclay Castle known as the "Trot of Turriff". By 1796, said historian
Charles McKean, "the character of the town was set". "There were over double the number of ale and whisky houses than there were butchers," he added. Turriff prospered in the
Victorian era through agriculture, as evidenced by its solid red sandstone suburbs, and became known for its role as the centre of feeing for Buchan farm labourers. 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.
Sheriff's officers seized a cow from a local farmer who refused to pay National Insurance contributions for his workers. The officers had difficulty selling the cow, as locals were sympathetic toward the farmer. Eventually they brought in an outside auctioneer, but the auction was disrupted by protesters and the cow escaped. A statue of the "coo" was erected in 2010 in the town centre at the junction of High Street and Main Street and has become a popular emblem for the town. Historically, Turriff was an important centre for agricultural trade, with its mart being mentioned in the mid-19th century
Second Statistical Account of Scotland as one of the largest in the country. The mart finally ceased operation in December 1989, having been eclipsed by the newer Thainstone Mart at
Inverurie. At one time the town was served by
Turriff station on
Banff, Macduff and Turriff Junction Railway. The town was never fortified. ==Geography==