Turriff is thought to have been the capital of Lathmon, a Pictish principality, and its ancient ruined church dating from the 12th Century was dedicated to St Comgan who gave his name to the annual Cowan Fair. The lands of Turriff were given to Arbroath Abbey in 1214 and a hospital was founded here in 1272 by Alexander
Comyn, Earl of Buchan. Turriff figured briefly in the nation's history when in 1639 it was the scene of a famous encounter between Royalist and Covenanting forces at which it is alleged 'the first blood was spilt in the great civil war'. Much later in 1913 a battle was fought against Lloyd George's National Health Insurance scheme by a local farmer,
Robert Paterson, whose refusal to participate gave rise to the celebrated incident of 'the Turra Coo'.
(1990) Banff and Buchan: An Illustrated Architectural Guide.