Fochabers is a village in the Parish of Bellie, in Moray, Scotland, 10 miles (16 km) east of the cathedral city of Elgin as well as situated on the east financial institution of the River Spey. 1,728 individuals stay in the village, which appreciates a rich musical and cultural history. The village is also home to Baxters, the family-run maker of foods items. The village owes its existence to Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon (1743-1827). Throughout the late-eighteenth century, during the Scottish Enlightenment, it was classy for landowners to found brand-new towns as well as towns; these can be recognised around Scotland, due to the fact that unlike their precursors they all have directly, wide roads in generally rectangular layouts, a main square, as well as the houses built with their primary elevations parallel to the street. The occupants gained from more sizable residences, and also the Duke, it needs to be stated, taken advantage of not having the hoi polloi living in hovels right on the front door of Gordon Castle. Fochabers was founded in 1776, and is among the most effective instances of a prepared town. It is a sanctuary, with most of the buildings in the High Street noted as being of historic or building rate of interest, as is Bellie Kirk, the Roman Catholic church St. Mary's Fochabers, which houses jobs by remarkable artisans, as well as the Episcopalian church, Gordon Chapel, which boasts the biggest collection of Pre-Raphaelite tarnished glass in Scotland. Electrical energy was brought to the village in 1906 by Charles Gordon-Lennox, 7th Duke of Richmond provided from a little hydro-electric generating station integrated in 1905 in the Quarters district on the banks of the fast-flowing Spey. For a while in the mid-twentieth century, Fochabers was the residence of three duchesses - Hilda, Duchess of Richmond as well as Gordon; Ivy, Duchess of Portland and also Helen, Duchess of Northumberland. In between 1893 and also 1966 the town had a railway station, Fochabers Community, although after 1931 this was open only to products. For virtually three years, individuals of Fochabers advocated a bypass, as the town is positioned on the A96, the only direct route from Aberdeen to Inverness, and as a result experiences serious traffic issues. Construction service a bypass for Fochabers and also the adjoining town of Mosstodloch began on 2 February 2010 and also was completed in January 2012, at an expense of £31,500,000. The project was considerably delayed as a result of conflict concerning the recommended path, as well as exploration of a Neolithic settlement on the site of the bypass.