PerthshireCrieffStrathearn Local History

 The Jacobites of Strathearn                                                                    Charles Edward Stewart "Butcher"  Cumberland     The Union of 1707 between Scotland and England was highly unpopular with the vast majority of the population in Scotland. Several articles of the Act of Union agreement were economically favourable to landowners in Scotland, but failed to deliver any economic advantages to the majority of the population for over thirty years. Discontent was widespread and food riots occurred in the east coast burghs as the effects of famine were compounded by union taxes. Although the situation induced resistance to union-economics, it didn’t translate as universal support for the Jacob ite cause of keeping the Stuarts on the throne in London. Many in Scotland now associated the Stuarts with Catholicism and suppression of the Protestant Kirk. The Union was designed to put an end to Jacobite hopes of a Stuart restoration by ensuring

Yes – These Are Really Strathearn Names ! Cultoquhey                                                                               Ysenda Maxtone Graham If one one Googles  “ Gorthy” ,one  comes  up with  a clutch of obscurities  who are in all probability enthusiastic  Facebookers  but  have without a doubt, little connection with the Strathearn place of that name  . You may of  course be fortunate to hit the name “ Gorthy Wood “ – now a Forestry Commission Scotland Wood , where  one can amble,  ad infinitum , and enjoy the pleasures  of rural Perthshire . There is however  a  much finite and exact  meaning to that old  word . Gorthy was a Barony of  Strathearn and is very much steeped in the history and story of our unique part  of Perthshire . In the beginning of the 13 th Century , then Estate of Gorthy was owned  by a Laird who bore the Christian name of Tristram  and used as a surname ( when surnames were not common ) – the designation of his lands –

McNee's Jamary about 1900 My recent   piece on cock fighting in Crieff in the   early part of the 19 th century proved an interesting look at   the way of   life   of yesteryear . The same little book “ Crieff in the Victorian Era “ contains   numerous   little gems . I have   singled out a brief essay looking at the Bridgend circa 1830s . Bridgend   was   very   much its own place in those days   and Bridgenders did   not consider themselves part   and parcel of the “ toon up the hill ” !As one   drives   south towards the bridge note the higgledy   piggy nature of the street scape   with   houses and cottages jutting out   at awkward   angles in total disregard   for a   uniform building line ! Many of these old cottages   still have   an appendage   at the rear which in days   gone by was   the loom shed – now transformed   by Ikea or its likes into   modern fitted kitchens ! This was a community dependant on weaving - initially wool, then  linen and then eventually cot

                                                                                           As   a collector   of the odd little   book or pamphlet , I never   cease   to enjoy what   was written   in days   gone by .   I procured a small booklet   many years   back from a local source   and   although   in a somewhat shabby condition, it is   full of    delightful little   cameos of the Crieff of yesteryear . Entitled “ Crieff in the Victorian Era”   by “ Dixon “ it   is on par   with Macara for its colloquial and couthy   delights !Written in    wonderfully   descriptive   style it   has   stood   out in my thoughts   for   many a year .     The   following is a tale   concerning what was Strathearn’s   main sporting interest in the early part of the 19 th Century . No it wasn’t football or golf   but   cock fighting . Not   acceptable in this day and age   and an undoubtedly cruel and somewhat barbaric past time , it   attracted much interest and following  

                                                                                                       The first Episcopal Church in Lodge Street  The new Relief Kirk aka Crieff Primary School Dining Hall      Crieff's first Baptist Church                                      The Relief Kirk as depicted in Porteous about 1910  Crieff's unknown buildings ! The Relief Kirk 2012 When future generations   study the social history of Strathearn and particularly the town of Crieff ,   one   specific   thing will no doubt   stand   out as being somewhat   different   from other parts of rural Scotland .   I refer specifically to the incredible   number of places of worship wide   scattered around with many located in the most surprising places. I am no expert in the ecclesiastical idiosyncrasies of our fore fathers but in   the course of a number of   years I have realised that much of what has   been written about the last few cen