PerthshireCrieffStrathearn Local History

        The name   Auchterarder means “ the summit of the rising ground “ Apart from the town of that name it applies also to the parish   which was formed   when it   joined   with its   neighbour to the east , Aberuthven in the 16 th Century . The main rivers in the parish are the Earn and   the smaller Ruthven , In the 18 th century   there were some 11 mills   powered   by the   waters   of the Ruthven and made it a vital part of the economy of the parish , From an early date the   stone built   houses   were roofed   by a grey local slate which   was noted   for both for its   appearance and its durability .         Although the carrying out surveys and obtaining   accurate   census statistics   did not   start   until 1801( with the detailed   census from 1841 )   , we have available figures   from a survey carried out by Dr Webster in the 1770s He calculated   that there some 1194 persons in the parish   . By the 1790s   this had increased

  Fendoch The Forgotten          I accumulated   amongst   my post card   collection of Crieff and Strathearn a late Victorian   or early Edwardian picture of a horse   drawn charabanc ( bus ) drawn up at a place called Fendoch at the entrance   to the Sma Glen   and entitled “ Roman Camp , entrance   to the Sma Glen near Methven “ Apart   from the fact   that it was somewhat closer   to Crieff   than Methven , it   depicted a   scene all but   forgotten locally . In the days prior   to the automobile , it was a popular   excursion   for the better off citizens of the town   to   enjoy a Sunday afternoon trip up by horse drawn coach into the mysterious hinterland that lay northwards of the Strath . Indeed   until comparatively recently   there was an aging sign   painted on the gable end of a house   on East High Street stating “ McArthur’s Charabancs   trips to the Sma Glen ” The destination was the Amulree Hotel on the road to Dunkeld and Aberfeldy . An ol