PerthshireCrieffStrathearn Local History

Crieff Home Guard After the onset of WW 2 , the safety of small towns  such as Crieff was in the hands of  what was termed  the LDVF – the Local Defence Force Volunteer This somewhat cumbersome title  was  changed  on the 9 th of August 1940 to the Home Guard . The BBC series  Dad’s Army ran from 1968 to 1977 with a number of well known “ vintage “ actors of the time including  Arthur Lowe as Captain Mainwaring ( pronounced Manner - ing ! )  , John Le Mesurier as Sergeant Wilson, Clive Dunn as Corporal Jones  and a host of others . This  sit com was based very much on the belief  that the Home Guard  was  made  of bumbling  incompetents  who were either  retired  or were in reserved  occupations .My own father  who was employed in the general office of  a large steel manufacturing company in the West of Scotland fell into  the latter category and I know how  seriously they took their task in their contribution to the Nations defence . I have in my possessi

Castle Cluggy and Loch Monzievaird   , Ochtertyre Loch Monzievaird ( above )    Sir Patrick Keith Murray with the castle in the trees  behind the crannog  Castle Cluggy We have discussed at some  length in these “ blogs “ the presence of  crannogs  or artificial islands  in Strathearn and north in Loch Tay in ancient Breadalbane in April 2013 ( http://perthshirecrieffstrathearnlocalhistor.blogspot.co.uk/2013_04_01_archive.html ) These are an incredible reminder to us  how and where our ancient forbearers dwelt and existed at  time  when native  soil was inhabited by wild animals as well as aggressive natives ! Loch Monzievaird  has  excellent examples of these crannogs  but in addition  on the north shore  lies one of Strathearn’s ancient dwellings , namely Castle Cuggy . Located and accessed from the west at Loch Mozvievaird Chalets , the Castle is very old , being described in 1467 as being “antiquum fortalicium” – an ancient castle ! T

Perthshire Crieff Strathearn Local History Blogs A Current Index The Blog has been running since February 2012 and has  published well over 100 stories of the Strath . This Index  will allow  you  to see clearly  what is  available . To look at the   chosen subject look at the "Archive " heading  on the right hand of the opening page an  click on the  year The Blogs are in chronological order so scroll down  till the  chosen one  is accessed .  1.        26 February 2012 : Welcome  ! 2.        26 February 2012 : Colin's Books on Perthshire 3.        27 February 2012 : The Lost Castle of Fowlis ! 4.        27 February 2012 : Gone ! Gone ! Gone! 5.        27 February 2012 : Ferntower House 6.        28 February 2012 : Our Shame Over Inchaffray Abbey 7.        1 March 2012 : Some Strathearn Names and their Origins  8.        5 March 2012 : The Crieff Coat of Arms 9.        11 March 2012 : Crieff some 6 000 years ago ! 10.    18 M