PerthshireCrieffStrathearn Local History

A Possible Roman Road Cutting at Innerpeffray Library Archaeologists have known for a number of years that a well preserved road cutting adjacent to Innerpeffray library was almost certainly of Roman origin. A dig was organised in June 2004 funded by the Perth & Kinross Heritage Trust. It coincided with the Exhibition being held that month in the Library “Crieff from 1745 “. The Library itself sits atop an eroded “drumlin “(a hillock formed by glacial deposits) besides a sheer cliff overlooking the Earn. The theory was that this road was constructed by the Romans to bring traffic up from the crossing of the river at the old ford connecting with the road in and around Parkneuk further northwards. The Romans had a fort at Strageath on the south bank of the Earn and this was part of the road system linking then Gask Ridge watch towers and fortlets. The initial survey levelled the area and discovered that the road had a gradient of about 1:5.7 which would h...

We have   had a look at some of the Strath’s megoliths in recent Blogs . Here a few more . Would   recommend getting a copy of my old   mate Andrew Finlayson’s The Stones of Strathearn – a great wee   book   and beautifully produced . Monzie Stone Circle   ( OS Ref NN882243 ) This   stone circle   lies   within the Grounds of Monzie Estate   some   2 miles or   so from   Crieff. There are some ten stones set with their broader faces facing inwards on the circumference of a circle some 17 feet in diameter (5.18 metres). When were thy erected and why ? Probably around 3 000 BC . The   exact purpose of the circle is   unclear but Andrew Finlayson in his book describes an interesting   experience   near   his   home base at Tullybannocher    just outside Comrie . “ Standing a little way off ( the stones ) I watched as the moon   set between the rifle   fore –...

Strathearn Fairs St Thomas the Apostle - the original patron Saint of the Town The Fairs in Strathearn as elsewhere were anciently sanctioned by the Church , and derived their name from some saint . In 1745 , the following Fairs were held as under : St Mavains , at Fowlis Wester on 26 th October . St Thomas , at Crieff on 21 st December . St Patrick’s , at Strageath ( Lady Market) on 17 th March . St Frances , at Crieff , on the 3 rd Tuesday of June .                   Michaelmas , at Crieff , on 29 th November . This last was the greatest cattle market in Scotland   and was , by Act of Parliament, removed in 1773 , to Falkirk   . In 1734 the customs of the Fairs of Crieff and Fowlis Wester , collected for the Earl of Perth by Thomas Caw , Milnab , amounted to nearly £600 Scots . From this was paid a large sum to the market guards and pipers , and for entertainment given by the Earl to his te...

The Fairs in Strathearn as elsewhere were anciently sanctioned by the Church , and derived their name from some saint . In 1745 , the following Fairs were held as under : St Mavains , at Fowlis Wester on 26 th October . St Thomas , at Crieff on 21 st December . St Patrick’s , at Strageath ( Lady Market) on 17 th March . S              St Frances , at Crieff , on the 3 rd Tuesday of June .                Michaelmas , at Crieff , on 29 th November . This last was the greatest cattle market in Scotland   and was , by Act of Parliament, removed in 1773 ,to Falkirk   . In 1734 the customs of the Fairs of Crieff and Fowlis Wester , collected for the Earl of Perth by Thomas Caw , Milnab , amounted to nearly £600 Scots . From this was paid a large sum to the market guards and pipers , and for entertainment given by the Ea...

The Dargill Standing Stone near the A822 Crieff - Muthill Road    Most of us  have  passed this ubiquitous  stone  standing solitary guard as you enter the town . The Dargill or MacLaren's  stone has been around for  some 6 000 years and is older than  the Pyramids of Egypt. Archaeological investigation over the years has  revealed more of its origins than one would have imagined . In 1911 archaeologist FR Coles  revealed that two similar  stones had  been removed two years earlier in 1909 . The  existing stone stands 2.4 metres high ( 7 '10" )and is almost square in cross section ( 1.5 x 1.2 metres at base . ) Aerial photographs show crop marks  that suggest the standing stone was once  part of a complex landscape . There are four large pits  near the stone and to the east of it are smaller pits  arranged in a  circle with a diameter  of some 40 metres .Coles...