PerthshireCrieffStrathearn Local History

The House of Nairne Another Lost Gem From Our Heritage  The House of Nairne at Loak, 9km N of Perth, was ‘one of the finest seats of the Scottish Nobility’. It was the last major design of Sir William Bruce ( the King’s architect who designed Holyrood Palace ) and was constructed between c1706 and 1710. The owner, Lord Nairne was a staunch Jacobite and lost the estate after the 1745 rebellion. It was purchased by his cousin James Murray, the 2nd Duke of Atholl, who had no use for another large house. This combined with a possible desire to remove a Jacobite rallying point, led to Murray contracting George Sandeman of Perth to demolish the house and sell everything. This roup was carried out 1759 – 1764 and the site was   returned   to farmland.  One of the most famous  occupants  of the " auld hoose " was Carolina Nairne , who penned  more than a few Scottish songs  which are still sung .Carolina Oliphant or Lady Nairne was a Scottish song  writer . Many of her s

Samhain or Halloween ?? A Look Into Our Past traditions As a war time babe , I recall growing up in the ‘40s and looking   forward   to celebrating   Halloween at the end of October . Things   change with time .In those   far off days we went   guysing with our turnip lanterns to immediate neighbours and   after performing   and entertaining them with a   short poem , a   song   or   perhaps   even a few stale jokes ,   we   would   be   given our “ Halloween” . This was usually a couple of apples or a banana or orange. I f we were extremely   fortunate   we might   even   be   the recipients   of a   handful of “ coppers “ . Such was the simplicity of life in an age when the internet   , mobile phones did   not exist and   the telly was in its   black and white infancy . The term “ trick   or treat   “ resided alone across the Pond and was unheard of   in the outlying regions of auld Scotia.   The turnip lantern seems to have given way to its pumpkin cousin which in ref

Muthill  1832  Voters Roll Very important  as it is the much enlaerged list of  voters qualifying  because  of the Reform Act  of that year.. Many of the new entrants were  farmers  who qualified on the basis of their rental value . Alphabetical List of the  ELECTORS Of  The Parish of Muthill In  The County of Perth   1832 A James Anderson, wright, proprietor, houses and lands ,Braco James Arnott, farmer, tenants , lands and house, Upper Concraig B Edward Bayne , farmer , joint – tenant , farm lands , and houses, Lurg John Bayne , farmer ,joint - tenant , lands and houses , Lurg John Bayne , farmer , tenant, lands and houses, Ochtermuthill William Brydie , farmer , tenant , lands and houses , Middle Feddal Andrew Brydie , farmer , tenant , lands and houses , Berrydyke  Robert Graham Burden , residing in Edinburgh , proprietor , houses and lands, Easter Feddal James Bennet, carpenter, owner , gardens and houses , Muthill Co