Frequently updated web files presented as a comprehensive and expanding one-stop online Gazetteer on Blairgowrie and Rattray. Focuses on accommodation options, activities, art, business, churches, commerce, community, culture, cuisine, customs, disability accessibility, economy, education, employment, entertainment, environment, fauna, flora, food, gardens, geography, getting around, golf, government, history, homes and housing, internet access, local groups and organizations, media, music, politics, public transport, religions, sports, traditions, travel, tourism, vacation planning, vital statistics, walking, wildlife, winter sports, etc. For tourists, business visitors, employers, employees, newcomers, researchers, retirees, scholars.
Scottish town and twin burgh near Perth and Dundee and 58 miles north of Edinburgh
By Keith A. Forbes at keithaforbes@sky.com. Keith. a disabled travel writer. lives in Rattray, Perthshire, with his wife Lois.
| Welcome to Blairgowrie and Rattray | Blairgowrie accommodation and services | Blair Links | Disabled Concerns |
| Email us | Forbes Clan (2 files) | General John Forbes | Ashcroft, Brora, Sutherland |
Blair businesses, civic groups, entities and organizations that would like to be listed here with a free courtesy link to their website should first be prepared to create a free courtesy link to this site at http://www.blairgowrieandrattray.org.uk. Once done, this site will promptly create a free courtesy link to their website. Please note it's not a practical proposition to link to/mention or continue to show businesses and websites that would like this site to mention them but won't mention us on their website.
Blairgowrie Town Centre, May 2010 photos by the author
Summary of distances from Blairgowrie:
Aberdeen, 69 miles
Aberfeldy, 30 miles
Alyth, 5 miles
Balmoral Castle, 44 miles
Braemar, 33 miles
Coupar Angus, 5 miles
Crieff, 34 miles
Dundee, 19 miles
Edinburgh, 60 miles
Glasgow, 76 miles
Glenshee (for skiing) 18 miles
Inverness, 112 miles (along A9, often slow, lorry-bound and usually one lane each way, tiresome).
Perth, 18 miles
Pitlochry, 25 miles
St. Andrews, 32 miles
Scone Palace, 15 miles
Sterling, 49 miles
Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, 59 Miles (for annual Lonach Highland Games)
All, except Inverness and further north, less than a 90-minute drive away. Around 90% of Scotland's population live within a 90-minute drive of Blairgowrie and East Perthshire.
Twinned with Fergus, Ontario, Canada http://www.fergus-ontario.com and Pleasanton, California, USA http://www.ci.pleasanton.ca.us/. Other places with the name of Blairgowrie - but unlike Fergus and Pleasanton not twinned with the town, no one has yet thought to initiate it - include Blairgowrie, Randburg, South Africa, 7 km from Johannesburg, west of Sandton. See Blairgowrie Gauteng at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blairgowrie,_Gauteng. Also see http://www.sa-venues.com/attractionsga/blairgowrie.php; Blairgowrie Drive, Blairgowrie, Gauteng, South Africa 2194; Blairgowrie, Victoria, Australia, http://www.whereis.com/VIC/Blairgowrie#session=MTA= and Blairgowrie, Middlesbrough, UK. Also see "A Place Called Blair" at Blair Society http://www.blairsociety.org/blplace.html. There is also a Blairgowrie Drive in Henderson, Nevada NV89044, USA.
Hometown or birthplace of notables including George Anton, actor (films include K-19, The Widowmaker, many more); Andy Clyde, actor. Born: Mar 25, 1892 in Blairgowrie. Died: May 18, 1967 in Hollywood, California. Active: 1920s to 1950s. Major Genres: Western, Action. Career Highlights: Three Men from Texas, Roughly Speaking, Hoppy Serves a Writ. First Major Screen Credit: Water Wagons (1925). There's a memorial to him in Blairgowrie; David Clyde, actor (Scarlet Claw, etc). http://www.answers.com/topic/david-clyde-1; Andrew Clark, actor (The DaVinci Code, etc); Jake Findlay, professional footballer in England); Hamish Henderson, actor (Play Me Something, etc); Tommy Newcomen. Blairgowrie accordionist and entertainer whose 2009 DVD is entitled "Music From The Mists Of Time"; Andy Stewart, singer and guitarist; Belle Stewart, singer, 1920s era. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belle_Stewart.
Blairgowrie and Rattray is today an interesting town with many shops. Because of its peculiar traffic flow and where traffic lights are situated there are often traffic jams in the Wellmeadow area and nearby, especially in summer. The town is centrally situated in Scotland for visitors for all over the Eastern, Western and Northern Scottish Highlands, with good facilities for skiers going to Braemar and beyond. Travelling south on the A9 main road, Blairgowrie and Rattray are accessed from Pitlochry via a scenic route or from Dunkeld, also scenic and somewhat more direct, or via Perth and Scone. They are about 1 1/2 hours north from Edinburgh, 30 minutes north from Perth and Dundee, one hour south west of Aberdeen and 2 1/2 hours south of Inverness. They are close to the main north-south artery road routes of the A9 to Inverness and the A90 to Aberdeen, and the spectacular A93, Deeside National Tourist Route, runs through our area to the dramatic mountain scenery of Glenshee and onto Royal Deeside. There are busy mainline train stations at nearby Perth, Pitlochry and Dundee, with an additional railway stop at Dunkeld on the Dunkeld to Blairgowrie Road. There are regular bus services in areas including Blairgowrie and Rattray from Perth and Dundee. Bus routes 57 and 59 take about an hour to get to Dundee from Rattray. Major airports are 60 miles away at Edinburgh, somewhat further but still within easy distance from Glasgow and Aberdeen, with a much smaller air service from Dundee and with Scotland's European ferry port at Rosyth about an hour away by car.
Ordnance Survey grid reference: NO 178452
Latitude and longitude. Between north latitude 56 degrees, 25 minutes, 6 seconds and 56 degrees, 35 minutes and 44 seconds; and between west longitude 3 degrees, 20 minutes and 3 degrees, 20 minutes and 45 seconds.
Area of town and vicinity (former parish, now postal area of Blairgowrie); about 11 miles from north to south and about 8 miles east and west.
Public Transport: how to get here and back. National Rail Enquiries. phone 08457 484950. Or Traveline 0870 6082608. By bus, coach. No train service to Blairgowrie (stopped in 1965 after running since 1855). However, there is train service from the majority of places in the UK - see (a) East Coast train service route map at http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/Documents/PDFs/ECRouteMap.new.pdf - to Dundee or Perth (both 18 miles away, both with many services including car hire and periodic buses) and Dunkeld (no care hire service locally, only an infrequent bus);or (b) the Virgin Trains route map at http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/routes-stations/.
Population: estimated at 8,090
Lieutenancy and county: Perth and Kinross (see below) of which the county capital and nearest major town/city is Perth (18 miles south). See http://www.perthshire.co.uk.
Local authority (Council area) is Perth and Kinross Council, at http://www.pkc.gov.uk. Enquiries at email enquiries@pkc.gov.uk. Blairgowrie and Rattray are in Ward 3 (top right of graphic below), referred to as "Blairgowrie and the Glens." Ward 3 has Councillor Bob Ellis (SNP), email rsellis@pkc.gov.uk; Councillor Elizabeth Grant (SNP), email eagrant@pkc.gov.uk; and Councillor Caroline Shiers (CON), email CSheirs@pkc.gov.uk.
Perth and Kinross Council area
Perth and Kinross Council Tax bands. Band A, up to and including £27,000; Band B over £27,000 and up to £35,000; Band C over £35,000 and up to £45,000; Band D over £45,000 and up to £58,000; Band E over £58,000 and up to £80,000; Band F over £80,000 and up to £106,000; Band G over £106,000 and up to £212,000; and Band H over £212,000. The problem with this formula is that it is completely out-of-date, based on early 1990s housing valuations. Today, in 2010, the average home property value in Scotland according to Zoopla and other entities is over over £152,000 which means that according to the Perth and Kinross Council Tax band formula the average property should be in Band G. In fact, 1990s banding still applies for long-term local homeowners, which means they are paying much lower council taxes based on 1990s valuations while newer local homeowners have been paying much more, based on much newer valuations.
EU Parliament: Scotland.
Post town: Blairgowrie
Post Office: Back of Somerfield, Wellmeadow Garage, Wellmeadow, Blairgowrie PH10 6NQ. Phone 01250 872766. (No longer at 66-68 High Street). Open Monday to Friday 0900 to 1730, Saturday 0900 to 1230.
Postcodes: PH10 (for Blairgowrie and Rattray): PH13 for Coupar Angus, Blairgowrie
Telephone dialing: 01250 for Blairgowrie national calls, 1250 from international areas
TV Switchover from analogue to digital. Region: STV North. The second and last procedure occurred throughout Blairgowrie and area on 18th August 2010.
Telephone Directory Area: Dundee and Perth. Blairgowrie code is 01250.
Electricity Emergency: Scottish Hydro Electric at 0800 300999: Scottish Power 0845 2727999
Gas Emergency: Transco, call 0800 111999
Police and emergency: Tayside Police at http://www.tayside.police.uk/. Emergency calls 999. Non-emergency 0300 111 2222.
Blairgowrie Registrar. For couples getting married, etc. Miss Ruth Ingham, Council Buildings, 46 Leslie Street, Blairgowrie PH10 6AW. 01250 877002. Fax 01250 976029. Email bregistrar@pkc.gov.uk
Neighbourhood Watch: East Perthshire Neighbourhood Watch Association at http://www.epnwa.org.uk
Newspapers: Daily, except Sunday. (i) The Courier (Dundee), http://www.thecourier.co.uk, email courier@dcthompson.co.uk. Perth and Perthshire edition, was 48p until late January 2011. When it switched thereafter to a smaller edition it also raised the price significantly, to 60p. (ii) Perthshire Advertiser, and (iii) the weekly Blairgowrie Advertiser, now 85p, also with a recent substantial price increase, the local arm of the Perthshire Advertiser.
Fire: Tayside Fire and Rescue Service at http://www.taysidefire.gov.uk/
Ambulance: Scottish Ambulance Service at http://www.scottishambulance.com/
National Health Service (NHS) Tayside: at http://www.nhstayside.scot.nhs.uk/. Blairgowrie and area/region are in NHS Tayside's Perth and Kinross Community Health Partnership (CHP) - see http://www.nhstayside.scot.nhs.uk/chp/pkchp/services-partnership.shtml.
NHS 24 for out-of-hours emergency: Hotline 08454 242424
Blairgowrie Community Hospital (BCH): http://www.nhstayside.scot.nhs.uk/patients/hospital/BLAIRGOWRIE_COM_HOSP.shtml. Perth Road, Blairgowrie, Perthshire PH10 6EE. Phone 01250 874466. It is the only community hospital for many miles and serves folks living in Blairgowrie and Rattray, Alyth, Coupar Angus, Meigle and beyond. Free parking with 2 disabled spaces near entrance. Reception is to the right after entering. With a fascinating report, collection and artifacts showing the long and distinguished history and many medical uses of of this building. It is a well-managed, pleasant and first-class Minor Injuries facility, a major local community asset with a wide range of community health services including an Anti-Coagulation Clinic; Audiology (including Paediatric); Continence Clinic; CPN - Adult Mental Health; CPN - Tayside Substance Misuse Service; CRUSE - Bereavement Counselling; Diabetic Eye Screening; Dietetic; Elderly Exercise Class (Healthy Communities Collaborative); Elderly Medicine; Health Visiting - pre school screening; Hearing Aid Repairs; Medical Clinic; Mindspace; Paediatric Psychology; Parkinsons Clinic; Psychiatric of Old Age (Functional Elderly); Stroke Clinic; Surgical Clinic; X-Ray; Young People's Drop-in. Two GP medical practices are in the neighbourhood, with others in Alyth, Coupar Angus and Meigle.
In 2011 BCH hopes to achieve a new lease of life as a centre for community healthcare interest, involvement, information and initiative following the establishment of the 21-member Strathmore Focus Group (SFG) which had the first meeting here on Tuesday, 25th October 2011, it's second on November 15, 2011, with the third December 6, 2011 - see it's mention by name at http://www.nhstayside.scot.nhs.uk. (Under "Quick Links" see Informing, Involving and Consulting in Strathmore). It is intended the SFG, working in a manner complementary to the long-established Friends of the BCH, will ensure it's survival and assist in new directions, with its mostly lay members co-operating with NHS Tayside and CHP professionals for the healthcare betterment of the entire Blairgowrie and region NHS client community. As shown in its Terms of Reference, Section 3, Purpose of Group, SFG's purpose is to provide a forum to allow the officers of the Perth and Kinross Community Health Partnership (CHP) to stimulate public discussion, and the opportunity to facilitate the improvement and re-design of local and regional healthcare services. SFG is presently chaired by NHS Tayside's Head of Older People's Services.
Blairgowrie Community Hospital, NHS Tayside photo
Blairgowrie and Area Healthy Communities Collaborative. Organizes weekly (Monday, 2 pm) Elderly Exercise Class mentioned above. Also meets monthly during the day at the Blairgowrie Community Hospital. It is hoped that as the result of the establishment in 2011 of both the Strathmore Focus Group and the Blairgowrie and Area Healthy Communities Collaborative and the substantial, sustained support and encouragement of NHS Tayside and local NHS GHPs and surgeries, interested and community-committed individuals from the Blairgowrie area will want to apply for one of the non-executive Member posts on the Tayside NHS Board advertised in November 2011.
Blairgowrie Community Hospital directions
NHS GPs and Surgeries:
Ardblair Medical Centre, Anne Street, Blairgowrie, PH10 6EF. Tel 01250 872033. Fax 01250 874517. Dr A. D. Shaw; Dr. J. M. Mackay; Dr. Ivor Sim; Dr. Andrew Buist; Dr. Morag Martindale; Dr. Graeme Gatherer; Dr. J. E. Hartlett.
Strathmore Surgery, Jessie Street, Blairgowrie PH10 6BT • Tel 01250 872552. Dr. Karalyn E. M. McNeill; Dr. Richard D. Humble.
Coupar Angus Medical Centre, Candlehouse Lane, Coupar Angus, Blairgowrie. PH13 9DP • Tel 01828 627318.
Alyth Health Centre, New Alyth Road, Alyth, Blairgowrie PH11 8EQ • Tel 01828 632317.
NHS Accident and Emergency Hospitals: (i) Perth Royal Infirmary (PRI), 18 miles away 01738 623311; (ii) Murray Royal, also in Perth 01738 621151; and (iii) Ninewells, Dundee, 18 miles away at 01382 660111. Best to go by bus from Blairgowrie (two buses each way, change in Perth and Dundee respectively) as parking (free) is usually a problem at PRI and from October 2011 costs £1.90 for a maximum of 3 hours at Ninewells, even for the disabled. Here in Blairgowrie and area, many older and/or restricted-mobility residents need to go quite frequently by bus (route 58, 58A or car to either Ninewells or PRI. But for the older and mobility-restricted, going by car to PRI Outpatients is often a major problem, with very limited Disabled Parking spaces often abused by miscreants. In January 2012 a severely disabled Blairgowrie patient had to park many streets away from PRI's Outpatients area and work her way painfully up the hill to get there. PRI warns the public not to go by car due to major parking problems (which PRI could help lessen if it monitored Disability Parking violations, but it does not). But the situation is as bad for folks from Blairgowrie and region who are elderly or mobility-impaired and go by bus (the most frequent of which is the 58 or 58A). When they arrive at the bus stop in Perth (Kinnoull St) they have to walk to another street before they take another (#1) bus. That bus drops them off at the bottom of the hill leading to the PRI Outpatients wing, meaning there is a steep walk up the hill. The same applies on the return journey except that the walking distance is longer to get from where the PRI bus (#2) stops in Perth to the South Street bus stop for the Blairgowrie bus. Only the Ninewells/PRI bus (service 333), not the #1 or #2 Perth city to PRI bus drops people off at the lower floor of the Outpatients wing, enabling them to immediately and easily take the lift. Unfortunately, that Ninewells/PRI service 333 bus does not stop at places convenient for PRI-bound Blairgowrie folks to connect with it. Blairgowrie residents will find the Broxden Park and Ride 333 service to/from PRI is both unrealistic and very limited in convenience (last buses leave Broxden for PRI at 1505 for the 7 minute ride to PRI and from PRI at 1515 to Broxden). Overall, it is a tedious and not pleasant experience for elderly/mobility-restricted Blairgowrie residents to go by car or bus to PRI.
Dental Surgeries: Blairgowrie Dental Care, 64 High Street, Blairgowrie PH10 6DF • Tel 01250 875136; Coupar Angus Dental Care, 7 Union Street, Coupar Angus, Blairgowrie PH13 9AE • Tel 01828 628280.
UK Parliamentary Constituency: Perth and North Perthshire. In the 2010 General Election, Pete Wishart, Scottish National Party, had 19,118 votes, 39.6%, a gain of 5.9%; Peter Lyburn, Scottish Conservative, had 14,739 votes, 30.5%, a gain of 0.2%; Jamie Glackin, Labour, had 7,923 votes, 16.4%, a loss of 2.3%; Peter Barrett, Lib Dem, had 5,954 votes, 12.3%, a loss of 3.8%; and Douglas Taylor, Trust, had 534 votes, 9.1%. SNP majority was 4,379 votes or 9.1%.
Present Perth and North Perthshire constituency
Scottish Parliament: North Perthshire. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Tayside_(Scottish_Parliament_constituency)
Scottish Parliament Constituency MSP: John Swinney, Scottish National Party. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Swinney. Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in the Scottish Government.
Scottish Parliament Regional MSP. Blairgowrie is in the Mid Scotland and Fife area. Murdo Frazer, MSP (Conservative).
Sheriff's Court: Perth
Tourist Office: http://www.VisitScotland.com. Locally staffed, 26 Wellmeadow, Blairgowrie PH10 6AS. Phone 01250 972960. Local email blairgowrie@visitscotland.com.
Water Emergency: Government-owned Scottish Water, 0845 6018855.
Click on link below for Blairgowrie and Rattray town streets. Those in Coupar Angus, Alyth, elsewhere are included in the top part of the link below.
| A. | Adams Way; Allan Street (named after Colonel Allan Macpherson, Superior of the town in 1800); Altamount Road; Alyth Road; Ann Street; Ardblair Cottages; Ardblair Road; Ardblair Terrace; Arthur Court; Arthur Street; Arthur Wynd; Ashgrove Court; Ashgrove Gardens; Ashgrove Road; Ashgrove Terrace; Athole Street. |
| B. | Back Row; Back Wynd; Balmoral Lane; Balmoral Place; Balmoral Road; Balmoral View; Bank Street (formerly Constable Lane, changed when the Bank of Scotland built a branch here); Beeches Road; Berrydale Avenue; Berrydale Road; Birch Crescent; Blairgowrie House Road; Blairmore Drive; Boat Brae; Bonnington Road; Braes Road; Brand Pass; Brown Street (named after John Brown of Marlee, born in a house on the site of the present-day Royal Hotel); Brucefield Road; Buchanan House; Burnhead Road. |
| C. | Cargill Place; Castle Street; Cedar Avenue; Charles Court; Chimney Path; Clova Avenue; Cluny Court; Clunymore Drive; Commercial Street; Coralbank; Coralbank Crescent; Coralbank Terrace; Cottershade; Coupar Angus Road; Craighall Place; Croft Court; Croft Lane. |
| D. | David Street; Davie Park Place; Drummond Road; Dunkeld Road. |
| E. | Elm Drive; Emma Street; Emma Terrace; Ericht Court; Essendy Road; Ewan Street. |
| F. | Ferguson Park; Ferguson Park Road; Fern Grove; Forebank Road; Forrest Way. |
| G. | Gallowbank; Gallowbank Road; Gas Brae; Gean Grove; George Street (named after George Drummond of Newton); Glenalmond Road; Glendevon Court; Glenisla Court; Glenshee Drive; Glenshieling Drive; Golf Course Road; Gowan Brae; Grant Court; Grant Crescent; Grant Road; Green Road; Greenbank Street. |
| H. |
Harriet Row; Hatton Place; Hatton Road (see below); Haugh Road; Hawthorn Place; Hazel
Place; Hazelwood Road; Heather Drive; High Street; High Street (Rattray);
Hill Church; Hill O'Blair; Hill Street; Holly Crescent; Honeyberry Crescent;
Honeyberry Drive.
Hatton Road |
| I. | Isla Road. |
| J. | James Street (named after James Geddes, local mason); Jessie Street; John Street (named after John Brown). |
| K. | Keay Street (named after Miss Keay, a feuar there); Kingarth Drive; Kinloch Court; Kirk Wynd; Kirkton Park; Kirkton Road. |
| L. | Larch Avenue; Leslie Street (named after James Leslie, proprietor of the Leslie Feus); Little Blair Drive; Littlewood Gardens; Lochinblair Gardens; Lochy Street; Lochy Terrace; Lornty Road; Lower Mill Street. |
| M. | MacDonald Crescent; Manorbank; Manor Court; Manor Gardens; Manse Court; Maple Place; McClaven Park; Middle Road; Mill Street (named after the road leading to the mill); Mitchell Square (named after Thomas Mitchell of Greenfield); Mount Ericht Road; Moyness Park Crescent; Moyness Park Drive; Myrtle Park; Mullion Way. |
| N. | New Road; Newton Castle; Newton Lane; Newton Street; Newton Terrace (latter three leading to Newton Castle); Ninian's Court. |
| O. | Old Military Road; Old Mill Road. |
| P. | Park Drive; Park Lane; Park Neuk; Parkhead Road; Park Hill Road; Patterson Drive; Perth Road; Perth Street; Petersgarth Lane; Poplar Avenue; Provost Road. |
| Q. | Queen's Avenue; Queen's Road. |
| R. | Railway Road; Railway School; Reform Street; Riverside Court; Riverside Drive; Riverside Road; Riverside Walk; River Walk; Rosebank Lane; Rosebank Road; Rosemount Gardens; Rosemount Park; Rowan Avenue; Ruby Place. |
| S | Seton Close; Shaw Street; Shawfield Lane; Sheila Road; Sidlaw Road; Signal Box Road; Skirmie Bus Park; Smithfield Avenue; Smithfield Crescent; Smithfield Way; South Castle Street; South Street; Station Brae; Step Row; Strathardle Crescent. |
| T. | Tannage Street (named after a tannery once there); Terminus Street (named after the railway terminus once there); The Coupar Park; The Croft; The Davie Park; The Loon Braes. |
| U. | Union Street; Upper Allan Street; Upper Mill Street. |
| V. | Victoria Place; Victoria Street. |
| W. | Walnut Grove; Wee Course Lane; Wellmeadow; Welton Road; West Altamount Lane; West George Street; West Park Road; Whiteloch Avenue (Carsie); William Street: Willow Place; Woodlands Grange; Woodlands Meadow; Woodlands Park; Woodlands Road; Woodlands Stables. |
| Y. | Yard Road; Yeoman Street. |
Many locals work in Blairgowrie in the local hotels, guest houses and B&Bs, shops and restaurants or the nearby cities of Dundee or Perth or neighbouring townships of Coupar Angus or Dunkeld. The town's area is famous for its soft fruits such as blueberries, raspberries and strawberries. There are about 50 shops and services including the bakery, butchers, cattery, charity shops, chemists, clothing, estate agents, periodic Farmers Markets, farm shops, funeral home, hardware, restaurants, solicitors and more.
History
Weir at River Ericht. It divides Blairgowrie and Rattray. May 2010 photo by the author
The
twinned town but separate communities of Blairgowrie and Rattray are in
the Strathmore Valley, on opposite banks of the River Ericht which flows into
the River Isla and then the River Tay. Blairgowrie is on the west bank and
Rattray is on the east bank. The fairly modern bridge over the river joins
them (the original bridge was built in 1777 to replace the rowing boat ferry
service between Blairgowrie and Rattray). They are
about one mile from each other. They get their names from Blar Ghobharaidh in
Scots Gaelic, or Blairgowrie in Scots, once an 18th century village of 400 or so
and Raitear in Scots Gaelic. There are various renditions of the name in early
written records; Rathtreff in 1160, Rotref inb 1291, Ratref in 1296, Rothtref in
1205, there are also various other renditions of the name including Rattra. (W.
F. H Nicolaisen, 1976, Scottish Place-Names, E. T. Batsford Ltd., London) and
Raitear in Scots Gaelic which was taken to mean Fort of the Hunter. The ruins of Glasclune
Castle, former home of a cadet branch of the Balthayock Blairs, is located in
the hamlet of Kinloch, 3 miles Northwest of Blairgowrie.
The name Rattray is composed of two parts, the first derived from the word Rath, from both Gaelic and Cymric (modern Welsh or ancient British) meaning fortification; the second part Tref or Treb, Tray, from the Cymric (British) meaning settlement. It is not widely known that British (similar to modern Welsh) was spoken in the area until the tenth century. The name means a fortified settlement and became associated with the family, the Rattrays of Rattray, who held sway over the fortification and the area. The fortification was built on a snake shaped mound, which was in pre-Christian times associated with some form of serpent worship. The Rattray coat of arms are supported by serpents. Perhaps significantly the weather vane on Old Rattray Church (Kirk), in the centre of this village, is also in the shape of a serpent.
The Rattrays of Rattray claim to be of royal descent. Patrick Rattray (1400-1461) married a daughter of James Stewart, son of Alexander Stewart (Wolf of Badenoch) who was Robert II of Scotland’s natural son. Patrick’s children were technically 2nd cousins of James IV.
There is also a Rattray in Aberdeenshire, at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rattray,_Aberdeenshire.
Wellmeadow, in the centre of the town, is the most prominent local landmark. There were once several springs or wells on the flat ground known by that name. There was also a marsh. Wellmeadow took its name from St. Ninian's Well there, named after this Christian Celtic missionary who once pitched his camp there and drank from the well. It became a public park through which nomadic drovers and shepherds pastured their flocks. Blairgowrie and Rattray expanded significantly in the 19th century around the many (12) jute and flax mills (still there, in a picturesque setting with a lovely walk on the opposite side of the river all the way into town) on the banks of the river Ericht. The mills, for both jute and linen, harnessed the river's strong flow to drive their spinning machines and processed the raw jute grown in India and locally-grown flax. While Dundee downriver was the main jute centre not only for Scotland but the whole of the United Kingdom, Blairgowrie too had an important role at that time. With the jute industry gone by the early 1950s when most of the Dundonians and folk from Blairgowrie repatriated back from India, Blairgowrie and Rattray languished appreciably for a while but later became the market town for the area and a centre for visitors and holidaymakers. With their population of about 8,090 Blairgowrie and Rattray combined and became the second-largest town in Perth and Kinross. Many Rattray residents work in Blairgowrie or nearby, while others work in Perth or Dundee. In his books "Blairgowrie and Rattray" and "More Old Blairgowrie and Rattray" author Maurice Fleming, once a writer with the Scotsman newspaper, described Blairgowrie as a "garden-embowered town." He noted the fine gardens on the slopes of the Hill 0'Blair, along the Perth Road and elsewhere, often with houses and shops in summer adorned with hanging baskets, turning the town info a floral delight.
There is not yet any definitive chronological history of the town. However, there are some local books, for example Blairgowrie and Rattray, A Century of Music 1850-1950 (James Sloggie, 2001); Old Blairgowrie and Rattray 1997 and "More Old Blairgowrie and Rattray" 2003, both by Maurice Fleming, for many years a popular writer with The Scotsman newspaper. There are also Rattray and its Fowk; Mills on the Ericht, Peter Dawson, 1950 (not a book but a thesis); Blairgowrie, Stormont and Strathmore, Henry Dryeere, 1903. Blairgowrie's War Dead, Mark Duffy; Reminiscences of the Blairgowrie and Rattray Choral Society (A Chalmers, 1904); The History of Blairgowrie (John A. R. Macdonald, 1899) and The History of the Perthshire and Kinross-shire Constabularies (2011) (Willie MacFarlane). This author's attempts to compile a chronological history currently include:
1606. Coupar Angus Abbey remnants were turned into a secular lordship for James Elphinstone, by parliament and by royal charter in 1607. Today, there are almost no remains of the abbey, much of it being burned by the Protestant reformers. A collection of its charters has survived. There are some remnants of a gatehouse, and some fine fragmentary stonework from the Abbey (notably a number of tombs) are preserved in the parish church, which stands on or near the site of the medieval building. Other fragments are built into walls throughout the modern town.
1634. July 9. During the first visit to Scotland of King Charles I, he granted a charter dated July 9th 1634 to George Drummond of Blair, then proprietor of the estate of Blairgowrie, creating the Barony of Blairgowrie. Blairgowrie thus became a burgh of Barony by charter from that king. This historical Blairgowrie document measures nearly 10 feet in length, 10 inches in width and written throughout in Latin, is preserved in the Register House, Edinburgh. The granting of the charter empowered the Baron to hold courts"for the trial of thieves and other characters disgraceful to Society." A Barony Court was established, the site according to tradition being in the manse grounds of the parish church. The place of execution was the"Gallows Knowe"- now called Gallowbank, where miscreants who had been condemned at the Barony Court were brought here to be hanged.
1660. Local man Donald Cargill was the son of a bonnet laird who owned the small estate of the Hatton. He became a minister gratefully admired for his preaching, but he refused to accept the laws which Charles II had promulgated on his return to the Throne. Cargill became one of the leaders of the Covenanters who refused to accept bishops in the Scottish Presbyterian Church. He was outlawed and spent years preaching at conventicles - illegal kirk services held in the open air - with a price on his head before he was betrayed and martyred in Edinburgh. The scene of his daring escape is in Blairgowrie.
1679. The famous Rattray Covenanter Donald Gargill, while on a visit to his father and mother at the Hatton of Rattray, was pursued by dragoons and only escaped by leaping the Keith above Blairgowrie.
1726. John Erskine of Blairgowrie was unsuccessful in his bid to represent Perthshire in Parliament.
1745. Newton Castle was occupied by Royalist troops. Earlier, it was sacked by Oliver Cromwell and Montrose. It had earlier been the birthplace of George Drummond, six times Lord Provost of Edinburgh and founder of its Royal Infirmary.
1746. Spring. The beech hedge of Meikleour was planted.
1766. Death in Edinburgh of George Drummond, six times Lord Provost of Edinburgh and founder of its Royal Infirmary.
1771. The manse of the parish church was built.
1774. A Freemason's Lodge was established in Blairgowrie.
1777. New Rattray, in Blairgowrie, was established after the Brig o' Blair was built as new turnpike roads emerged (that original bridge was built in 1777 to replace the rowing boat ferry service between Blairgowrie and Rattray). They are about one mile from each other.
1778. The Muckle Mill was constructed, where flax was first spun by machinery.
1788. 20th September. The estate of Blairgowrie was purchased by a predecessor of Colonel Allan MacPherson, from Thomas Graham.
1790 (circa). Blairgowrie House (part of it, on Coupar Angus Road still survives, hemmed in by more modern homes) was built by Colonel Allan Macpherson.
1810. James Scott was elected the first Baillie of the town, under the Charter of 1809.
1810. The first Craighall Bridge was built across the River Ericht.
1824. The custom began of holding fairs and markets at the Wellmeadow, including the famous Fair O' Blair, which became an annual event in July.
1824. The parish church on the Hill of Blair was built on the old mercait gate, then public bowling green of earlier times. The foundation stone of the facility, built to hold 800 souls, was laid by William MacPherson of Blairgowrie.
1829. The Blairgowrie and Rattray Instrumental Band was established, with clarinets, key bugles, flutes, French horn, serpent, trombone and bass drum, under leader William Scrimgeour. The band had a uniform of white trousers, blue jacket with scarlet facings and a blue bonnet with red band surmounted by a bunch of feathers.
1829. The Associate-Antiburgher Secession Church was built, at the corner of Brown Street and George Street.
1831. A stage coach named Baron Clerk Rattray began a twice weekly service between Blairgowrie and Coupar Angus. It continued for many years.
1832. 17th August. The Western Bank of Scotland was the first bank to open a branch in Blairgowrie, initially at the Cross, then instead at Leslie Street and later yet, High Street. One was opened in Coupar Angus too but soon closed from lack of business.
1832. September. The Commercial Bank opened a branch in Blairgowrie.
1833. Adam Fergusson, originally from the Bridge of Cally, Blairgowrie, founded the town of Fergus, Ontario, Canada.
1833. Blairgowrie residents adopted part of the Police Act III and IV, William IV, cap 46, by which certain powers were vested in the Chief Magistrate and four Commissioners for the management and regulation of the Police Department of the town. Also, the jurisdiction of the Chief Magistrate in criminal matters was extended.
1834. The Gas Works building was completed and the town was lit up with gas.
1835. Establishment of Rattray's Mount Ericht United Free Church. Later, the first local company of the Boys Brigade was formed here.
1835. Thomas Bisset constructed the Bisset Binder at his Greenbank Works, Dunkeld Road.
1836. 5th August. The Blairgowrie Deposit Company was established. It lasted until 1849.
1837. October. The Associate-Antiburgher Secession Church, built in 1829 at the corner of Brown Street and George Street, was sold to the congregation of the parish church.
1838. The first printing press arrived in Blairgowrie.
1838.The manse of the parish church, originally built in 1771, was taken down and rebuilt.
1838. The Blairgowrie branch of the Western Bank of Scotland was one of those absorbed by the Bank of Scotland.
1839. 14th October. The Blairgowrie and Rattray branch of the National Security Savings Bank of Perth was established.
1839. October 23. A most severe earthquake was experienced in the town.
1842. The town was visited by Queen Victoria, en route to Balmoral. At Glenericht estate, owned by General Chalmers, she created him a knight, Sir William Chalmers of Glenericht.
1842. James McIntosh, Violin Maker, Blairgowrie, advertised his wares in the town. He was the grand-nephew of Robert McIntosh (1745-1807), the Edinburgh violinist and composer.
1842. St. Catherine's Episcopal Church finished construction.
1843. The disruption of the Scottish churches occurred, including in Blairgowrie. Construction began of the First Free Church.
1847. A great storm threw down two arches of the old Brig (bridge), originally built in 1777. But the bridge was repaired later.
1848. At the outset of the second French Revolution, the Militia Act was enacted which gave the justices of the peace in Blairgowrie the power and authority, which they attempted to exercise, to conscript eligible local young men. But great crowds collected and made prisoners of Colonel MacPherson, Sir William Ramsay of Bamff and other worthies assembled to make the call-up. The crowd attempted to get the Justices to sign a document stopping them from their duty. The Justices signed but tricked the local yokels. The Justices contacted a unit of the Sutherland Fencibles who arrived in force and seized the rioters. The terms of the Act were carried out in the town with the troublemakers and others duly embodied.
1851. 11th November. The Perth Banking Company opened a branch in Blairgowrie.
1852. The Royal Hotel was built, on the site of an earlier townhouse. It occupied a commanding position at the Cross, looking along the length of High Street. It was owned by the Fairs family.
1853. Formation of the Working Men's Library (which later developed into the Mechanics Institute and Working Men's Club).
1855. 28th April. The first newspaper in the town was established by Messrs Ross and Son and was printed by that press. It was Ross's Compendium of the Week's News. It was a single sheet of paper printed on both sides. Later, it became the Blairgowrie Advertiser.
1855. 28th July. The Blairgowrie Railway Station was opened, initially known as the Blairgowrie Branch of the Scottish Midland Junction Railway. It had long been eagerly anticipated and immediately became a huge boost to the town. Until then all cartage of goods had to be done by road from Coupar Angus or from Perth and Dundee. At about the same time Rosemount Station was also built. The train ran between Blairgowrie and Coupar Angus and the Rosemount Station was en route.
1857. 29th August. Queen Victoria and party again passed through Blairgowrie, on their way to Balmoral. This time the Royal party came by train to Blairgowrie Station. There , a company of soldiers from the 1st and 21st Royals were waiting and presented arms. The queen was received by local principal officials and farmers.
1857. The Perth Banking Company, including its branch in Blairgowrie, was bought out by the Union Bank of Scotland.
1857. The Royal Bank of Scotland opened its Blairgowrie branch in Millbank House, until it moved to Allan Street in 1872.
1857. Formation of the Horticultural Society.
1858. Establishment of Blairgowrie's South United Free Church.
1859. The Blairgowrie and Rattray Instrumental Band, still under William Scrimgeour, took part in celebrations to mark the centenary of the birth of Robert Burns. The band was in the hall of the Royal Hotel for a Burns Supper and performed splendidly.
1859. The Blairgowrie and Rattray Instrumental Band joined a volunteer force, the Blairgowrie Rifles, then being established and became its official band.
1859. The Blairgowrie and Rattray Instrumental Band played at the laying of the foundation stone of the Public Hall by the Duke of Atholl. The Duke's Flute Band also played.
1859. Formation of Edinburgh Blairgowrie Club.
1859. Freemason's Lodge of St. John in Blairgowrie was resurrected from it's 1774 start.
1860. 7th August. Blairgowrie Rifle Corps members were among the groups on parade in Edinburgh when the Scottish Volunteers units were reviewed by Queen Victoria.
1860. 20th October. Foundation stone of the Public Hall was laid by the Duke of Athole, Grandmaster Mason of Scotland. It was followed by a grand banquet at the Queen's (Macdonald's) Hotel. 100 gentlemen were present and music was supplied in turn by the Duke of Athole's Flute Band and Blairgowrie Brass Band.
1862. Church choirs re-emerged, with those in the First Free and South Free churches formed.
1863. 10th March. Blairgowrie celebrated its loyalty to the Crown on this date of the marriage of the Heir Apparent. Flags waved from house tops, bells pealed from the churches, processions occurred and night illuminations sparkled.
1863. The Blairgowrie and Rattray Instrumental Band played with much pomp and ceremony for the arrival of the Right Honorable John, Earl Russell, one of the Government's principal Secretaries of State, when he arrived to take up residence in Meiklour.
1867. 19th January. A. Chalmers as "Musicus" suggested a Choral Society in Blairgowrie.
1867. 26th January. J. S. Baxter as a "Lover of Music" agreed with "Musicus."
1867. 9th February. William Robinson as "Son" agreed with "Musicus" and "Lover of Music."
1867. 29th March. Formation of the Blairgowrie Choral Society at Brown Street Chapel.
1868. 29th January. First concert of the Choral Society, led by contralto Helen Kirk.
1868. 29th May. Second concert of the Choral Society.
1869. 29th January. Third concert of the Choral Society.
1869. May. Fourth concert of the Choral Society, with Mr. Smith as conductor.
1870. Mechanic's Institute and Working Man's Club was erected, at a cost of £800.
1870. 22nd December. Formation of Dundee Blairgowrie and District Association, at Lamb's Hotel.
1870. 5th November. Blairgowrie switched on a new and better supply of fresh water, this time from Loch Ben-a-chally, seven miles to the north west of the town.
1871. 16th March. The Choral Society sang the "Creation" with soloists Margaret Smyth, a leading Scottish soprano of the time, Mr. Young as tenor and Mr. Allan as bass.
1871. The business of James Dick, coal, potato, manure and forage merchant, was established in Blairgowrie.
1871. John and Jane Howe established their saddlery business in Blairgowrie at 30 Reform Street. It is now a house furnisher.
1873. Death of James McIntosh, Violin Maker, Blairgowrie, who had advertised his wares in the town and was a skilful violinist as well as a violin maker. He was the grand-nephew of Robert McIntosh (1745-1807), the Edinburgh violinist and composer. Altogether he made 204 fine violins, 10 violas and 35 violoncellos, with the last having whole backs of well-marked maple and fitted with pegs and tail pieces of his own making.
1873. 10th September. Under a charter granted by the Superior of the Burgh, the burgesses' privileges were extended and they became empowered to elect 12 instead of 5 Councillors with 3 Bailees instead of one. But because the powers of local government were still deemed to be unsatisfactory, the general Police and Improvement (Scotland) Act 1862 was adopted.
1975. Re-formation of Dundee Blairgowrie and District Association which by then had diminished.
1876. Revival of the Horticultural Society.
1876-77. After the town was thoroughly drained, all its sewage, until 1893, despite complaints, was allowed to flow unfiltered into the River Ericht via two outlets, one under the Bridge of Blair, the other opposite the railway station.
By the 1870s, after textile mills on the River Ericht had been established over the years, Blairgowrie had changed from a largely rural village of handloom weavers into an industrial town. By then there were 10 mills along the river, employing nearly 2,000 men, women and children between them. The mills processed flax, later jute, which came from India. The mills included the Plash Mill, Muckle Mill and Meal Mill.
1879. 19th August. Old church denominational schools were closed and new public schools were opened for the first time including Blairgowrie High School.
1882. In his The Gazetteer of Scotland of that year, the Rev. John Wilson wrote: "BLAIRGOWRIE, town and parish in north-east of Perthshire. The town stands on river Ericht, at terminus of branch railway, amid charming environs, 241/2 miles north-east of Perth; was only a mean village at commencement of present century, is now a flourishing seat of textile manufacturers; publishes 2 weekly newspapers, has a head post office with all departments, 4 banking offices, 7 hotels, a town hall, 2 established churches, 2 Free churches, Congregational, Episcopalian, and Roman Catholic churches, and a public school with about 687 scholars, and includes practically the suburbs of New Rattray and Old Rattray. Pop. of the town proper, 4537; of the town and suburbs, 7070. - The parish contains Lornty village; is intersected for about 2 miles by other parishes, and measures, exclusive of the intersection, about 9 miles in length. Acres, 15,303."
1882. A photograph was taken of the circle of standing stones on Essendy Road, all in their original sockets. They were said to be the only group of standing stones in Scotland with a road running through them. They date from the Bronze Age or earlier.
1882. Commercial Street was opened. It went through what used to be the garden of the Station Hotel. It led from the front entrance of the Station Buildings to the Wellmeadow and heart of the town.
1882. The North of Scotland Bank opened its Blairgowrie branch in Bleaton House, Leslie Street.
1885. St. Mary's Parish Church on Reform Street was opened.
1885. February. Residents of Blairgowrie and Rattray discovered to their amazement that prominent local resident David Borrie had willed most of his money for the building of a Methodist church in the town. This was all the more surprising as all his life Mr Borrie had been involved with the Established Church of Scotland, then the Free Church, of which he was an elder, and had attended communion there a few days before his death.
1885. Formation of the Blairgowrie Parish Church Literary Association.
1887. The Methodist Church in Rattray was built, from an unexpected legacy (see 1885) left specifically for that purpose by David Borrie, a member of another congregation. Rev. Edward Brailsford became the first Wesleyan minister. Between 1885 and 1887, services were held at the Mechanics' Institute or, when the weather made it possible, in the open air of Wellmeadow.
1889. The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889 was enacted, which provided for the establishment of a Perthshire County Council. Blairgowrie, by reason of population, was entitled to elect two members. Blairgowrie was divided into two wards or divisions.
1890. Harper's was founded, as a blacksmith and general engineer. It expanded to become a local pioneer of motoring.
1890. St. Stephen's Catholic Union was established. Its regular meetings included concerts and dramatic entertainments.
1890. 23 July. After many years of the traditional Fair o'Blair at Wellmeadow, then an open space, on this exact date of the year, the event was changed to the last Tuesday of July.
1890. Raspberries were first grown commercially in Blairgowrie. A steam engine on the railway line came to collect them and took them to Blairgowrie Railway Station for onward transit to markets in England.
1890. Formation of St. Stephen's Catholic Union.
1891. Raw sewage, hitherto allowed since 1876 to flow unfiltered into the River Ericht despite complaints, was finally dealt with. 100 yards from the railway station. the sewage was filtered.
1891. Coupar Angus (Gaelic: Cùbar Aonghais), a small town now in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, situated eight kilometres south of Blairgowrie, was transferred from the county of Angus to Perthshire, but retained its traditional name. The name Coupar Angus serves to differentiate the town from Cupar, Fife. It is located on the A94 Perth-Forfar road, although the town centre itself is now bypassed.
1891. 6th November. Death in Blairgowrie of Allan Macpherson, aged 73.
1891. 16th November. Formation in Blairgowrie of The Constitutional Club.
1892. Formation of the Young Woman's Literary Association.
1892. 26th March. A special committee met to consider a proposal for a public park in Blairgowrie, made possible by the purchase of land of 11 acres for £700 from William Davie and his sister Mrs. Nicoll.
1892. 28th April. At a further meeting of a special committee, what later became Davie Park progressed, with additional land of about 9 acres bought from James Thom for £650, to supplement the land bought from William Davie and his sister Mrs. Nicoll.
1893. 15th May. The Burgh Police (Scotland) Act 1892 came into operation, under which Blairgowrie's Senior Magistrate became a Provost.
1893. 8th May. The Macpherson Memorial Fountain on the south east corner of the Wellmeadow, opposite the Bridge, was gifted to the town by the Macpherson family of Blairgowrie House, in memory of Allan Macpherson who, after serving on the legislative council of New South Wales in Australia (which includes the city of Sydney) returned home to Blairgowrie and devoted himself to local government. He was the local laird and Deputy Lieutenant of Perthshire. It was an impressive sculpture, with the base and basin of red Aberdeenshire granite and the superstructure of fine red freestone from Dumfries, nearly 18 feet high. It was richly decorated with gablets, crockets, gargoyles and other architectural devices. The upper part was in the form of a spire surmounted by a cross with a lightning conductor attached. The work was carried out by the firm of Hicks and Charlewood, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Various inscriptions were added. Later, the edifice was badly damaged in a traffic accident, was never properly repaired and today only the base survives, on a new site but nearby).
1893. The water requirements of the district had increased so rapidly that a new reservoir, with four times the capacity of the old one, was built.
1893. Establishment of the Blairgowrie Fruit Growers Association, then mainly concerned with raspberries and strawberries.
1893. 16th September. The UK's Liberal Prime Minister, William Gladstone, was a guest at Blackcraig Castle, Strathardle and was photographed at a picnic with locals.
1894. At a Burns Day concert James Ogilvie conducted an orchestra of 19 players, a 6-member juvenile orchestra and a ladies orchestra of four violins, a cello and piano.
1894. 13th February. Formation of Blairgowrie and District Photographic Association.
1896. 14th March. Birth in Blairgowrie of Nora Isobel Calderwood. Her father, Daniel Scott Calderwood was headmaster of Blairgowrie Public School. The family moved to Edinburgh when Daniel Calderwood was appointed as headmaster of the Church of Scotland Normal School in Edinburgh, and all Nora's education was in Edinburgh. She later became a famous scholar.
1896. 7th and 8th December. Visit to the town by Lord Wolseley, Commander-in-Chief, British Army. He was a guest at Craighall Castle, seat of Lieutenant General Sir James Clerk Rattray. He was en route to the North Inch at Perth to commemorate the deeds of the 90th (Perthshire) Regiment raised in 1796 by Thomas Graham of Newton, later Lord Lynedoch.
1896. A full report on the entire local and district water system was commissioned from George Baxter of Dundee.
1889. The Lansdowne Golf Club was founded at Rosemount, Blairgowrie.
1899. Debut of Blairgowrie and Rattray Orchestral Society, under James Ogilvie.
1894. The Rev. Thomas Tully, MA, became minister of the Rattray United Free Church (demolished early in the 20th century).
1894. St. Stephen's Amateur Dramatic Society of Blairgowrie produced the opera "Dora."
1897. William Kirkwood, ironmonger and seedsman, was one of the local businesses at the Cross. He succeeded William Davie and was the predecessor of J. B. McGibbon.
1899. Blairgowrie Merchants Association was formed, one of the oldest of its type in Scotland. Originally nicknamed the "Plate Glass Company" as it was set up to address the problem of windows being broken in Blairgowrie and Rattray! In consequence, the first committee was asked to draft rules for the Association and to explore the formation of the local Plate Glass Insurance scheme. In addition, committee members were also instructed to consider a bad debt blacklist, holiday dates and business opening hours.
1901. Blairgowrie Cottage Hospital was established, still extant today. It began as a simple structure, later with extensions and additions.
1901. A photograph of staff outside Blairgowrie Post Office at 1 High Street near the Royal Hotel shows 29 staff including counter staff, postmen and telegraph boys
1902. Essendy Fruit Farm in Blairgowrie began marketing fruit. It soon became responsible for much of Blairgowrie's total crop. It was said that over 1,000 souls entered the town from throughout Scotland to live in the Tin City - so named from the tin huts established on the farm as their sleeping quarters.
1906. Paul's high class store on Allan Street opened, next to the D. E. shoe shop.
1906. Rattray's Mount Ericht Church closed and its congregation moved across the river to the South Church.
1906. 19th December. A goods train jumped points as it passed the signal box at Blairgowrie Railway Station. Ten wagons were derailed, with two almost totally wrecked, but no one was hurt.
1908. April. The snow had to be cleared from the Blairgowrie Bowling Green before the annual opening match could begin.
1908. September. King Edward VII visited Blairgowrie and Rattray, which resulted in much local attention to local buildings.
1909. February. A group of 19 Canadian curlers arrived, in hopes of taking on local teams including the Ardblair Curling Club. They were guests of Strathmore Curling Province. Their arrival at Blairgowrie Railway Station was greeted by large crowds. They entered locally-owned motor cars. They were wined and dined and all enjoyed their visit. But it was not cold enough for them to do any curling.
1909. A second storey was added to Blairgowrie High School (later known as Hill Primary).
1910. August. Spectators lined the Brig all day to watch as debris - trees, bushes, sheds and farmyard equipment and animals including chickens - were swept downstream by the River Ericht from a night of violent rainfall. Half of the wooden croy which diverted water from the mill lade above the bridge was washed away. From the Alyth Road in Rattray the strath had the appearance of a huge lock, with thousands of acres under water.
1913. Quinns Cinema in Blairgowrie opened. It remained in operation until the movie Annie in 1983. The building still remains but is an eyesore, with owner the Perthshire Housing Association (PHA) still frustrated by economic restraints in funding from demolishing the cinema and redeveloping the site as 17 2-bedroom affordable flats.
1920. One of the shops on Allan Street was the barber shop operated by Alex Steven at number 16.
1911. Debut of Blairgowrie Orchestral Society as a separate entity.
1920s. Wellmeadow was an area of trees and bollards. There was a drinking trough for horses, also a town weigh-house - a hut - where loads of farm and other products were weighed by a workman operating a horizontal bar and weights.
1926. Outside his Davidson's chemists shop at Wellmeadow Walter Davidson was photographed when running for election to the Blairgowrie Town Council. He was elected and was the last provost before Blairgowrie and Rattray were joined in 1928.
1926. A photograph shows three of Blairgowrie's River Ericht textile mills. They were Westfield, Brooklinn and Ashbank. Westfield Terrace was known as the Promised Land when constructed. Its 48 houses were occupied by mill workers and their families.
1928. Blairgowrie and Rattray were united into a single burgh.
1928. Ogilvy's Brewery was in business at the time.
1929. Members of the Ardblair Curling Club were photographed on the ice-bound pond at Muirton Wood.
1929. An operetta was performed in the South Church Hall. It was produced by Mrs. More, wife of church minister Rev. James More.
1929. Rev. James Leithead became the minister at St. Mary's Church. His ministry lasted there until 1967.
1930. The Brewery on Allan Street was in full operation, thanks to a spring of high quality water nearby.
1930. Formation of Blairgowrie and Rattray Pipe Band.
1931. The fishmonger at 31-33 Leslie Street was operated by William Stewart Ltd.
1930s. Local boy scouts on their way to church marched from the Malt barns at the top of Kirk Wynd to the South church on Reform Street. They were accompanied by their newly established pipe band.
1930s. Hugh Grant and his Blairgowrie Cooperative Society Ltd van, phone 113, was a familiar sight on Blairgowrie roads.
1935. Blairgowrie and Rattray contributed to King George V Jubilee celebrations, including a parade in town and at Rattray Common.
1935. Perth Aerodrome, on a site 400 feet above sea level near Scone, was established. It initially had two main functions. It provided flight training for Royal Air Force and associated personnel. It also became a major source of transport for residents of Blairgowrie and nearby areas, as well a new method of arriving here for visitors, with the service provided by North Eastern Airways.
1937. May. The coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth was celebrated locally with a big procession including a royal float showing local ladies.
1937. 16th July. The Minutes of the Blairgowrie Town Council showed that the Blairgowrie and Rattray Municipal Band was suspended for an indefinite period because of poor attendance at rehearsals.
1938. The Regal Cinema was built, as a rival to Quinn's Picture House on Reform Street. The opening ceremony was performed by Sir Douglas Ramsay of Banff. He was heard to compliment the management of the cinema for "not having a piece of foreign workmanship in the whole building." The first film shown there was (the foreign) The Singing Marine starring Dick Powell. Later, over 200 locals in the audience were guests of the management at a dinner at the Queen's Hotel. Later, the Regal became a bingo hall (and in the mid 1990s was demolished and replaced by the building of flats).
1930s and 40s. Failure of the Blairgowrie and area raspberry crop. But it had one positive effect. As a direct result of the failure, the Scottish Crop Research Institute was founded at Invergowrie. It was primarily concerned with local produce such as soft fruit and potatoes. As well as researching crop diseases it developed new varieties of fruits and vegetables. One significant result was the emergence of the tayberry, a hybrid of the raspberry and blackberry and both bigger and tastier than either.
1940 to 1941. During the years of World War 2, Blairgowrie and Rattray, with the neighbouring areas of Coupar Angus and Alyth, both of which share a Blairgowrie post-code, hosted units of Polish military units. Blairgowrie was the command base area for the 1st and 2nd Tank Regiments, collectively over 1200 men. A good number married local girls. Craighall Castle was converted to a hospital and convalescent centre for the Polish 3rd Armoured Regiment, the Guards and Military Police. Poles in those units met and married local girls. Many Poles stayed in the area after the war when the Soviets ran Poland with an iron fist. As the great majority of the Poles were Catholic, a Catholic priest from St. Stephen's Church conducted regular services from the steps of St. Stephen's RC School for the benefit of the massed soldiers outside the school.
1942. A Blairgowrie Home Guard unit provided key local defence duties
1944-45. War Savings Campaigns in Blairgowrie were duly commemorated. (See pictures below).
Photos taken by the author in Blairgowrie Town Hall, May 2010 of commemorative events.
1947. Formation of Blairgowrie Light Orchestra.
1952. End of Blairgowrie and Rattray Pipe Band, formed in 1930.
1951. A photograph of the Wellmeadow area shows the Commercial Bank of Scotland in operation.
1954. Instruments once used by the by-then-long-defunct Blairgowrie Municipal Band were loaned by the Blairgowrie Town Council to the Black Watch Regiment in Perth.
1950s. Folksong collectors discovered a wealth of Scots songs, presumed long lost.
1955. A town photograph shows, next to the Royal Hotel, the eating place known as Keiller's Restaurant. It also shows the Post Office almost adjacent.
1960s. The town hosted the first festivals organized by the then-newly-formed Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland, a body that continues to promote, nurture and preserve the indigenous music of the country. Unfortunately, the Blairgowrie Folk Festival died.
1966. Fire ravaged the Spittal Hotel at Glenshee. The Grant family had made this a favourite watering hole. It was later rebuilt.
1968. The last service at St. Mary's Church occured and the congregation was united with the South Church along that street.
1970. The Blairgowrie and Rattray Pipe Band was reborn, after a chance meeting between two pipers and a drummer at a local hotel. Earlier, uniforms and many instruments had been purchased second-hand. New ones were issued. Clan MacPherson bonnet badges, Glengarry badges and kilt pins and the Ancient Red MacPherson tartan were issued, by kind permission of Sir William MacPherson of Culty. Since the early 1980s the band has had two uniforms, a full dress and a second dress.
1971. January. The brutally battered body of hotelier Mr. James Keltie was found in a garage at the Muirton House Hotel near the Essendy Road. He was dressed in only a string vest and underpants. It resulted in a nationwide search, fruitless.
1973. St. Mary's Parish Church was demolished and replaced by the St. Mary's Court development.
1973. Community Councils were introduced through the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.
1977. 5th April. First meeting of Blairgowrie & Rattray Community Council which like other Community Councils in Scotland, was a statutory organization, made up of volunteers who give time to, and have a genuine interest in, the well-being of the Blairgowrie & Rattray community. Community Council members are residents of the area who act on behalf of local people to help to make local authorities and other public bodies aware of the opinions, needs and preferences of the communities that they represent. They try and preserve those aspects of the community that the community believes are worth retaining, while also encouraging developments which will benefit the community and ensure that it will continue to thrive. The council's first Constitution was ratified by Perth & Kinross District Council on 25th August 1977. The Community Council consists of 15 members together with various ex-officio members including our local Councillors. Unlike Perth and Kinross Council Councillors and MSP's, Community Councillors are elected or co-opted for their three-year term as individuals, without bias towards any political party. Party politics plays no part in Community Councils.
1986 to 1995. Unique recordings from the Blairgowrie Folk Festivals 1986-1995 feature Chuck Fleming & Gerry Kaley, Vin Garbutt, Isaac Guillory, Lizzie Higgins, Hamish Moore, Marion Paterson, The Stewarts O' Blair and Kathryn Tickell. Blairgowrie holds a unique position in the recent history of traditional music in Scotland.
1982. The Blairgowrie Railway Station was demolished. Its station clock was rescued by the Blairgowrie, Rattray and District Civic Trust. Later, the demolished site became a Tesco supermarket.
1985. Blairgowrie Dental Practice was established by Jim Estill and Ali Geddes.
2000. Cateran Trail was formally opened in the town.
2005. Blairgowrie and Rattray initiatives for older people helped lead to the establishment of Perth and Kinross Healthy Communities Collaborative. It is a partnership between NHS Tayside, Perth and Kinross Council and older people.
2006. Formation of Alyth and District Pipe Band, to represent the township in the local community, at local functions and important occasions such as but not limited to Remembrance Sunday.
A tiny loch trimmed with trees amongst the golf courses 1½ miles (2.5 km) the south of Blairgowrie, Black Loch is located immediately to the east of the A93 trunk road. It is the easternmost of a chain of three lochs, the others being Fingask Loch and White Loch.
Heating, hot water, cooking
There is natural town-wide gas for central heating, hot water and cooking (Scottish Gas, the trading name of British Gas in Scotland) in municipal areas. Scottish Gas offers both gas and electricity. Service is prompt and efficient. Other electricity providers include Scottish Hydro. Homes and properties in rural areas not served by natural gas may wish to use use LPG gas piped in from a tank sited on their premises or, more commonly, oil (kerosene) trucked in from Perth or Dundee. Blairgowrie is halfway between the two. There are several suppliers.
See the following price comparison websites for oil orders and deliveries to Blairgowrie, including cost of trucking. It can make sound economic sense for Blairgowrie residents to consult not just one of them but both.
http://www.boilerjuice.co.uk. Biggest supplier of heating oil in the whole of the UK is DCC Energy, an Irish company that also owns this site. It has 25% of the national market for domestic heating oil after buying up a series of regional companies.
http://www.cheapestoil.co.uk. Not a direct supplier but useful for price comparisons.
Suggestions
On 20th May 2010 it was announced Home Reports are being phased out of the UK except for Scotland. Until this is announced for Scotland too, by the Scottish Government, they will continue to apply. Home Reports are an expensive failure to both home buyers and particularly home sellers in many respects and this is one reason why Home Reports were discontinued in May 2010 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
From 1 December 2008 every property in Scotland being sold was required to have a Home Report (in other parts of the UK a Home Information Pack (HIP) paid for by the person or family selling the property before they can sell it. See http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/Housing/BuyingSelling/Home-Report. A Home Report or HIP is a new document designed to provide buyers with more information about homes they are thinking of buying before they submit an offer. It is part of a series of measures said to be introduced across Europe reflected in legislation to help cut out carbons emissions and tackle climate change. The Home Report is reputed to provide a measure of the overall energy efficiency of the home and its environmental impact and is required whenever a building is built, sold or rented out. The property's performance is rated in terms of energy use per square metre of floor area; energy efficiency based on fuel costs and environmental impact based on CO2 emissions. You, or more likely your selling solicitor, will be required to have a copy before your home is advertised for sale and to make a copy available to interested buyers of your home. The Home Report includes three separate reports; the Property Questionnaire; the Single Survey; and an Energy Report.
What is a Home Report in Scotland and how is it different from an English one?
Property Questionnaire, Single Survey and Energy Reporr, all three referred to below.
This asks you to answer questions about your home that only you are likely to know. Have you, for example, installed new replacement windows, or added an extension? Do any of your neighbours have the right to walk across your property to empty their bins? As far as you know, has your home ever had a problem with rot? These are the sort of questions you will be asked to answer. While many of them will be straightforward, you may not be clear about the answers to others. In some cases, your answer could raise questions at the conveyancing stage that should be dealt with now. If, for example, you made an alteration to your home, you will need to show that you obtained a building warrant if one was required and that you got planning consent if necessary. If you don't have these documents, then this is the time to take remedial action. If you are in any doubt, the solicitor you appoint to sell your home will be able to advise you on the best course of action.
The Single Survey is a detailed survey of your home conducted by a qualified surveyor. It will also provide an estimate of market value. The survey will list the main features of your home and give an assessment of condition for each one. There are three scales, namely: Scale from 1 = no repairs necessary, to 3 = urgent repairs or replacement are needed now. If the survey for your home features a category 3 repair, you might want to consider carrying out the repair yourself before putting your home on the market. However, that may not always be the best solution. You can rely on your solicitor to advise you on whether it is better to repair or to sell your home as it is. You can also expect your solicitor to appoint a surveyor on your behalf who is familiar with, and sympathetic to, your area.
No longer in effect in England but still required in Scotland.
Provides a measure of how energy efficient your home is. It is done in pretty much the same way that dishwashers and other electrical appliances now display an energy rating. The report, which will be conducted by the surveyor who provides the Single Survey, also provides information on how you or any buyer could improve the energy efficiency of your home. Unfortunately, all who live in Blairgowrie or Perthshire are not necessarily going to get a good energy rating on the homes they want to sell. Why not? Some Energy assessment scheme are a travesty. It boils down to the fact that unless you have mains piped-in gas as many cities and towns (including Blairgowrie) do you'll get a poor rating, despite the quality of local plumbing and heating. You can have a very efficient "green" boiler and it might well have a boiler-efficiency rating of 90% or above to a boiler inspector but unless you run it on mains gas the report will say your boiler is inefficient. Similarly, if you use electricity to heat hot water and cook by not mains but LPG gas (it has to be trucked in and put into a metal gas tank), or use oil (kerosene) from an oil tank on your property to heat your house you'll get a low rating. Why? Because LPG is regarded as inefficient for two reasons, it costs more than oil or mains gas. Both the LPG and oil have to be trucked in. The UK Government and Scottish Governments have made no allowances at all for better efficiency ratings for homes in this region that have no piped-in gas, even when home heating - for example, from locally-sourced wood - is considered to be good from an environmental point of view. If you are disabled, there's no upfront way of checking out the disability-friendly qualities (for example, door widths for wheel chairs access) of the property in advance. No provision for this was made by the Scottish Government Instead, you have to view the house first, then ask formally to see the Home Report.
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© 2012. Revised: January 25, 2012
