Perth, Scotland

Perth (Peairt in Scottish Gaelic) is a town in central Scotland. Sitting on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross Council and the county town of the traditional county of Perthshire, in addition to being a historic capital of Scotland.

History

There has been a settlement at Perth since prehistoric times, with evidence of a hut, a midden and a basic canoe dated to around 7000 BC. The Roman name for a nearby fortification was Bertha; the name derives from a Pictish word for wood or copse.

Related Topics:
Prehistoric - Hut - Midden - Canoe - 7000 BC - Roman - Pictish

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Seat of Power

Perth came to prominence in the history of Scotland when, in 846 when Kenneth mac Alpin, the first king of Alba established his seat of power at Scone two miles northeast, calling the Government and Court of Scotland there, effictively making Perth the first capital city of united Scotland. It was here the Stone of Destiny first rested, and to this day Kenneth's ancestors are crowned atop it.

Related Topics:
History of Scotland - 846 - Kenneth mac Alpin - King - Alba - Scone - Capital city - Stone of Destiny

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Its new-found importance drew the attention of Viking invaders who intended its capture in 900; they were however defeated at Luncarty to the north, in what became known as the Battle of the Danes. Rumours say only peasant army reinforcements saved the Scots from certain defeat.

Related Topics:
Viking - 900 - Luncarty - Battle of the Danes - Peasant - Army

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King David I granted burgh status to the town in the early 12th century, and documents from this time refer to the status of the church there. Many of the records taken from this time were the result of the influx of Dominican monks who came to the town in the 13th century.

Related Topics:
David I - Burgh - 12th century - Monks - 13th century

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However, much of the town was destroyed during a flood of the Tay in 1210; it was eventually rebuilt slightly further downstream. William I restored Perth's burgh status, while it remained as the nominal capital of Scotland.

Related Topics:
1210 - William I

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Internal and external strife

King Edward I of England brought his armies to Perth in 1296 where the town, with only a ditch for defence and little fortification, fell quickly. Such fortifications were implemented by the English quickly, and plans to wall the town took shape in 1304. They remained standing until Robert the Bruce's recapture of Perth in 1313. He quickly ordered the walls destroyed.

Related Topics:
Edward I - England - 1296 - Ditch - 1304 - Robert the Bruce - 1313

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This plan was to backfire come 1332, when Edward Balliol, son of John Balliol, came to claim the throne with the backing of Edward III of England. Robert the Bruce had died three years previously, and the regent of his infant son David II fell quickly at the hands of Balliol at Musselburgh. Balliol took Perth and the throne in September, and the Scottish Civil War ensued. Balliol himself was driven out quickly, only to return the next year. His desposition was only made complete in 1336; his supporters were eventually driven from Perth until 1339.

Related Topics:
1332 - Edward Balliol - John Balliol - Edward III of England - David II - Musselburgh - September - Scottish Civil War - 1336 - 1339

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The famous St. John's Kirk was constructed in the mid-14th century; it stands to this day and continues to dominate the Perth skyline.

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1396 brought the theatre of trial by combat to Perth, one of the first of its kind in Europe. The Battle of the Clans pitted Clan Mackay against Clan Chattan, each thirty strong, at North Inch in the town. Under the gaze of King Robert III. Although records vary, Clan Chattan is understood to have won the battle, with the last MacKay fleeing to safety across the Tay.

Related Topics:
1396 - Trial by combat - Europe - Battle of the Clans - Clan - Robert III

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Murder of King James

The Black Friary, established by the monks of the 13th century, was paying host to King James I in 1437 when rebel nobleman forced entry to the building in the middle of the night. Robert Graham proceeded to stab the King to death; the Queen and her children escaped to Edinburgh. Perhaps as a direct result, James was the last king to command from a throne at Perth; the capital was moved to Edinburgh in the mid 1450s.

Related Topics:
13th century - James I - 1437 - Robert Graham - Edinburgh - 1450s

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The Reformation

While political and religious strife engulfed England in the mid-16th century, John Knox began the Scottish Reformation from grass-roots level with a sermon in St John's Kirk. His followers quickly destroyed the altar in the Kirk, dissolved the friory and the monestaries, including Scone Abbey. The regent of infant Mary Queen of Scots, Mary of Guise, was successful in quelling the rioting but presbyterianism in Perth remained strong.

Related Topics:
16th century - John Knox - Reformation - Mary Queen of Scots - Mary of Guise - Presbyterianism

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Cromwell and the Jacobites

Charles II was crowned in Scone, where the Stone of Destiny remained, in 1651. However, within a year, Oliver Cromwell's Parliamentarians, fresh from victory in the English Civil War, came to Perth, quickly capturing and all but razing the existing town. Cromwell established a citadel and fort at South Inch. They were destroyed in 1661 not long after Cromwell's death. The restoration of Charles II was not without incident, and with the Act of Settlement, came the Jacobite uprisings, to which Perth was supportive. The town was occupied by Jacobite supporters thrice in total; in 1689, 1715 and 1745.

Related Topics:
Charles II - 1651 - Oliver Cromwell - Parliamentarians - English Civil War - 1661 - Act of Settlement - Jacobite - 1689 - 1715 - 1745

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Growth and modernisation

In 1760, Perth Academy was founded, and major industry came to the town, now with a population of 15,000. Linen, leather, bleached products and whisky were its major exports, although the town had been a key port for centuries. The Perth Royal Infirmary was built in 1814, although the town remained unsanitary for decades inlcuding a cholera epidemic in the 1830s. Piped water and gas became available in the 1820s, and electricity in 1901.

Related Topics:
1760 - Linen - Leather - Bleach - Whisky - Port - 1814 - Cholera - 1830s - 1820s - 1901

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Given its location, Perth was perfectly placed to become a key transport centre with the coming of the railways. The first railway station in Perth was built in 1848. Horse-drawn carriage became popular in the 1890s although they were quickly replaced by electric trams.

Related Topics:
Railway - 1848 - 1890s - Tram

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