Crieff

Quality 0.50 · 1 view · Updated 2 months ago

Market town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland

title: "Crieff" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["crieff", "highland-boundary-fault", "towns-in-perth-and-kinross"] description: "Market town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland" topic_path: "general/crieff" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crieff" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Market town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox UK place"]

FieldValue
countryScotland
official_nameCrieff
gaelic_nameCraoibh
scots_nameCrieff
static_image_nameHeading east on Crieff's High Street - geograph.org.uk - 3152513.jpg
static_image_captionHigh Street, Crieff with Crieff Town Hall in the centre distance
os_grid_referenceNN863219
map_typeScotland
coordinates
population
population_ref()
community_scotlandCrieff
unitary_scotlandPerth and Kinross
lieutenancy_scotlandPerth and Kinross
post_townCRIEFF
postcode_districtPH7
postcode_areaPH
dial_code01764
constituency_westminsterPerth and Kinross-shire
constituency_scottish_parliamentPerthshire South and Kinross-shire
london_distance_mi368
edinburgh_distance_mi38
::

|country = Scotland |official_name = Crieff |gaelic_name = Craoibh |scots_name = Crieff |static_image_name = Heading east on Crieff's High Street - geograph.org.uk - 3152513.jpg |static_image_caption = High Street, Crieff with Crieff Town Hall in the centre distance |os_grid_reference = NN863219 |map_type = Scotland |coordinates = |population = |population_ref = () |community_scotland = Crieff |unitary_scotland = Perth and Kinross |lieutenancy_scotland = Perth and Kinross |post_town = CRIEFF |postcode_district = PH7 |postcode_area = PH |dial_code = 01764 |constituency_westminster = Perth and Kinross-shire |constituency_scottish_parliament = Perthshire South and Kinross-shire |london_distance_mi = 368 |edinburgh_distance_mi = 38 Crieff (; , meaning "tree") is a Scottish market town in Perth and Kinross on the A85 road between Perth and Crianlarich, and the A822 between Greenloaning and Aberfeldy. The A822 joins the A823 to Dunfermline. Crieff has become a hub for tourism, famous for whisky and its history of cattle droving. Attractions include the Caithness Glass Visitor Centre and Glenturret Distillery. The nearby Innerpeffray Library (founded about 1680) is Scotland's oldest lending library. St Mary's Chapel beside it dates from 1508. Both are open to the public: the library is run by a charitable trust; the chapel is in the care of Historic Scotland.

History

For centuries Highlanders came to Crieff to sell their black cattle, whose meat and hides were sought by the growing urban populations in Lowland Scotland and the north of England. The town acted as a gathering point for the Michaelmas cattle sale held during the "October Tryst" each year, when the surrounding fields and hillsides would be black with some 30,000 cattle, some from as far away as Caithness and the Outer Hebrides.

Rob Roy MacGregor and his followers visited Crieff in October 1714: they gathered in Crieff for the October Tryst. They marched to Crieff Town Square and, in front of the gathering crowd, sang Jacobite songs and drank loyal toasts to their uncrowned King James VIII.

In 1716, 350 Highlanders returning from the Battle of Sheriffmuir burned most of Crieff to the ground. In 1731, James Drummond, 3rd Duke of Perth, laid out the town's central James Square and established a textile industry with a flax factory. In the 1745 rising, the Highlanders were itching to fire the town again and were reported as saying "she shoud be a braw toun gin she haed anither sing". It was saved by the Duke of Perth, a friend and supporter of Prince Charles. In February 1746, the Jacobite army was quartered in and around the town, with Prince Charles Edward Stuart holding his final war council in the old Drummond Arms Inn in James Square, located behind the present abandoned hotel building in Hill Street.

By the late 18th century, the hanging tree used by the Earls of Strathearn to punish criminals had been replaced by a wooden structure in an area called Gallowhaugh, now Gallowhill, at the bottom of Burrell Street. What is now Ford Road was Gallowford Road which led down past the gallows to the crossing point over the River Earn. Sir Walter Scott, visiting Crieff in 1796, saw the gallows as "Gallowsford".

Crieff Town Hall was completed in 1850. In the 19th century, Crieff became a fashionable destination for tourists visiting the Highlands and a country retreat for wealthy businessmen from Edinburgh, Glasgow and beyond. Many such visitors attended the Crieff hydropathic establishment, now the Crieff Hydro, which opened in 1868.

Crieff was once served by Crieff railway station, which linked the town to Perth, Comrie and Gleneagles. The station was opened in 1856 by the Crieff Junction Railway but was closed in 1964 by British Railways as part of the Beeching cuts.

Fame in verse

Crieff was praised by the poetaster William McGonagall in "Crieff". ::quote "Ye lovers of the picturesque, if ye wish to drown your grief, Take my advice, and visit the ancient town of Crieff." ::

It is also referenced by Half Man Half Biscuit in "Man of constant sorrow". ::quote "A yacht on his window sill, according to some Alludes to a tragedy which rendered him numb To cope with the grief and the hurt and the loss He exited Crieff, Perth and Kinross" ::

Events

Every year the town hosts the Crieff Highland Games, which include music and dancing competitions and feats of strength.

Schools

Places of worship

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/Crieff_Parish_Church_-geograph.org.uk-_2467397.jpg" caption="Crieff Parish Church"] ::

Crieff Parish Church (Church of Scotland) in Strathearn Terrace, also known as the East Church, is on the site of a medieval building that was demolished and rebuilt in 1786, when a hoard of gold coins from the reign of Robert the Bruce was found within its walls. The church was again rebuilt in 1827.

Crieff West Church (Church of Scotland) was built 1837–1838 on Comrie Road as a chapel of ease to the main parish church. It was converted into the St Ninian's Centre in 1958 and used for over 50 years as a lay training and conference venue until its closure in 2001. The building is now occupied by private flats.

The South Church, now disused, was built in 1881 as a Free Church of Scotland, modelled on the design of Dunblane Cathedral. It later became known as the South UP Church when it merged with the United Presbyterian Church (Scotland) into the United Free Church of Scotland, before becoming part of the established Church of Scotland.

The Scottish Episcopal Church in Perth Road is a small 1990s building which replaced an older church.

The Roman Catholic Church is represented by St Fillan's Chapel in Ford Road, as part of the Diocese of Dunkeld.

Media

Radio Earn broadcasts from Strathearn and Strathallan.

Notable people

References

References

  1. {{Scottish settlement population citation
  2. "Crieff Community Council Website".
  3. (1860). "The beauties of upper Strathearn. Crieff, with six excursions around it". George McCulloch.
  4. Millar, Alexander Hasties. (1883). "The History of Rob Roy". J. Leng.
  5. "The Drummond Arms". Open Plaques.
  6. (1860). "The beauties of upper Strathearn. Crieff, with six excursions around it". George McCulloch.
  7. {{Historic Environment Scotland
  8. (1997). "Taking the Water Cure: The Hydropathic Movement in Scotland, 1840–1940". Business and Economic History.
  9. Butt, R. V. J.. (1995). "The Directory of Railway Stations". Patrick Stephens Ltd.
  10. McGonagall, William. (1899). "Beautiful Crieff". McGonagall Online.
  11. Rand, Chris. "The Half Man Half Biscuit Lyrics Project.".
  12. "Platinum Jubilee Crieff Highland Gathering 2022". Event Brite.
  13. "The Schoolmaster Day". Anglo Scottish Pictures.
  14. "Criech – Cullicudden".
  15. "Crieff from The Gazetteer for Scotland".
  16. (1851). "A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland: Comprising the Several Counties, Islands, Cities, Burgh and Market Towns, Parishes, and Principal Villages, with Historical and Statistical Descriptions: Embellished with Engravings of the Seals and Arms of the Different Burghs and Universities". S. Lewis and Company.
  17. "Crieff from The Gazetteer for Scotland".
  18. Macdonald, Finlay A. J.. (30 April 2017). "From Reform to Renewal: Scotland's Kirk Century by Century". Saint Andrew Press.
  19. Fraser, Liam Jerrold. (16 December 2019). "The Scottish ideal: Lay education and training in the Church of Scotland". Theology in Scotland.
  20. Mayall, Colin. (15 June 2010). "Crieff and Strathearn Through Time". Amberley Publishing Limited.
  21. "St Fillan's, Crieff".
  22. [https://radioearn.org/ Radio Earn] – official website
  23. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180120070031/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba2dc61b0 British Film Institute] access date 19 January 2018.
  24. "Sunset Song: Classic novel set in the Mearns became the first BBC drama series shot in colour".
  25. "John Manson Craig". VC Online.
  26. Kaufman, M. H.. (February 2008). "Daniel John Cunningham (1850–1909): anatomist and textbook author, whose sons achieved distinction in the Army, Navy and Indian Medical Service". Journal of Medical Biography.
  27. (23 February 1915). "Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae : the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation". Edinburgh : Oliver and Boyd.
  28. {{NeilBrownPlayers. player3/jackiedewar
  29. (12 March 2011). "New Seekers star Eve Graham looks back 40 years after their greatest hit". Daily Record.
  30. Duke, Lynn. (19 October 2012). "Denis attributes acting career to his Crieff roots". Daily Record.
  31. Carr, Ellie. (19 May 2001). "He is the actor formerly known as Denis Lawson. Now he's more famous as Ewan McGregor's uncle. But he's not bitter". Herald Scotland.
  32. Barratt, Nick. (11 November 2006). "Family Detective". Daily Telegraph.
  33. Bell, Robert. (April 1892). "Alexander Murray, F.G.S., F.R.S.C., C.M.G.". The Canadian Record of Science.
  34. Moncur, James. (6 March 2010). "Incredible story of the Dundee United footballer who won an Academy Award". Daily Record.
  35. Rae, Douglas. (16 June 1995). "OBITUARY: Neil Paterson". The Independent.
  36. (23 March 2012). "Perthshire's sports awards nominees named". Perthshire Advertiser.
  37. "William Reid". VC Online.
  38. (10 September 2015). "Obituary: Brian Stewart, CMG, MI6 director". The Scotsman.
  39. van Praagh, Anna. (1 November 2009). "Rory Stewart: A new kind of Tory". Daily Telegraph.
  40. Gossip, Shona. (24 May 2010). "Article – Former Black Watch soldier shares his experiences". Press and Journal.
  41. "Sophie Stewart". [[British Film Institute]].
  42. MP for [[Edinburgh East (UK Parliament constituency). Edinburgh East]] constituency, first elected in 1970, then re-elected in February 1974, October 1974, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2001 and 2005. He held several ministerial posts during his political career.
  43. "Shiela Stuart". Fidra Books.
  44. (26 June 2009). "Restaurant review: Hawke & Hunter, Edinburgh". The Scotsman.
  45. Purnell, Gareth. (8 March 2008). "Simon Taylor: Sinatra of Scottish rugby hopes his latest return is a happy one". The Independent.
  46. Bardgett, Frank. (2010). "Scotland's Evangelist – D.P. Thomson". Handsel Press.
  47. "Thomas Thomson". Electricscotland.com.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

crieffhighland-boundary-faulttowns-in-perth-and-kinross