Parish Church And Graveyard Rattray Blairgowrie Perthshire Scotland

Tour Scotland Spring 4K travel video of the parish church and graveyard on visit to Rattray, Blairgowrie, Perthshire. The present church, designed by D & J R MacMillan, was completed in 1904 in Early English Gothic style with tower, spire and a distinctive square clock tower of Italianate design. From around 1600 to the beginning of the 19th century, Blairgowrie had a fairly stable population, recorded at 425 inhabitants in the first Statistical Account in 1792. The second Statistical Account of 1853 notes a disproportionate increase due to an influx of families attracted by the expanding textiles industry. Gaelic was declining but still partially spoken in the upper part of the parish at that time, with all speaking English. Blairgowrie was made a barony in favour of George Drummond of Blair in 1634 by a royal charter of Charles I, and became a free burgh in 1809. In 1724 the military road from Coupar Angus to Fort George which passes through the town on the line of the A923 and A93 was completed. The town expanded hugely in the 19th century thanks to the employment provided by the many textile mills which were built along the River Ericht, all now closed. By 1870 there were 12 mills along the river employing nearly 2000 men and women and the population had increased from 400 in the 1700s to 4000. Clan Rattray is a Highland Scottish clan. The name Rattray is taken from the barony of Rattray in Perthshire. This barony has been in their possession since the eleventh century. During the Wars of Scottish Independence, Eustace Rattray, was captured at the Battle of Dunbar in 1296 and taken to England as a prisoner. Eustace's son was Adam Rattray who swore fealty to Edward I of England, appearing on the Ragman Rolls of 1296. Adam was succeeded by his son, Alexander Rattray, who was amongst the barons who sat in the Parliament at Ayr to determine the succession to the throne in 1315. Alexander was succeeded by his brother, Eustace, the sixth Laird of Rattray, who was accused of being involved in a plot to depose Robert the Bruce, but he was later acquitted.

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