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The "Skulduggery in the Vestry?" talk went over well. Particularly the revelation Murthly parish was only made possible by a fairy godmother, Lady Hester, widow of Sir Archibald Stewart, last of the Murthly Stewarts, who provided key funding anonymously.
Unknown to the villagers at the time, the community was not, after all, wealthy enough to build its own church and sustain a minister. Which is not to say it was undeserving. After all, the rents of their forebears had sustained the Stewarts for generations.
A small but rapt audience
Murthly's Mission Church opened in May 1913. It was both a triumph for the local community and a fitting swansong for the minister of Little Dunkeld Parish, Rev James Skinner Mackenzie.
A triumph, for few outside the parish believed such a small community could raise enough money to build its own church.
And a swansong for a determined, cranky and, as it turns out, conniving minister who succumbed to the temptation of a little sectarian blackmail to achieve his final ambition.
Several others played important roles, including William Rae, the factor, the Duncan Brothers, local builders, James Mitchell, carpenter, and an anonymous benefactor.
This talk is the third in a series about the development of the village.
Christmas in August
A couple of years ago we helped TJC Heritage Ltd wth a major new assessment of the Murthly Castle Garden & Designed Landscape (GDL). Its clients were Jacobs and Transport Scotland. Who wanted to review the existing assessment as part of the Environmental Impact Statement for the Pass of Birnam to Tay Crossing section of the A9 dulling project.
The finished work comprises: A Main Report; and three huges appendices covering historic mapping & images; a gazeteer of Special Features; tree survey notes; and a host of other goodies.
And it has just landed on my desk with such a meaty thump. A trove of fresh research AND expert analysis.
An Outstanding Landscape
The report concludes that:
The Murthly Castle GDL should be regarded as one of the largest and most dramatic garden and designed landscapes in Scotland. Its designed elements stretch over and area of 5,302 acres along the banks of the River Tay and rises to the top of King's Seat on Birnam Hill overlooking the Pass of Birnam. It can be considered as an outstanding landscape with a time depth which spans the 17th to 20th centuries.
It is recommended that the existing inventory description and site boundary identified by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) should be enhanced to acknowledge the two additional areas — Birnam Hill with the buffalo park to the west, and the ornamental farmland to the south. By incorporating these areas, the overall size of Murthly Castle GDL will be 70% larger, making Murthly Castle GDL one of the largest designed landscapes in Scotland.
It's all on our doorstep. Easily accessible on foot, by bicycle, and (much of it) on horseback. You can find some guides to download here.
Murthly Castle Garden & Designed Landscape Report WESTSTORMONT HISTORICAL SOCIETY
presents
Songs O'er Time & Place
with
PlaidSong
Wednesday 10th July
In the lovely sylvan setting of Murthly Castle's historic Chapel
Come join us for an evening of song covering Scotland's history and landscape.
Refreshments at 7pm: Concert begins at 7pm: No interval
Tickets £12 (no concession)
From:
WSHS Secretary 07823 556 357
PlaidSong at Murthly Castle Chapel