Issue 8, 2002

IssueIssue No No 8 8 NEWSLETTERNEWSLETTER FriendFriendss ofof Perth Perth & & Kinross Kinross Council Council Archive Archive Honorary Presidents: Mike O’Malley, Provost of Perth && KinrossKinross CouncilCouncil and SirSir William MacphersonMacpherson ofof Cluny and BlairgowrieBlairgowrie James K Cairncross 1920-2002 We regret to inform you that one of our life members passed away recently. Mr Cairncross was well-known in Perth and much further afield as a partner, with his late brother Alistair, in the long-established firm of A&G Cairncross, jewellers. His connection with the Council Archive goes back to the old days in the Sandeman Library when he kindly deposited records relating to his father’s trust. Along with good friend Archie Martin, and sister-in-law Mary Cairncross he was quick to support the setting up of the Friends of Perth & Kinross Council Archive. We were also pleased recently to receive a generous contribution from his own charitable trust towards the cost of equipment for our volunteers. It is apparent from the appreciations of his life that have appeared in the local press and the warm tributes at his funeral that Mr Cairncross will be deeply missed by his many friends and also by various organisations within Perth. On behalf of the Friends, we would like to pass on our sympathy to his family. Steve Connelly, Archivist Welcome to our eighth Friends newsletter. It’s been a busy quarter for our members and volunteers. First, our visit to Kinross House was most interesting. Arriving at dusk, the sweep up the drive to the spotlighted house was quite breathtaking. It was quite clear why the house has been described as having ‘the rare and serene beauty of a true masterpiece’. Sir David Montgomery kindly welcomed our group and, surrounded by family portraits in the Grand Salon, introduced us to a history of Kinross House and Estate. He outlined the life of the house’s architect, Sir William Bruce, explaining how he had bought the estate in 1675 and designed and completed the building of the house and gardens between 1685-1693. This was notwithstanding his close involvement in the politics of the day and consequent periods of imprisonment. Partly because of his turbulent career, Bruce never lived in Kinross House and lots of the final finishing work, such as decorative plasterwork, was left undone. After fifty years of ownership by Ann Bruce-Hope the house was sold to the Grahams, whose descendant Sir Basil Montgomery sold the family seat at Stobo and came to live at Kinross House in 1902. It was he who laid out the gardens, now open to the public, and refurbished the house. His job was somewhat eased by the fact that the house, having lain empty between 1720-1900, was a blank canvas. Since then, the house has been lived Perth & Kinross Council Archive, AK Bell Library, York Place, Perth PH2 8EP, Tel: 01738 477012, Email: [email protected] in by the family, currently Sir David’s son and his wife. Sir David’s narrative touched on the personalities, highlights and tragedies of the Bruce and Graham families as well as describing the changes that have occurred in Kinross over the centuries. To help illustrate his tale, Sir David then showed us the family portraits that hung in the Salon and stairs, some of which are by Raeburn and Hoppner. He had also laid out several items of interest for us to look at, including a photograph album and letters from the Crimea, an inventory of the household of 1779, and surrogate plan of the House and garden. The interesting and informative evening was rounded off by the kind hospitality of Lady Delia who provided us with delicious home- baked refreshments. Our next event is in January when Fiona Slattery will speak to us about Perth silver. This will be held in Perth Museum itself, so those of you who attend will also have the opportunity to browse and see the items Fiona will be discussing. Finally, I’m pleased to announce that we have new volunteers on our team, and also that the OS map project is now complete. Many thanks to the hard work of Jim and Gavin, who are now looking forward to using their large-format expertise to tackle a whole bunch of building and engineering plans! Merry Christmas, everyone, and a Happy New Year. The United Combination Poorhouse of Upper Strathearn Notes on the history of the Auchterarder Poor’s House gathered from the Council Archive at the AK Bell Library Archives Dr Joan Macintosh Prior to the Poor Law (Scotland) Act 1845 responsibility for the poor of every parish lay with the Heritors (landowners) and parish Kirk Sessions, primarily to provide ‘outdoor relief’ enabling the destitute to survive – but to move on elsewhere. The Act changed emphasis towards organised ‘indoor relief’ – intended in part to discourage tramps and tinkers from wandering the countryside by consigning them to ‘homes’ where they could be controlled as well as housed, in accordance with strict Victorian conscience. One important change under the Act (Section 16) was that it became possible to set up ‘Combined Poor Houses’, under the joint control of several parishes. The parishes would be ‘thenceforward combined for the purpose and considered as one Parish as far as regards the support and management of the poor and all matters connected therewith’. A central Poor House for this purpose was required – and a handsome example is the building at the end of Western Road in Auchterarder. It was some years after the Act, August 1861, that meetings were held of contiguous Parochial Boards in Upper Strathearn, to decide whether, how and where to support proposals for such a project. The purpose of the Committee was spelled out: ‘the erection of a Poor House - with full power to obtain plans, to enter into contracts, to raise money by loan’ in the belief that ‘such an Institution would be a great advantage both to the parties bound to support the Poor and to the poor themselves’. The following parishes discussed the scheme and agreed to take ‘shares’ in the cost in proportion to their population and prosperity. Crieff and Auchterarder took 27 and 25 shares respectively, while Blackford took 10 shares, and Dunning 9. Trinity Gask, Gask and Forteviot each took 3 shares while Methven took 5 beds. We do not know the shares of Madderty and Forgandenny. A letter of 27 December.1862 to the Board of Supervision in Edinburgh, set up 2 under the 1845 Act, invited approval of the scheme. The speed of decision taking - reflecting presumably a sense of urgency and some previous discussion - is shown by the fact that at a Perth meeting, less than two weeks later, it was decided ‘the Poor House to be proceeded without delay’. It was agreed that it be called ‘The Upper Strathearn Combination Poor House’, and that Mr James Walker, Edinburgh architect, be employed. First he had to select a site in co-operation with Dr Gardner of Crieff and Dr Cochrane of Auchterarder, whose advice was required on site suitability from the point of view of health. Also, the design of the Poor’s House was from the first intended to cast credit on the community. It was to be a handsome building, not a makeshift structure. Members of the various Parochial Boards were appointed to the Poor House Committee and were all men of high status such as landowners, professional bankers and lawyers. For example, Viscount Strathallan was delegate for Blackford, Murray of Dollerie for Crieff, with Col. Hunter, Major Graham and Mr William Young of Belvidere for Auchterarder. Location of the Poor House The two contenders for the site were Blackford and Auchterarder. A critical issue was an adequate water supply and good drainage. Blackford failed to meet requirements in this regard, but the 1860 Auchterarder Muir Improvement Act had meant that open space for the building and adequate water supplies were available in the Muir, described as a field about a quarter of a mile from Auchterarder, well sheltered from north and east by rising ground where trees be planted, slopes gently to the south with fine southern exposure…the views being interesting and extensive…Bounded on the North by public road between Auchterarder and Blackford…on the West by a field about to be planted with trees…on the South by a running stream and the Auchterarder Curling Ponds, the latter being artificial, very shallow and clean…and on the East by arable fields. There is a detailed account of the water sources including ‘an excellent and copious spring’, and of provision for discharge of sewage into the running stream(!). The Auchterarder Water Committee agreed to add a pipe of ¾ inch bore. The Auchterarder Commission for the Improvement of the Muir having agreed to the rate of ‘five pounds for Imperial acre’, the Architect was instructed to begin and the Poor House scheduled to open by 1 November, 1863. Early Days Committee meetings of the Parish Delegates were originally held at the Star Inn in Auchterarder, but by 1 October 1863 the new Poor House was able to accommodate them. An early requirement was the appointment of a Governor and Matron. After several meetings Mr and Mrs Findlay, with previous experience at the Barony Poor’s House in Glasgow, were appointed. Special and extensive quarters for them were to be provided by the Architect. The Governor was to receive as his salary £45 plus board and the Matron, £20 plus board. Early decisions taken by the Committee illustrate the detail of consideration given to the care and control of inmates.

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