Crieff

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.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=87MHAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA59|title=The beauties of upper Strathearn. Crieff, with six excursions around it |year= 1860|page=59|publisher=George McCulloch}}

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.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5eo44UNyHG4C&pg=PA96|title=The History of Rob Roy|first= Alexander Hasties|last= Millar |year=1883|page=96|publisher=J. Leng}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://openplaques.org/plaques/42593|title=The Drummond Arms |publisher=Open Plaques|access-date=30 September 2022}}

By the late 18th century, the hanging tree used by the Earls of Strathearn to punish criminals had been replaced by a wooden structure in an area called Gallowhaugh, now Gallowhill, at the bottom of Burrell Street.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".{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=87MHAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA66|title=The beauties of upper Strathearn. Crieff, with six excursions around it |year= 1860|page=66|publisher=George McCulloch}}

Crieff Town Hall was completed in 1850.{{Historic Environment Scotland|desc=Town Hall, High Street, Crieff|num=LB23484| access-date=30 September 2022}} 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.{{citation |last1=Bradley |first1=James |last2=Dupree |first2= Mageurite |last3=Durie |first3=Alastair |title=Taking the Water Cure: The Hydropathic Movement in Scotland, 1840–1940 |journal=Business and Economic History |volume=26 |issue=2 |pages=426–437 |year=1997 |url=http://www.h-net.org/~business/bhcweb/publications/BEHprint/v026n2/p0426-p0437.pdf |access-date=17 November 2009}}

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.{{cite book|last=Butt|first=R. V. J.|title=The Directory of Railway Stations|year=1995|publisher=Patrick Stephens Ltd|location=Yeovil|isbn=1-85260-508-1|id=R508|page=71}}

Crieff was praised by the poetaster William McGonagall in "Crieff".

"Ye lovers of the picturesque, if ye wish to drown your grief,

Take my advice, and visit the ancient town of Crieff."{{cite web |last=McGonagall |first=William |title=Beautiful Crieff |url=http://www.mcgonagall-online.org.uk/gems/beautiful-crieff |work=McGonagall Online |year=1899}}

It is also referenced by Half Man Half Biscuit in "Man of constant sorrow".

"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"https://halfmanhalfbiscuit.uk/no-one-cares-about-your-creative-hub-so-get-your-fuckin-hedge-cut/man-of-constant-sorrow/ {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}

Every year the town hosts the Crieff Highland Games, which include music and dancing competitions and feats of strength.{{cite web|url=https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/platinum-jubilee-crieff-highland-gathering-2022-tickets-239909003287|title=Platinum Jubilee Crieff Highland Gathering 2022|publisher=Event Brite|access-date=30 September 2022}}

• Morrison's Academy
• Ardvreck School
• St Dominics RC Primary School
• Crieff Primary School – A historic picture of Crieff Primary School, see The Schoolmaster,{{cite web |last1=Nairn |first1=James S. |title=The Schoolmaster Day |url=https://movingimage.nls.uk/film/1672 |website=Moving Image Archive |publisher=Anglo Scottish Pictures |access-date=24 November 2019}} (1953) black and white, 19 minutes. The schoolmaster is played by Walter Carr and the film is narrated by Gordon Jackson.
• Strathearn Community Campus

File:Crieff Parish Church - geograph.org.uk - 2467397.jpg

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.{{cite web |title=Criech – Cullicudden |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-dict/scotland/pp233-246#h3-0002 |website=British History Online |access-date=30 December 2021}}{{cite web |title=Crieff from The Gazetteer for Scotland |url=https://www.scottish-places.info/towns/townhistory147.html |website=www.scottish-places.info |access-date=30 December 2021 }}

Crieff West Church (Church of Scotland) was built 1837–1838 on Comrie Road as a chapel of ease to the main parish church.{{cite book |last1=Lewis |first1=Samuel |title=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 |date=1851 |publisher=S. Lewis and Company |page=247 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jEVg5wobq6gC&dq=history+of+crieff+%22west+church%22&pg=PA247 |access-date=29 December 2021 }}{{cite web |title=Crieff from The Gazetteer for Scotland |url=https://www.scottish-places.info/towns/townhistory147.html |website=www.scottish-places.info |access-date=29 December 2021 }} 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.{{cite book |last=Macdonald |first=Finlay A. J. |title=From Reform to Renewal: Scotland's Kirk Century by Century |date=30 April 2017 |publisher=Saint Andrew Press |isbn=978-0-86153-976-5 |page=201 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1vuLDgAAQBAJ&dq=St+Ninian%27s+Centre,+Crieff&pg=PA201 |access-date=22 December 2021 }}{{cite journal |last=Fraser |first=Liam Jerrold |title=The Scottish ideal: Lay education and training in the Church of Scotland |journal=Theology in Scotland |date=16 December 2019 |volume=26 |issue=2 |pages=57–70 |doi=10.15664/tis.v26i2.1921 |s2cid=213008477 |url=https://ojs.st-andrews.ac.uk/index.php/TIS/article/view/1921 |issn=1465-2862|doi-access=free }}

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.{{cite book |last=Mayall |first=Colin |title=Crieff and Strathearn Through Time |date=15 June 2010 |publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited |isbn=978-1-4456-2765-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LmSIAwAAQBAJ&q=Crieff+West+Parish+Church |access-date=30 December 2021 }}

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.{{cite web |title=St Fillan's, Crieff |url=https://www.dunkelddiocese.co.uk/st-fillans-crieff/ |website=The Catholic Church in Scotland: Diocese of Dunkeld |access-date=30 December 2021}}

Radio Earn broadcasts from Strathearn and Strathallan.[https://radioearn.org/ Radio Earn] – official website

• Dallas Anderson (1874–1934), actor[https://web.archive.org/web/20180120070031/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba2dc61b0 British Film Institute] access date 19 January 2018.
• Moira Armstrong (born 1930), BAFTA-winning television director.{{cite web |title=Sunset Song: Classic novel set in the Mearns became the first BBC drama series shot in colour |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/nostalgia/2792701/sunset-song-classic-novel-set-in-the-mearns-became-the-first-bbc-drama-series-shot-in-colour-50-years-ago/ |website=Press & Journal |access-date=18 January 2021}}
• John Craig (1896–1970), recipient of the Victoria Cross, at school in Crieff{{cite web|url=http://www.vconline.org.uk/john-m-craig-vc/4586272388.html|title= John Manson Craig|publisher=VC Online|access-date=30 September 2022}}
• Daniel John Cunningham (1850–1909), anatomist and author{{cite journal |last=Kaufman |first=M. H. |title=Daniel John Cunningham (1850–1909): anatomist and textbook author, whose sons achieved distinction in the Army, Navy and Indian Medical Service |journal=Journal of Medical Biography |volume=16 |issue=1 |pages=30–5|date=February 2008 |doi=10.1258/jmb.2006.006058 |pmid=18463062|s2cid=7428475}}
• Reverend John Cunningham (1819–1893) father of the above, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1886, served as minister of Crieff Parish Church.{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/fastiecclesiaesc00scot/fastiecclesiaesc00scot_djvu.txt|title=Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae : the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation|first1=Hew|last1=Scott|first2=D. F. (Donald Farquhar)|last2=Macdonald|first3=Finlay A. J.|last3=Macdonald|date=23 February 1915|publisher=Edinburgh : Oliver and Boyd|via=Internet Archive}}
• Jackie Dewar (1923–2011), footballer{{NeilBrownPlayers|player3/jackiedewar}}
• Eve Graham (born 1943), former singer with New Seekers, has lived in Crieff since 2004{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/real-life/new-seekers-star-eve-graham-1097344 |title=New Seekers star Eve Graham looks back 40 years after their greatest hit |newspaper=Daily Record |date=12 March 2011 |access-date=26 October 2012}}
• David Jacks, first commercial producer of Monterey Jack cheese{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91461383/obituary/|title=David Jacks Passes Away|work=The Californian|place=Salinas, California

|date=11 January 1909|page=1|access-date=30 December 2021}}

• Denis Lawson (born 1947), actor{{cite news |last=Duke |first=Lynn |title=Denis attributes acting career to his Crieff roots |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/denis-attributes-acting-career-crieff-2727329 |newspaper=Daily Record |date=19 October 2012}}{{cite news |last=Carr |first=Ellie |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/he-is-the-actor-formerly-known-as-denis-lawson-now-he-s-more-famous-as-ewan-mcgregor-s-uncle-but-he-s-not-bitter-1.187261 |title=He is the actor formerly known as Denis Lawson. Now he's more famous as Ewan McGregor's uncle. But he's not bitter |newspaper=Herald Scotland |date=19 May 2001 |access-date=26 October 2012}}
• Ewan McGregor (born 1971), actor{{cite news |last=Barratt |first=Nick |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1435151/Family-Detective.html |title=Family Detective |newspaper=Daily Telegraph |date=11 November 2006 |access-date=26 October 2012}}
• Alexander Murray (1810–1884), geologist{{cite journal|last=Bell|first=Robert|date=April 1892|title=Alexander Murray, F.G.S., F.R.S.C., C.M.G.|url=http://www.canadiana.ca/view/oocihm.8_04195_30/3?r=0&s=1|journal=The Canadian Record of Science|volume=5|pages=77|via=Canadiana}}
• Neil Paterson (1915–1995), Oscar-winning screenwriter, was a resident of Crieff until his death.{{cite news |last=Moncur |first=James |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/incredible-story-of-the-dundee-united-footballer-1052410 |title=Incredible story of the Dundee United footballer who won an Academy Award |newspaper=Daily Record |date=6 March 2010 |access-date=26 October 2012}}{{cite news |last=Rae |first=Douglas |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituaryneil-paterson-1586665.html |title=OBITUARY: Neil Paterson |newspaper=The Independent |date=16 June 1995 |access-date=26 October 2012}}
• Fiona Pennie (born 1982), Olympic canoeist{{cite news |url=http://www.perthshireadvertiser.co.uk/perthshire-news/local-news-perthshire/perthshire/2012/03/23/perthshire-s-sports-awards-nominees-named-73103-30604746/ |title=Perthshire's sports awards nominees named |newspaper=Perthshire Advertiser |date=23 March 2012 |access-date=26 October 2012}}
• William Reid (1921–2001) recipient of the Victoria Cross, died in Crieff{{cite web|url=http://www.vconline.org.uk/william-reid-vc/4587987906.html|title=William Reid|publisher=VC Online|access-date=30 September 2022}}
• Brian Stewart (1922–2015), soldier, diplomat and spy{{cite news|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary-brian-stewart-cmg-mi6-director-1495761|title=Obituary: Brian Stewart, CMG, MI6 director|date=10 September 2015|newspaper=The Scotsman| access-date=30 September 2022}}
• Rory Stewart (born 1973), politician{{cite news |last=van Praagh |first=Anna |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/6475289/Rory-Stewart-A-new-kind-of-Tory.html |title=Rory Stewart: A new kind of Tory |newspaper=Daily Telegraph |date=1 November 2009 |access-date=26 October 2012}}{{cite news |last=Gossip |first=Shona |url=http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1750375 |title=Article – Former Black Watch soldier shares his experiences |newspaper=Press and Journal |date=24 May 2010 |access-date=26 October 2012}}
• Sophie Stewart (1908–1977), actor{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/17486|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115053200/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/17486|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 January 2009|title=Sophie Stewart|publisher=British Film Institute|access-date=3 June 2016}}
• Gavin Strang (born 1943), politicianMP for 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.
• Sheila Stuart (1892–1974), children's writer, died here in 1974{{cite web|url=http://www.fidrabooks.com/publishing/stuart.shtml|title=Shiela Stuart|publisher=Fidra Books| access-date=30 September 2022}}
• Simon Taylor (born 1979), Scottish international rugby player{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/restaurant-review-hawke-amp-hunter-edinburgh-1-1353904 |title=Restaurant review: Hawke & Hunter, Edinburgh |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=26 June 2009 |access-date=26 October 2012}}{{cite news |last=Purnell |first=Gareth |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/simon-taylor-sinatra-of-scottish-rugby-hopes-his-latest-return-is-a-happy-one-793207.html |title=Simon Taylor: Sinatra of Scottish rugby hopes his latest return is a happy one|newspaper=The Independent |date=8 March 2008 |access-date=26 October 2012}}
• D. P. Thomson (1896–1974), evangelist of the Church of Scotland, Warden of the St Ninian's Centre{{cite book |last=Bardgett |first=Frank |title=Scotland's Evangelist – D.P. Thomson |date=2010 |publisher=Handsel Press |location=Haddington |isbn=978-1-871828-71-9 |pages=253–258, 339–350}}
• Thomas Thomson (1773–1852), chemist{{cite web |url=http://www.electricscotland.com/history/men/thomson_thomas1.htm |title=Thomas Thomson |publisher=Electricscotland.com |access-date=26 October 2012}}

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Crieff}}

• {{wikivoyage-inline|Crieff}}
• [http://www.crieff.co.uk/ Crieff Visitor Centre]
• [http://ssa.nls.uk/search.cfm?search_term=crieff&search_fields=2&search_join_type=AND&search_fuzzy=yes&subject=&location=&personality=&genre=&series=&fiction=&colour=&sound=&year_from=&year_to=&decade=&videos_only=1&search_mode=Advanced&submit=Search+%3E%3E%3E National Library of Scotland: SCOTTISH SCREEN ARCHIVE] (selection of archive films about Crieff)
• [https://www.pkct.org/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=359a1575-1db1-4241-9b7d-7e32edc6bf0b Explore Crieff Path Network] – Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust

{{Perth & Kinross Towns & Villages}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Highland Boundary Fault

Category:Towns in Perth and Kinross