The burgh of Perth has dominated much of our understanding of urban archaeology in Perth and Kinross. It was one of the most important burghs in medieval Scotland, an economic powerhouse and a major royal centre, a role which was reinforced by its proximity to the inauguration place of the kings of Scots at Scone, from the 12th century onwards. During the early 15th century Perth was the preferred location for parliaments, church councils and meetings of the exchequer. Meanwhile, the royal lodgings at Blackfriars were frequently used by James I and his predecessors.
Perth was fundamentally shaped by its location at a crossing point of the River Tay. The medieval settlement probably stood on a square patch of raised ground in the middle of a swamp (Strachan 2011, 10). These waterlogged surroundings have contributed to the survival of extensive organic material from the burgh. Over the past 50 years Perth has produced exceptional archaeological finds, including unusually well-preserved domestic utensils, rare fragments of luxury textiles and invaluable environmental evidence. The depth and quality of Perth’s archaeology have made it one of the most intensively and productively studied Scottish medieval towns. In particular, the Perth High Street excavations undertaken in the 1970s were transformative for our understanding of daily life in medieval Scotland (Perry et al 2010).
It is widely accepted that medieval Perth had a well-defined street plan and burgage plot system, unusually extensive urban defences, a concentration of important religious foundations and numerous urban industries, in particular trades associated with the preparation of animal skins. All of these aspects have received a degree of archaeological research and investigation (D Hall 1989; Bowler et al 1996; Coleman 1997; Bowler 2004; Coleman and Smith 2005). A combination of extant property boundaries, exceptional archaeological remains and a considerable body of early written records mean that at Perth we can examine the evolution of a medieval Scottish town in detail.
Yet, despite significant study of Perth’s medieval past, there are still many possibilities for future research. It is increasingly apparent that there was a settlement at Perth before the official grant of burghal status in the early 12th century. For example, 11th century radiocarbon dates have been recovered from a wattle-lined ditch at 80–86 High Street (Moloney and Coleman 1997, 710). Any further evidence about this phase of the burgh’s origins would be of great interest. Research into the Watergate area could prove especially instructive regarding Perth’s early development. Watergate, and the land to the east of what is now St John’s Church, was probably the original heart of the burgh. A watching brief in this area in the 1990s found medieval deposits and a natural ridge surprisingly near the surface, confirming the theory that this was a slightly drier area of raised land which attracted early settlement (D Hall pers comm). At present Watergate is largely unexcavated, and investigation of future urban development here might be of considerable significance.
The (probably) 12th-century thoroughfare of South Street would likewise benefit from further investigation. South Street currently has several gap sites and vulnerable buildings which might make excavations a possibility. The slightly later insertion of Skinnergate, once a focal point for Perth’s leatherworkers, similarly deserves more research. There have been some recent interventions in this area, which as of the end of 2021 were being written up, but much more work remains to be done.
Perth lade is also worthy of note. It flows from the River Almond, around four miles to the west of the medieval burgh, and powered several watermills. The lade then split to run around the burgh wall as part of the defences. The lade is thought to date to the 14th century, but has received limited study (Barton and Perry 2011). Further documentary research and physical investigation of this major historic feature should be a priority.
Additional interdisciplinary study of Perth towards the end of the Middle Ages may well prove helpful. Archaeological remains from this period are often truncated by subsequent development. Although excavation on the Perth Theatre site in the 2010s produced evidence for a substantial late medieval stone building and boundary ditches (Cachart 2018). Perth has a vast quantity of written records for the 15th and 16th centuries. Combining the textual and physical evidence could be revealing. Currently, documentary research on the Carthusian holdings in Perth is proving a fruitful line of inquiry about the monastery and the wider burgh (L Dean pers comm).
Beyond Perth, there were several smaller medieval towns in the region. Most of these are under-researched, yet they are vital to understanding the range of settlements in medieval Scotland and the economic networks which connected them. Notably, the 13th-century royal burgh of Auchterarder has received surprisingly little archaeological investigation. As a seemingly thriving middle-ranking settlement which went into decline around the 16th century, Auchterarder could be of considerable interest. Further study would also be desirable at Abernethy and Dunkeld; both were significant religious centres which acquired burghal status towards the end of the Middle Ages.
The late 15th and early 16th centuries saw the establishment of several burghs of barony in Perth and Kinross, including Keithick (founded in the 1490s), Balnakilly, Balnald, Dalnagairn, Dunning and Kirkmichael (all founded in the 1510s), and Kinross (founded in the 1540s). Some of these settlements thrived, although most sank back into obscurity. Yet even the ‘unsuccessful’ towns could provide valuable information about the relationship between burgh foundations and earlier settlement patterns. They might also inform us about the extent to which new burghal sites were provided with the physical identifiers of urban settlement, such as market places and burgage plots.
Coupar Angus is also significant as there appears to have been a secular settlement alongside the abbey some time before the official establishment of a burgh in the 17th century (MPK5328; O’Sullivan et al 1996; Dennison and Coleman 1998). Limited excavations and recent geophysical survey have provided tantalising clues about the extent and plan of the medieval settlement (O’Sullivan et al 1996; Morris 2012). Coupar Angus offers both an opportunity to explore the relationship between a Cistercian community and its surroundings, and an interesting example of medieval settlement and trading outside of the official burgh system. Recent doctoral research on Coupar Angus has highlighted the potential benefits of linking documentary evidence with the archaeological record (Hodgson 2016).
Further investigation of the deserted medieval settlement at Old Scone (MPK3307), and its relationship with the nearby abbey (MPK3308) and royal inauguration site (MPK5474), is also required. While Scone never achieved official burghal status, it was an important regional and national centre; it hosted early Scottish parliaments and was the base for a series of 12th-century sheriffs. In 1796, only a few years before Old Scone was demolished, it was noted that the street then serving as the market place was ‘remarkably wide’ (Thomas 1796, 78). This is perhaps a hint as to the function and plan of the medieval settlement. Although some recent archaeological work has been undertaken, considerable potential remains, not least because of the lack of later development (Timoney 2007; O’Grady 2018).
The medieval settlements of Perth and Kinross appear to have differed greatly in age, origin, legal status and physical form. Many of the smaller urban settlements might be better understood by considering how topography, function and historical considerations may have guided their early development. For example, Abernethy’s plan was probably shaped by the location of the early monastic centre (MPK3088), the sloping hillside and the proximity of the River Tay. Here, as at many other sites in Perth and Kinross, the relationship between medieval settlement and earlier occupation is a topic of considerable interest. It would also be desirable to see more investigation of how larger burghs, like Perth, interacted with smaller centres, such as Abernethy. Analysis of non-burghal centres, such as Crieff, should likewise be considered. Comparison across these different types of settlement has the potential to significantly enhance our understanding of the development of medieval economic and administrative frameworks.
Investigation of the smaller urban settlements, and the sites with urban aspirations, should be a priority for researchers. While some have been covered by the Scottish Burgh Surveys, most have not. Many of these overlooked settlements may see increased development over the next decade, providing opportunities for investigation. Community-led archaeology may also prove beneficial. It must be stressed that without the study of the smaller burghs, and the places which never quite made burghal status, our understanding of the hierarchy of medieval settlement in Perth and Kinross will inevitably be partial and distorted.
| Decade | Burgh Foundations |
| 1120s | Perth (Royal Burgh) |
| 1240s | Auchterarder (Royal Burgh) |
| 1450s | Abernethy (Burgh of Barony) |
| 1490s | Keithick (Burgh of Barony) |
| 1510s | Balnakilly (Burgh of Barony), Balnald (Burgh of Barony), Dalnagairn (Burgh of Barony), Dunkeld (Extension of privileges to existing Burgh of Barony), Dunning (Burgh of Barony), and Kirkmichael (Burgh of Barony) |
| 1540s | Kinross (Burgh of Barony) |