Fortifications
The burgh of Perth was famed for its extensive urban defences (MPK3507). In the 15th century John Hardyng described Perth as ‘fayre and stronge, dytched about syxtene foote depe’ (Hume Brown 1891, 19). Unlike in many other parts of Europe, major urban fortifications were far from the norm in Scotland, and their presence at Perth reflects the strategic importance of the burgh. Indeed, it has been suggested that Perth’s town walls were ‘probably the finest ever to be constructed in Scotland’ (Perry et al 2010, 10).
There appears to have been some form of earth and timber defences at Perth in the mid-12th century (Perry et al 2010, 7). These were probably replaced by stone fortifications on the orders of Edward I of England in the 1300s, though there is some debate about this chronology. The English stone defences were then slighted by Robert I, but new town walls were built by Edward Balliol and Edward III of England in the 1330s. The defences of Edward III seem to have lasted into the 18th century, albeit with some alterations. Today Perth’s medieval town walls have been almost entirely demolished, although a small fragment may survive at Albert Close (MPK6441; Bowler and Perry 2004, 25).
The location of Perth’s defences seems to have moved over the course of the Middle Ages. Excavations in the 1970s, prior to the building of Marks and Spencer on the High Street, uncovered the foundations of a stone defensive wall much closer to the centre of the burgh than the presumed line of the town walls at the end of the Middle Ages. Those are thought to have followed the town lade running along Mill Street, South Methven Street and Canal Street. It is possible that the Marks and Spencer remains relate to the defences built by Edward I, although this dating has been questioned on the basis of surrounding ceramic fragments from the 11th or 12th century (Bowler and Perry 2004, 25). Other excavations have discovered sections of the medieval ditches encircling the burgh, including a bank which may have been part of the 12th century earth defences. At present we can confidently state that medieval Perth did have extensive urban fortifications. However, many aspects of their origin, development and precise location remain unclear. Some of these questions may be clarified by future excavations. Physical evidence of the successive sieges which Perth faced during the Wars of Independence would be of great interest if discovered. In particular the burning of Perth in 1298 and around 1332 may have left some trace in the archaeological record.
Aside from Perth’s town walls, castles and tower houses were the main forms of medieval fortification in Perth and Kinross. It has been suggested that some Iron Age defences were still used in the region in the Middle Ages. Notably claims have been made for the ‘multi-vallate fortification’ at Dunknock (MPK2004), which served as the administrative heart of the medieval thanage of Dunning (Driscoll 1998; Watson 2005).
Field walking at Dunknock in the 1990s revealed medieval pottery in the area, although evaluation trenches in the 2000s only produced evidence of occupation during the Iron Age and earlier (Dalglish et al 2009). Evidence for medieval occupation of hillforts and other earthworks in Perth and Kinross is at present extremely sparse. Yet there are some tantalising clues of medieval people interacting with these sites in various ways. For instance, a medieval vessel hoard was found at the foot of Dunsinane hillfort (NMS 1994). Further study and mapping of medieval finds from prehistoric sites in Perth and Kinross would be desirable. For a discussion of castles see PKARF 7.2.6 Castles and High-Status Settlements.
Battlefields
Perth and Kinross experienced several phases of conflict in the Middle Ages. Like many other parts of Scotland, the region was significantly affected by the Wars of Independence, with military activity here in the 1290s, 1300s, 1310s and 1330s. In the 1540s lands beside the River Tay were again attacked by English forces during the Rough Wooing. The area around Perth also became a focal point for conflict during the religious crisis of 1559. The region saw major pitched battles near Methven (MPK2161) in 1306 and at Dupplin Moor (MPK17754) in 1332.
The Battle of Dupplin Moor has been listed on Historic Environment Scotland’s Inventory of Historic Battlefields (Historic Environment Scotland 2012). Drawing on written sources, HES has tentatively identified the battle as taking place near Burnside Lodge on the Dupplin Castle Estate. However, as the compilers of the battlefield inventory concede, ‘this location is only tentative in the absence of any supporting evidence from fieldwork’.
The Battle of Methven was considered for HES’s Inventory of Historic Battlefields, but doubts about the precise location of the battlefield meant that it was not included (Historic Environment Scotland 2016). The battle took place at the Wood of Methven, which was near the River Almond, probably a few miles north of the modern village of Methven. HES has previously noted that if ‘new evidence is found that would allow the events to be located with confidence, the battle is of sufficient significance to be included in the Inventory’.
The discovery of physical remains relating to either the Battle of Dupplin Moor or the Battle of Methven would be of great interest. A small but highly significant recent find is the gilt and enamel horse harness pendant bearing the arms of Sir William Keith (Perth Museum 2007.175). Sir William was killed at Dupplin Moor and the harness pendant was found by metal-detecting near Forteviot, opposite the probable battlefield site on the far side of the River Earn (MPK17580; M Hall 2021, 478–9). The find spot may indicate the location of the Scottish camp or baggage train.
However, study of medieval battlefields in other parts of Scotland, such as around Stirling, suggests that fieldwork and metal-detecting are typically not as productive as might be expected. Unless mass graves are found, it seems likely that the precise locations of major battles in Perth and Kinross may well remain conjectural. Arguably, rather than focusing vast efforts on identifying specific battlefields, a more productive approach might be careful analysis of any evidence of medieval conflict across the region, including burning of buildings and crops – known from written sources to have been a strategy used in the Wars of Independence and during the conflicts of the 1540s.
Weapons and Military Equipment
Perth and Kinross has produced a number of interesting finds of medieval military equipment. Several medieval weapons, including arrowheads, spearheads, a sword hilt and a battle axe were uncovered during the Perth High Street excavations (Caldwell et al 2012). The spearheads were similar to ones found in London and Dublin (and associated by some researchers with viking activity), while the axe head was of the type sometimes known as a Danish axe. The sword hilt also showed Scandinavian influences and is comparable to examples traditionally dated to around the 10th century, including an example found during construction work on the Watergate in Perth in 1849. Yet the Perth High Street hilt was uncovered in a late 12th century context, strongly suggesting an heirloom function (Gilchrist 2013, 174, fig.12).
Other weapons from the region include a high-status silver inlaid axe from Lochleven (Perth Museum K1972.291; Caldwell 1981, 268–9) and a spearhead (MPK5865; Perth Museum 1991.55) from the Tay near Kinclaven Castle. A piece of the wooden shaft preserved in the socket of the Kinclaven spearhead has been radiocarbon dated to the 11th or 12th century. Both shaft and spearhead may have been made at the same time. However, as the spearhead is of an older type it is also possible that again this was an heirloom weapon. A better understanding of the chronology of Scottish weapons across the early and late medieval periods, including consideration of the complicating factor of heirloom usage, is highly desirable.
A number of medieval items associated with riding have also been uncovered in Perth and Kinross. While horses were obviously not exclusively used for war, much of the elite culture around riding had martial connotations. The parts of five spurs, including an elaborate gilded spur probably dating from the 12th century, were found during the Perth High Street excavations (Caldwell et al 2012). In recent years metal-detecting has produced a number of medieval horse accessories, including a heraldic mount found at Burrelton (now in the National Museums Scotland) and a harness pendant discovered at Scotlandwell (now in Perth Museum). It is likely that metal-detecting will continue to produce stray finds relating to riding and military activity. More discussion between museums, archaeologists and historians on how these artefacts might best be studied would be desirable.