Introduction
This afternoon, I am focusing on the hamlet of Innerpeffray a little known site in Perthshire, central Scotland. Location is about 5 miles S.E. of Crieff and 52 miles N.E.of Glasgow.
Apologies for quality of the images as they date back 20 years to the early days of digital photography.
Innerpeffray Castle, a romantic ruin. This was built by 1st Lord Madertie. It is a beautiful, but roofless, example of a gentleman’s Fortalice.
Information on Innerpeffray-Part 1
The site comprises an unusual combination of a 2nd century AD Roman road and Roman army camp, A 17th century historic library with correspondingly old 3,800 book collection, 16th century Renaissance chapel and ruins of a mid- 15th century castle built for the Drummonds. Peffer is a Celtic word associated with a stream as supported by Innerpeffray’s location right next to the River Earn.There is limited parking. For the academically inclined, to browse through the shelves of antiquarian books is a special treat-and free!
Inside historic Innerpeffray Chapel, Scotland
Historic Innerpeffray Chapel, Scotland
The site is closely connected with the Drummond family who were ennobled using the style ‘Madertie’ . The Madertie flag is shown below right next to an archaeological excavation
Madertie Flag at Innerpeffray
Information on Innerpeffray-Part 2
This section carries forward a 2007 report of archaeology at the Innerpeffray site which is now offline.
Day 3 of excavation on the intersection of the Roman road and the temporary camp east of Innerpeffray cutting. The aim of the excavation is to establish whether the road or the camp came first and provide a better understanding of the dates of the various Roman sites nearby.
Current thinking is the camp came first and then the road was built later after filling in part of the camp ditch.However, because of weak road foundations at this point part of the road subsequently subsided into the old ditch.
This is a view of a site close to Innerpeffray which is the remains of the protective ditch which surrounded a huge 130 acre temporary Roman army camp. The ditch is still about 4 feet high in places.
View from Innerpeffray library towards Crieff with the river Earn in the foreground.
View out from Innerpeffray Library. Note Georgian architecture.
Early stages of the Roman dig.
The dig site in context of the landscape.
River Earn from Kinkell Bridge.
Landscape from the dig site.
Inside of the ancient Collegiate Chapel of St. Mary (1508) at Innerpeffray.
External view of Innerpeffary Chapel.
Innerpeffary Castle
Innerpeffray Castle
Innerpeffray Castle
More information
The publication Visitors’ Guide to Scotland contains a wide range of information for the visitor. The ISBN is 978-1-9161332-0-4. This book is also available via Kindle.