Blackford, Perth and Kinross

Prehistory

Archaeological work between 2006-08 ahead of the development of a golf course found extensive remains of prehistoric settlements. The settlements were dated to the Middle and Late Bronze Age, with some continued habitation into the Early Iron Age. Most of the structures were probably roundhouses, some were enclosed by palisades, possibly for defense. These communities made their living from a mixed farming economy, with some craft production.

History

Blackford was first known as a ford over the Allan Water. There is a legend that a King Magnus lost his wife Queen Helen in a storm and she is buried on a nearby hill.

Blackford became a popular stopping place especially when Scotland's first public brewery was started. In 1488 King James IV asked the brewery to supply the beer for his coronation.

It was burnt to the ground by Jacobite forces in 1716. The village was becoming more prosperous by the nineteenth century with manufacturing including two breweries and with a healthy agricultural sector based on wool and flax. The Scottish Central Railway built a line between Perth and Stirling with a station at Blackford in 1848.

Local manufacturing declined at the beginning of the 20th century with many people leaving the village. However, many people in the village were employed when the Gleneagles Hotel was opened nearby in 1924. The Tullibardine distillery was built on the site of the former Sharp's Brewery.

Sport

The Blackford Highland Games began in 1870, when its prize money was ten shillings. In 2020, on what was due to be the 150th anniversary of the competition, only one competitor took part due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 20-year-old Alisa Sloan won the Highland dancing competition by default.

The village briefly hosted a senior association football club - Allanvale F.C. - which joined the Scottish Football Association in 1911, and entered the Scottish Qualifying Cup in the next two seasons.

Geology

In 2020 there were 25 earthquakes ranging from 0.4 to 2.5 in magnitude.

Notable people

• Bruce Fummey, comedian, lives in Blackford.

References

References

1. {{Scottish settlement population citation
2. Iain Mac an Tàilleir. "Placenames". Scottish Parliament.
3. (2021-03-18). "Vol 93 (2021): Excavations in a prehistoric landscape at Blackford, Perth & Kinross, 2007–8". Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports.
4. "Historical Blackford - Perthshire Scotland".
5. "Blackford Feature Page on Undiscovered Scotland".
6. ''[[The Courier (Dundee). The Courier]]'', 2 June 2020
7. (30 May 1911). "Minutes of the Scottish FA 1911–12". Hay Nisbet.
8. [[British Geological Survey]] - [https://earthquakes.bgs.ac.uk/cgi-bin/get_events?lat1=&lat2=&lon1=&lon2=&lat0=56.293&lon0=-3.750&radius=10&date1=2020-01-01&date2=2020-11-23&dep1=&dep2=&mag1=&mag2=&nsta1=&nsta2=&output=csv Earthquake Database]
9. McAvinue, Shawn. (10 March 2017). "Comedian big fan of Highlanders".