THE HIDDEN history of one of Perth’s most familiar thoroughfares is uncovered in a fascinating book written by a life-long resident.

In ’Twixt Castle And Mart, Donald Paton charts the events and people shaping the development of the intriguingly-named Needless Road.

Since its recent launch, much like residents of Needless Road, the book has found its way to all corners of the world.

Copies have been sent to Australia, the United States and Canada, and at home the book has also been selling well.

In his foreword, Ian Simpson Ross, English professor at the University of British Columbia, outlines the appeal of the volume.

“This book helps us to visualise, and to some degree understand, wayfarers on and residents of this street down the centuries, both at high social levels in historical eras and in terms of the ordinary life of modern times,” he writes.

He praises Mr Paton’s ability to sketch in and localise stirring historical stories, adding depth to what, on the face of it, might appear to be an ordinary suburban street.

“He then whisks us on to the age of commerce and modernity, when cattle and sheep rolled up and down Needless Road to the mart,” says Professor Ross.

While the cattle mart, which survived at the foot of the road until recent times, and Pitheavlis Castle, which still stands at the top, will be familiar to the people of Perth, many episodes of history are not so well known.

The route would have been known to figures such as William Wallace and Robert the Bruce.

Meanwhile, King James VI travelled along Needless Road on a state visit to Perth in 1617.

It was in 1644 that a Royalist force, under the command of the Marquis of Montrose and Alasdair MacDonald, did battle with the Covenanters near Broxden, on the outskirts of Perth.

The Covenanters fell apart in the face of the opposing forces.

Around 2000 men died and another 2000 were captured.

“The lands around Needless Road were very much part of these killing fields, the road itself being the route taken by Montrose’s victorious army,” writes Mr Paton.

One officer was alleged to have said there were so many dead lying in their blood that a man might have walked on them all the way in to Perth.

A plaque on Needless Road refers to the battle and the Covenanters’ Stone which at one time stood on the battlefield and marked the spot where much of the carnage occurred.

Moving through the centuries to the present day, ’Twixt Castle And Mart outlines how Needless Road developed into the community recognisable today.

As the author notes, “The story of a street is also the story of its people,” and the closing chapter documents many of the interesting characters who have lived along its path—from poet William Souter to Alan Gorrie, founder and lead singer of the Average White Band, and the author’s own father, Donald M. Paton, a notable amateur playwright.

Taking 31/2 years from conception to completion, Mr Paton describes the writing of the book as a pleasurable, though at times emotional, experience.

“There have been many happy and interesting hours spent in the company of residents and former residents of Needless Road, all with stories to tell and who were, I think, glad of the opportunity to tell them,” he says.

Mr Paton is willing to give talks on the book and the history which he has gathered.

He can be contacted on 01738 634376 or at dnmpaton@blueyonder.co.uk