From archaeological excavations to the restoration of historic buildings, Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust (PKHT) has played a vital role in preserving the area’s past over the last year.
Looking back in the trust’s annual report, chairman Sue Hendry says there has been much to celebrate in what has been achieved over that time.
“Not surprisingly we have had another very busy year and it has been most successful,” she said.
“Our two major schemes, the Perth City Heritage Fund and the Tay Landscape Partnership, are a large part of the work we currently do.
“The Perth City Heritage Fund is progressing well and we were delighted to see work on the Cunningham Graham Close and George Street completed and the improvement it brought to that area of our city.
“We were also pleased to see work on the John Buchan House (on York Place) completed — it had been a significant eyesore on one of the major routes into the city centre.
“The Tay Landscape Partnership has, again, had a busy time. We had a month-long excavation of the hill fort on Moredun top in September, the first of three planned seasons.
“Work is being done on interpretation boards for various locations, new trees and hedgerows are being planted, archaeological and wildlife surveys are being undertaken and many other projects are on the go.
“Perth and Kinross Archaeology Month had 53 different events and approximately 2,600 visitors attended these.
“Doors Open Day in September saw 57 different buildings opened up to the public and over 5,000 visits to these were recorded.”
The trust also backed the Glenshee Archaeology Project which continues to explore the well-preserved early medieval longhouses that survive in the area.
Another important archaeological excavation took place at Strathallan Estate in advance of T in the Park site works which revealed two ring-ditches with associated palisades, a ring-ditch round house and three concentric trenches forming an enclosure.
In advance of the A9 dualling project a metal detecting survey was carried at the location of Killiecrankie Battlefield to the south of Blair Atholl.
The objective of the survey was to further pin-point the action of this famous battle and significant finds included 41 musket, carbine, pistol balls, copper alloy buttons, buckles, horse shoe fragments and part of a sword belt fitting.
Looking ahead, the Perth City Heritage Fund is set to continue as a major work stream for the trust with strong interest in the scheme from owners in Perth who have been inspired by the transformation of key buildings in the city.
The trust is working with owners to develop projects on several significant buildings, including 1 Hospital Street and 31 to 43 High Street. The fund will also seek to provide investment on a smaller scale such as for shop fronts, chimney and window repairs.
