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A Tale of Two Kirks |
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In 1600, the Choir of the Cathedral was re- roofed to serve as the parish church, but despite the attempts of the Dukes of Atholl, the town was never to regain its former glory. Two further postscripts to the story of Dunkeld sealed its fate: the first was the bitter battle in 1689 when Jacobite forces, fresh from their victory at Killiecrankie, were defeated by the extreme Presbyterians of the Cameronian Regiment. In scenes of complete carnage, the entire town was burned to the ground, with only three buildings surviving intact. The Cathedral itself was badly damaged; most of the townsfolk sought refuge within its walls and it was a major defensive position for the Cameronians, who also caused damage by using lead from the choir roof as ammunition and the church pews as barricades.
© SCRAN
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In 1691, as Dunkeld was completely rebuilt, the choir was again renovated as the Parish Church, for which it still serves today, with the rest of the Cathedral under the care of Historic Scotland.
The town itself remained quiet - a bridge was not built over the Tay until 1809, and, when the railway arrived, the picturesque station was sited at nearby Birnam, bypassing Dunkeld. By the 1940s,much of Dunkeld was in a neglected state, so the National Trust and Perth County Council launched a project to save the little houses in the town. In all, 43 houses have now been restored and let out to local people, thus preserving the beauty of the village.
Today, both churches still form the centre points of their respective towns. However, while Perth is the county town, boasting a population of over 40,000, Dunkeld, buffeted about by the fortunes of history, survives as a small tourist destination, although, ironically enough, with the Cathedral as the main attraction.
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