Craighall Castle

Craighall Castle, Perth And Kinross
Photo © Charles Bird, 26 May 1994

Patrick Rattray, chief of Clan Rattray was intimidated into giving up the Barony by John Stewart, who was then the Earl of Atholl. Through the marriage of Patrick’s niece into the family, the Earl took control of the Barony of Rattray and also took control of her sister. Thus Patrick was driven from his estate in 1516. He began the construction of Craighall a grand building perched on a 200 feet rock above the River Ericht. The stronghold of Craighall could not protect him from John Stewart the Earl of Atholl though and he was murdered in 1533.

--CRAIGHALL CASTLE, PERTH AND KINROSS

RATTRAY, a parish, in the county of Perth, 1 mile (E. N. E.) from Blairgowrie; containing, with the villages of Old and New Rattray, 1918 inhabitants, of whom 447 are in the former, and 580 in the latter. This place lays claim to a considerable degree of antiquity. It is supposed to have derived its name, the etymology of which is uncertain, from the family of Rattray, by whom, according to records yet extant, it appears to have been possessed prior to the year 1066, and whose descendants are still the principal proprietors. Of the castle of Rattray, the original seat of that family, there are some remains on the hill of Rattray, an oblong eminence south-eastward of the village, rounded at the eastern extremity, and on the summit of which the ruins form a pleasingly romantic object. During one of the frequent intestine wars that subsisted between rival factions, the family, not thinking themselves secure in Rattray Castle from the incursions of their enemies, removed to the castle of Craighall, about two miles north-west of the village, which since that period has continued to be their residence. The inhabitants were formerly noted for their various sports, of which the most general were curling, archery, and the game called the "long ball" and till the year 1745 there were preserved in the parish a silver curling-stone, a silver arrow, and a silver ball, which were severally awarded as prizes to the successful competitors in these respective games. Any parish in Scotland might contest with the people of Rattray for the prize in these games, which always took place within the parish; and the successful candidate was bound to restore the prize he had obtained, previously to the next annual celebration. The curling-stone and the arrow were lost during the time of the rebellion ; but the silver ball, which has been contested for within the present century, is still in the possession of Alexander Whitson, Esq., of I'arkhill.

TOPOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY SCOTLAND VOL. II.BY SAMUEL LEWIS, 1845--