Secrets of lost village in book
Writer Margaret ensures The Muirton is not forgotten
There was a good turnout on Saturday morning as local history enthusiast Margaret Laing launched her latest book, The Muirton, in Mitchell’s Newsagents on the High Street in Blairgowrie.
Margaret has written several local history books, including Close Up on Coupar Angus, The Cistercian Abbey of Coupar Angus, a social History of Blairgowrie and Peep Through the Beech Hedge and Find Meikleour.
Her latest publication captures a bit of the history of The Muirton and the area around it.
The Muirton, as it was known locally, was at one time an ancient weaving village of thatched cottages of which nothing now remains.
It would have been all but forgotten had it not been for a group of artists and photographers who around the closing years of the nineteenth century discovered the Muirton and its picturesque cottages and residents and photographed and painted them.
Several of the artists who painted The Muirton were friends of Ewan Geddes, a local artist and one of the Blairgowrie Boys , and copies of some of his, and their, paintings, along with the history of the artists, are in the book.
Margaret was pleased with the success of the informal launch event, which saw dozens of copies of the book sold.
She said: “Purchasers were very impressed with the layout of the book, which is entirely due to Ian Norrie.
“And apart from being so attractive, the book is full of interesting history, snippets, photographs and copies of paintings.
“Writing it was very much a community effort as many people have provided information and even secrets about their ancestors who lived at the Muirton, which has made the book so attractive and interesting.
“There is nothing left of the former village and had it not been for the photographers and painters who discovered its charms around 1870 or so it would have been long gone and forgotten as so many similar communities in Scotland have been.”
Amongst those who helped Margaret with her research for this book were cousins Ian Todd and Gordon Greig, who were both at the launch on Saturday.
Ian said: “One of the family stories that we discovered was that a great-great-aunt moved to America where she was held up by the Jessie James gang and forced to make them a meal!”
Margaret added: “Sincere thanks must also be extended to Kevin Donald, owner of Mitchell’s Newsagent, for his kindness in hosting the launch and selling the books in a town that has no bookshop.
“Kevin has a little corner of his busy shop dedicated to books of local interest by local authors which is a really wonderful service for authors and those interested in their local community.”
Copies of the book are available to purchase now from Mitchell’s Newsagents.