Local history brought to book by wordsmith
An east Perthshire author who grew up in the area has written a book about the fascinating history of Spittalfield.
Local resident Jim Black has penned ‘The Heart of the Stormont’, which was recently published by the Abertay Historical Society.
Jim’s family on his mother’s side has been linked to the area for generations.
As a youth, he did seasonal work including berry-picking and howkin’ tatties and, during the hours of toil, local people shared stories with him.
“It turned out many were made up,” chuckled Jim, but it got him interested in researching the history of Spittalfield when later he went to work in the Scottish Office in Edinburgh and visited the National Library of Scotland after work.
He continued: “I read the whole 430 volumes of MacKenzie of Delvine, the accounts of what was going on at this powerful Perthshire landowner’s estate.
“Spittalfield was founded as a planned community built around a village green in 1766, with local people cleared from Redgole and farms round about and given new places to live and take up industry using flax weaving looms in their homes.
“The estate correspondence was like reading a soap opera.
“The laird was a successful lawyer in Edinburgh but he insisted on hearing about everything that was taking place on his estate in Perthshire.
“He had a very hands-on approach.” Jim retired and in his new-found spare time tried to correct some of the myths surrounding the history of the village he calls home.
His book is described as being of interest to people keen to learn about how Spittalfield came into being as a relatively recent settlement.
Jim explained: “I’m aware of a lot of people who have moved to the village from other parts.
“My book is an opportunity to find out about the place.
“I cover wide-ranging aspects of community life including the building and settlement of Spittalfield and Caputh, life on the land, trade, transport, health, education and leisure.”
Jim delivered a talk about his book to members and guests of Abertay Historical Society on Saturday last week.