Dunkeld & Birnam History & Culture

Friends of Dunkeld Cathedral

The Society of Friends of Dunkeld Cathedral was founded to stimulate interest in the Cathedral as a part of the history of Scotland. The objectives of the Society of Friends include "the preservation of the fittings and furnishing of the Choir and stimulation of interest in the Cathedral".

The people who care about the history, the place and the community in the 21st Century. We live in different times from when our great establishments benefited from the protection and support of individuals or families. Now, however, the warmth of support is more likely to come from groups of like-minded people with shared interests, whether these be history (secular or religious), education, architecture or landscape. All these elements are here in Dunkeld and the objectives of the Society of Friends include "the preservation of the fittings and furnishing of the Choir and stimulation of interest in the Cathedral".

Birnam Arts Centre

A fantastic multi-purpose venue, there's always something going on! - Live music, theatre & comedy from world class performers. The Foyer Cafeserves delicious cakes, coffees and ice creams as well as a varied lunch menu made using fresh local produce. Purchase a unique gift for a loved one at Potter's Junction Gift Shop and entertain the kids in the Beatrix Potter Exhibition whilst learning about the famous author's links to the area.

The centre is also widely used by Dunkeld & Birnam's many community groups, regularly hosts conferences of up to 150 delegates, serves as an ideal wedding venue for couples seeking a unique wedding experience.

Look out for arts and crafts workshops over the holiday period for kids and adults alike.

The Community Archive

To commemerate the part played by the Scottish Horse at the Battle of Galipoli there is transcript of relevant records available to purchase for £2, there is a publication page on the Dunkeld Cathedral web site.

The Community Archive, situated in a building at the Cross, Dunkeld, welcomes locals and visitors to browse the collection, view displays and talk to the volunteers about our community in years gone by. The records of The Scottish Horse Regiment are also kept in the archive and we welcome visitors who wish to research family members who were in the Regiment, please get intouch to make an appointment. The Scottish Horse Museum closed in 1999, some artifacts are kept at the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry Museum in Cupar Fife. If you have a Scottish Horse enquiry go to the Dunkeld Cathedral web site and follow the links to the Archive enquiry form

The archive is run by volunteers and we do make a small charge for research. We also have booklets covering the local graveyards which will help with family history research, if you go to the Dunkeld Cathedral web site and follow the links there are forms for you to fill in making it easier to make enquires.

We are still looking for memorabilia from the First World War to put on display any items with a conection to the area are welcome. A new project is looking into the shops in Dunkeld and Birnam, we are trying to build a record of the different incarnations of the shops, for example The Sweet Shop, 28 Atholl Street, was a fishmonger in the 1920's and is now an antique shop, do you have any memories or photgraphs?

> Photographs of school, work and leisure
> Scrapbooks of local events

> Minutes of local organisations

> Records of the local regiment, The Scottish Horse, including photographs.
> Information on shops and business
> Maps and plans of the area

We welcome donation of items about Birnam, Dunkeld, Amulree, Butterstone, Dalguise, Dowally, Caputh and Murthly.

We are open Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays 10-12 all year.

Links to other sites of interest:

The Black Watch Museum

Blair Castle

Dunkeld Cathedral Information on the Cathedral and Museum and Archive

Perth Museum

Beatrix Potter Exhibition and Garden

Walk in the charming Beatrix Potter Garden and visit Mrs Tiggy Winkle in her house, Jeremy fishing, Mr. Fox and the shed where he lured silly Jemima Puddle Duck to lay her eggs.

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES at the Beatrix Potter Exhibition include dressing up to become Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, Peter Rabbit and Jeremy Fisher, or sit down and watch the enchanting stories unfold. Drawing, colouring, puzzles, rubbing panels featuring animal tracks and characters from the books, baskets of Beatrix Potters much loved books to look at. All recreating the Victorian world that Beatrix grew up in.

We do ask that children are accompanied by an appropriate adult while in the exhibition area.

‘Even when the thunder growled in the distance and the wind swept up the valley in fitful gusts, oh, it was always beautiful, home sweet home, I knew nothing of trouble then.’

Beatrix Potter

Exhibition Opening Hours:

Summer (mid March - end November)
Daily: 10.00am – 5.00pm

Winter (December - mid March)
Monday - Saturday: 10.00am - 4.30pm
Sunday: 11.00am to 4.30pm

The Birnam Oak

The Birnam Oak, a sessile oak, so called because its acorns are not on stalks (the Latin word sessilis means stalkless), is believed to be a remnant from the great forest celebrated in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. However, it probably isn’t old enough to have itself been the source of greenery to camouflage Malcolm’s army in 1057 but it is one of the oldest trees in the area. It's possible Shakespeare may have visited the area in 1599 with a troupe of touring players sent by Elizabeth I after a request from King James IV.

The massive sycamore close to the Birnam Oak is thought to be about 300 years old. Its gnarled shape may be a result of pollarding, where the upper branches are cut regularly leaving a tall stump to sprout back. This was common practice in the past to increase the supply of young, straight stems.