The Romans in Dunblane

Even before Dunblane was founded in the 7th century it had an exciting history. The Roman army marched through the parish leaving behind the remains of three camps, a signal station, a small fort and traces of the road north. At Ardoch, in Braco, just to the north of Dunblane you can view the massive defences of the best preserved Roman fort in the United Kingdom

The Foundation of Dunblane

Dunblane Cathedral

 About 1600 the roof of the nave collapsed and the building became a ruin except for the Chancel which continued to serve as the parish church. This situation was remedied in the early 1890s by a highly successful Restoration funded almost entirely by Janet Wallace of Glassingall and supervised by the distinguished architect Sir Rowand Anderson who restored the building without losing anything of its mediaeval character.

Today the Cathedral which is in the care of Historic Scotland is open daily. It is also the home of the congregation of Dunblane Cathedral.

A Stroll through the Old Town of Dunblane

It is worth strolling through the Old Town of Dunblane with its pleasing mixture of 18th century, Victorian and contemporary buildings. It is strung along the Old Great North Road from Bridgend, to the High Street, round the Cathedral, up the Braeport and through Ramoyle. Along this road came the armies of William the Conqueror and Edward 1st, “The Hammer of the Scots”, who told his son, later Edward II, to strip the lead off the roof of the Cathedral to help with the siege of Stirling Castle. Back down the road came the followers of Wallace and Bruce to fight at the Battles of Stirling Bridge and Bannockburn.

As you wander along the narrow streets of the Old Town there is a lot to see. After crossing the old bridge by the Stirling Arms look under the bridge and you will see the yellow stone work and the single arch of the original bridge built in 1410 by Bishop Finlay Dermoch.

The Battle of Sheriffmuir

On 13 November 1715 the Battle of Sheriffmuir took place three miles North East of Dunblane and directly south of the Sheriffmuir Inn. The site of the battle is easily accessible on foot or by car. The Battle was the culmination of the Jacobite Rebellion of that year. The Jacobite army mainly clansmen under the Earl of Mar numbered 8,000 men and the Government or Redcoat army only 2,500 led by the Duke of Argyle. The Highlanders charged sweeping away the Redcoats on their right but on their left they were held and eventually defeated by the Government Army. Ever since the battle has been described as a draw but it makes more sense to see it as a victory for the Redcoats because the Jacobites did not cross the Forth which had been their aim before the battle. Instead they retreated to Perth and quite soon disbanded their army. Read more.

Bonnie Prince Charlie

On 11 September 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie spent a night in Dunblane at Balhaldie House on his way south with his Highland army. Balhaldie House is next door to the Library. There he was the guest of Alexander Drummond of Balhaldie who was the Grand Old Man of Jacobitism in Dunblane. He had fought at the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689, led a bold but unsuccessful attempt in 1715 to seize Edinburgh Castle for the Jacobites and had fought at the Battle of Sheriffmuir. He crowned it all by naming one of his daughters Jacobina! Amazingly he was never arrested by the Government or had his estate confiscated.

Six months later the Duke of Cumberland spent a night in Dunblane while pursuing the Prince and his army which was in retreat. As the Duke was riding past the Leighton Library the next morning a servant girl from Balhaldie House, who had taken a fancy to the Prince, threw a pail of boiling oil over the Duke from the upper window of a house. He was thrown from his horse but not otherwise hurt. She was not caught probably escaping up the Minnie Burn which runs underground through the centre of Dunblane. If you walk up to St Blane’s Church on your left down a passage way between the houses you will be able to hear and see the Minnie Burn running beneath you.

Robert Tannahill and Jessie 'the Flower of Dunblane'

Jane Stirling and Chopin

Dunblane - a Victorian Spa and Mill Town

In 1813 a spring was discovered on the Cromlix estate three miles north of the town which the experts believed would improve the health of those drinking the water. Eventually after the Hydro was opened in 1878, and it had acquired the rights, the water it was distributed at the lodge at the bottom of the drive leading up to the hotel.

But similar to many towns in Central Scotland Dunblane was also a mill town. In the centre of the town beside the river was the Springbank Mill, now housing, which spun wool much of it used for weaving carpets. Upstream at Ashfield was Pullars Dyeing Works with its model village built to house the workers. The factory is derelict but the village is still worth visiting.

Modern Dunblane

From 1760 to 1960 Dunblane’s population hovered around 3,000 people. Since then it has grown steadily with the Argyle, Newton and Barbush estates so that the population has nearly tripled.

Tragically Dunblane’s quiet and dignified reserve was shattered for ever by the murder of a Teacher and 16 Primary One pupils on 13 March 1996. There are several memorials to those who were killed. A stone designed by Richard Kindersley is in the Cathedral, stained glass windows at St Blanes and the Church of the Holy Family, etched windows at the Dunblane Centre, a small garden at the Four Ways Roundabout and a beautiful fountain at Dunblane cemetery. If you wish to read more about this tragic event, please click here.

James Huffam VC

In August 1918, towards the end of the First World War, James Huffam from Dunblane undertook, what are considered to be, herioc acts on the field of battle. There is a memorial to James Huffam by Stirling's railway station. References:  VConline;  Wikipedia; Stirling Observer 13 September 2017

 Dunblane's Andy and Jamie Murray