Scottish Towns - Crieff, Perthshire

	Crime & Punishment

Portrayal of the Earl of Strathearne, installed on the mound of justice at the "Stayt of Crieff". He sits on his judgement chair and from his hand hang the scales of justice while at his feet lie the "branks" or stocks of punishment. At his left flank is the ancient Celtic cross as the symbol that he rules "By indulgence of God"

At least two centuries before Robert the Bruce, the Celtic Earls chose Crieff as the administrative capital for the Earldom, siting their open air Court of Justice on a Neolithic burial mound to the south of the town.
So powerful were the figures and so primitive were the times, that legend tells of a local chief who was accustomed to executing a man on the first day of every month. Like the modern equivalent of walking footpaths once a year, it was designed to prevent his feudal rights of pit and gallow failing into disuse!

At this Stayt or Skait, the Steward, appointed by the Earl, heard disputes and dispensed justice. Eventually the office of Seneschal or Steward of Strathearn became hereditary, but was claimed successively by the Drummond and Murray families, who were fierce rivals.
The centuries-long quarrels of these families - whose descendants still live and farm in the area - over jurisdiction, finally led to the power of the Court being transferred to the Court of the King's Sheriff in Perth.

Rob Roy McGregor's outlaw son was pursued through the streets by soldiers and killed. During the usual October Tryst, Crieff was the prototype wild west' town, milling with cattle, horse thieves, bandits and drunken drovers. The inevitable killings were punished on the Kind Gallows, for which Crieff became known throughout Europe.
The original hanging tree used by the early Celtic Earls of Strathearn was said to have been on the north-west of the town, but by the 18th century it had been replaced by a formal wooden structure in an area called Gallowhaugh - now Gallowhill, at the foot of Burrell Street. What is now Ford Road, was Gallowford Road which led down past the gallows to the crossing point over the River Earn. In such a prominent position, Highlanders passing along the principal route would see the remains of friends and neighbours dangling overhead.

Justice was rough and swift - raiders caught red-handed or in the act, were quickly strung up! Such harsh treatment is understandable when it is considered that Strathearn was a happy hunting ground of the northern caterans (raiders), who frequently swept like a torrent down upon the vale and generally left with droves of cattle, horses and goats, and loaded with household goods of every description. In their defence, this was their way of life - it was a native principle to lay hands on anything that they could carry off.
In Lord Macaulay's history he talks of a score of plaids hanging in a row, but the remains of the Gallows - held in Perth Museum - suggest the maximum capacity was only six!