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| ...Gask |
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Nearby ... Auchterarder ... an ideal touring centre, situated just off the A9 Stirling to Perth road. Blackford ... famous for its natural spring water sources and the Blackford Highland Games. Crieff ... the capital of Strathearn situated in one of Scotland's most beautiful and unspoiled areas. Dunning ... a village steeped in history from the earliest times. Maps ... For a wider look at the area, load our Perthshire Map and choose your destination! Details of all the items mentioned in this introduction are available from the Tourist Office in nearby Auchterarder High Street. Links ... Tourist Board Scottish Tourist Board Scottish Towns |
ask is officially named Findogask after St. Findoc, the patron saint
of the parish church. The church at Gask has in its possession a book with
the words "This book belongs unto the Session of Findoch Gask,
1722" on its title page. This dedication separates the parish of
Gask with the neighbouring Trinity Gask.
tanding in the middle of Gask Woods is an area which once held the refuge of
the Scottish patriot William Wallace, (1272-1305) while he was escaping from
Perth after a failed English plot to capture him. The place was called
"Gascon Ha" and is celebrated in the song "Bonnie Gascon
Ha" by Lady Nairne.
nowing the history of Gask you would recognise the name Oliphant, around
which the community centered until recently. Once a powerful Scottish family,
many of it's members have ties with Robert Bruce, one of them marrying his
daughter. In 1766 Caroline Oliphant, later to become Lady Nairne, was born.
She wrote many Scottish songs, including
The Auld Hoose
and The Laird of Cockpen. In the grounds of Gask House is a granite monument
to her.
The present House of Gask dates from 1801 although the ruins of an earlier house can be found in the grounds. The 'Auld Hoose', celebrated in song, is probably the building purchased by Laurence Oliphant from his cousin in 1625.
he populace of Findo Gask were devoted Jacobites and on 11th September 1745
Prince Charles Edward Stuart breakfasted at Gask while on his way South from
Perth. Among the Jacobite relics at Gask was a lock of hair given by Bonnie
Prince Charlie to Margaret Robertson of Strowan on the day of his visit.
In the following year the house was burned and ransacked by Hanoverian troops, and the old laird and his son were banished.
ady Caroline Oliphant (Lady Nairne) was born in 1766 and died at Gask in
1845. Scotland is indebted to her efforts in preserving Scottish music in the
aftermath of the Jacobite uprising. She greatly admired Robert Burns and was
one of the first to recognise his genius.
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| Last Updated June 2001 |
| © Scottish Towns | |