Blackford
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 Blackford | |
  Blackford Location withinPerth and Kinross | |
| Population | 910 (2020)[1] |
| OS grid reference | NN896089 |
| Community council |
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| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Auchterarder |
| Postcode district | PH4 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
| 56°15′35″N3°47′02″W / 56.259724°N 3.783762°W /56.259724; -3.783762 | |
Blackford (Scottish Gaelic:Srath Gaoithe)[2] is located inPerth and Kinross,Scotland, approximately 5 miles (8 kilometres) from the town ofAuchterarder. The village is located just off theA9 betweenPerth andStirling which has been bypassed since 1978. It is home toHighland Spring water and theTullibardine whisky distillery.
Archaeological work between 2006-08 ahead of the development of a golf course found extensive remains of prehistoric settlements. The settlements were dated to the Middle and LateBronze Age, with some continued habitation into theEarly Iron Age. Most of the structures were probably roundhouses, some were enclosed by palisades, possibly for defense. These communities made their living from a mixed farming economy, with some craft production.[3]
Blackford was first known as aford over theAllan Water.[4] There is a legend that aKing Magnus lost his wife Queen Helen in a storm and she is buried on a nearby hill.
Blackford became a popular stopping place especially when Scotland's first publicbrewery was started. In 1488 KingJames IV asked the brewery to supply the beer for his coronation.[5]
It was burnt to the ground by Jacobite forces in 1716.[4] The village was becoming more prosperous by the nineteenth century with manufacturing including two breweries and with a healthyagricultural sector based onwool andflax. TheScottish Central Railway built a line between Perth and Stirling with a station atBlackford in 1848.[5]
Local manufacturing declined at the beginning of the 20th century with many people leaving the village. However, many people in the village were employed when theGleneagles Hotel was opened nearby in 1924. The Tullibardine distillery was built on the site of the former Sharp's Brewery.[5]
The BlackfordHighland Games began in 1870, when its prize money was tenshillings.[6] In 2020, on what was due to be the 150th anniversary of the competition, only one competitor took part due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. 20-year-old Alisa Sloan won theHighland dancing competition by default.[6]
The village briefly hosted a seniorassociation football club -Allanvale F.C. - which joined theScottish Football Association in 1911, and entered theScottish Qualifying Cup in the next two seasons.[7]
In 2020 there were 25 earthquakes ranging from 0.4 to 2.5 in magnitude.[8]
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