Alyth
| |
|---|---|
 Alyth Parish Church | |
 Coat of arms | |
  Alyth Location within Perth and Kinross | |
| Population | 2,370 (2022)[1] |
| OS grid reference | NO245486 |
| • Edinburgh | 61 mi (98 km) |
| • London | 442 mi (711 km) |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BLAIRGOWRIE |
| Postcode district | PH11 |
| Dialling code | 01828 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
Alyth (/ˈeɪlɪθ/) (Scottish Gaelic: Ailt) is a town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, five miles (eight kilometres) northeast of Blairgowrie and about 17 miles (27 kilometres) northwest of Dundee. In 2016 the town had an estimated population of 2,400.[2]
First mentioned by name in a 12th-century royal charter of William the Lion, Alyth for many centuries was an important market town and entrepôt on long-established drove roads by which Highland farmers brought their sheep and cattle to lowland markets. Another royal charter in 1488, from James III of Scotland granted Alyth the status of Burgh of Barony entitled to stage markets and fairs. The 17th-century stone Packhorse Bridge[3] still stands in the middle of the town (now pedestrian-only), later joined by two other stone bridges for wheeled traffic, emphasising the settlement's importance as a river-crossing.
Agricultural improvements and expanding markets for livestock in the south contributed to Alyth's prosperity during the 18th and early 19th centuries, while water-power provided by the Alyth Burn plus, later, steam-power helped the development of a local textile industry specialising in linen. Steam power also brought the Alyth Railway to the town in 1861, accompanied by growth during the later 19th century in retailing along with hotels for holidaymakers, golfers and country sports enthusiasts.
Today, industry has largely gone, but Alyth retains many shops and businesses serving the local area. The town has one of only two museums in Perthshire outside Perth (the other being the Atholl Countylife Museum), as well as a flourishing community of artists and a growing tourism economy.
The boundaries of Alyth Community Council[4] also encompass the hamlet of New Alyth (population c350[5]), about one mile (1.5 kilometres) southwest of the town, together with a handful of smaller hamlets and steadings giving a total population of just over 3,000.
- ^ "Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ "National Records of Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 May 2013.
- ^ "Archaeology Notes". Canmore, National Record of the Historic Environment, part of Historic Scotland.
- ^ "Community Council Finder". www.communitycouncils.scot.
- ^ "Alyth & New Alyth Infrastructure Report" (PDF). www.pkc.gov.uk. November 2017.