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Innerpeffray
The oldest free lending Library
in the country, founded about 1680.
Established with a school
by David Drummond, 3rd Lord Madertie, brother-in-law of the "Great Marquis
of Montrose" the brilliant commander of Charles I in Scotland.
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David Drummond left 5000
merks (£277) in his will as an endowment. Title passed to his nephew
William Drummond, 2nd Viscount Strathallan, who out of respect and affection
for his uncle, vested another 5000 merks " . . as a constant and perpetual
stock for the preserving of the said library and maintaining a schoolmaster,
and for augmenting the library and building a house . . ". A trust, the
Innerpeffray Mortification, was formed to administer the endowment. This
Trust, modified over the centuaries, looks after the affairs of the library
to this day.
For 70 years the library
continued in the loft of the chapel. In 1762 the present library building
was completed during the patronage of Robert Hay Drummond, Archbishop of
York.
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| The library includes some
3000 pre-1800 books. It is rich in bibles, the oldest being in French from
1530. Of great sentimental and historic interest in a pocket bible in French
dating from 1633 belonging to Montrose and bearing his signature. This he
carried into battle. |
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Collegiate Chapel of St Mary
was rebuilt in 1507-8 by the Drummond family. It has the remains of a painted
ceiling below the loft which originally held the library, a rare medieval
altar and there is a fine lepers squint in the north wall.
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| Old school buildings,
founded circa 1680, were rebuilt in 1847 and adopted by the state in 1889.
At that tine there were 27 children attending. It closed in 1947 and the
buildings handed back to the care or the Innerpeffray Mortification.
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| Teas and light refreshments
available in the tea room, below the Library, in summer.
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All magnificently situated
on the bank of the River Earn, on the site of Roman road, with views over
Strathearn and to Crieff. |
"It is impossible to pass
over the venerable beauties of Innerpeffray, fronting Castle Drummond, in
the concavity of serpentizing Ern, its castle, the antient seat of the Lords
of Maderty, its chapel, public library and school, both established for the
good of the community and carrying back the mind to the antient situation
and genius of Scotland"
Travels in Northern England
and Scotland - Thomas Newte, 1791
Location: situated
off the B8602, approximately 5 miles from Crieff and 7 miles from Auchterarder.
Follow road signs.
| Open daily
except Thursday: 10.00 am to 12.45 and 2.00 to 4.45pm
Further information:
Tel 01764 652819 |
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