Blackfriars, Perth

Blackfriars in Perth was a Dominican friary founded in the 13th century by King Alexander II. The Dominicans came to Scotland in 1230, and their church was dedicated on 13 May 1240. Perth served as a key royal centre, hosting church councils and royal visits. King James I was murdered there in 1437 by followers of the Earl of Atholl. The friary’s importance declined after the Reformation, when Protestant reformers targeted religious houses. The friary faced attacks in 1543 and 1559, leading to its closure in 1560. King James VI later granted its property to Perth’s burgh in 1569. The monastery’s southern wall was discovered in 2006 to be part of the Fair Maid’s House. Walter Bower and John Spottiswood recorded different accounts of the friary’s origins. The site reflects Perth’s medieval religious and political significance. Today, visitors can see the friary’s surviving wall integrated into the Fair Maid’s House. The location offers a glimpse of Perth’s past as a royal and religious centre. The site stands near the city’s historic core, close to other medieval landmarks. Its quiet presence contrasts with the bustling streets nearby. The discovery of the wall adds a tangible link to the friary’s history.