Colonel
James Hunter, who erected a mansion-house thereon. He died in 1874,
leaving the estate to his nephew, Major Patrick Hunter, who in 1887
sold it to the late James Reid, Esq., Lord Dean of Guild of Glasgow,
and it is now possessed by his trustees.

The Castle of Auchterarder, which is situated about a quarter of a mile
to the north of the town, though not of large dimensions, must have
been a place of considerable strength. It was surrounded by a moat,
the traces of which are still visible. The only remaining fragment is
a part of the donjon keep. A carved stone is built into the wall.
Through exposure it is very much defaced, but it represents a warrior
seated in a chariot, and is supposed to be Roman. The wall is nine
feet thick. Some years ago the draw-well of the Castle, built around
with masonry, and of considerable depth, was discovered. The Castle is
said to have been entire until the end of last century, when a vandal
farmer took it down to build farm offices.

A Common of upwards of two hundred acres in extent is situated to the
west of the town, over which the inhabitants from time immemorial
exercised a right of pasturage. A Process of Division was raised
before the Court of Session in 1808 by the Honourable Basil Cochrane,
then proprietor of the Barony. This process was wakened in 1814, and
again in 1841. Defences were lodged for the portioners and feuars, and
thereafter by the inhabitants, on the ground that, as the Common was a
pertinent of a royal burgh, it was indivisible, and the Act for
division of commons did not apply. Litigation followed, and ultimately
in 1860 a Bill was brought into Parliament and carried through for the
vesting of the Common for the benefit of the town in a set of
Commissioners. Under the Muir Improvement Act, 1860, the Common was
reclaimed by the Commissioners, being drained, trenched, and fenced.
The debt incurred in the reclamation is nearly wiped out, and it now
forms a valuable source of public revenue. The careful and economic
conduct of the Commissioners since the Act was passed, by which such a
favourable result has been attained, is deserving of all praise, and
the gratitude of future generations.

In 1894 the ratepayers resolved to adopt the Burgh Police Act, and the
affairs and management of the town are now entrusted to Police
Commissioners.

Having given this retrospect of the civil history of Auchterarder, we
shall now advert to a few promine