City work haunted by friars

Jun 16 2009 by Les Stewart, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

MORE than 100 skeletons have been dug up on a planned Perth retail site. But developers say they can’t afford to continue funding an archaeological excavation there unless planning restrictions are dropped to make the project more profitable.

The cost of archaeological excavations on the site of the former 13th century Carmelite friary, at the corner of Riggs Road and Jeanfield Road, have soared to £250,000 – and work has had to be halted.

Now, the developer says the completion of investigations depends on raising the value of the site, Perth and Kinross Council’s development control committee will hear tomorrow.

The site, on the Whitefriars Industrial Estate, has already been given the go-ahead for a restricted range of retail units but the developer now wants that to be widened.

“Due to the current economic conditions and the unexpected archaeological costs, the applicant has indicated that he is no longer able to financially develop the site under the current use restrictions,” states Nick Brian, the council’s development quality manager, in a report to the meeting.

The archaeological excavations recently undertaken on the site have revealed the substantial remains of the mediaeval Carmelite Friary of Tullilum, founded in 1262.

But excavation work halted last August due to the rising costs.

Since then, Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust (PKHT) has investigated and exhausted all possible grants and financial aid for the completion of the investigations.

To date, the “dig” has uncovered 103 skeletons from the site – but it is estimated there may be more than 200.

In the meantime, the applicants, Direct Flooring, have back-filled the site to preserve the important remains.

They are claiming that there are insufficient funds to complete the investigations under the restrictions of the existing consent.

“The completion of the investigation will only be possible if the value of the site can be increased through permitting a wide range of uses, including unrestricted Class 1 retail,” adds Mr Brian.

It was originally envisaged that the three planned units would be occupied by a timber flooring shop, a bathroom showroom or ceramic tile company.

They now want the go-ahead for the site to be used for unrestricted Class 1 retail use, Class 2 (financial, professional and other services), Class 3 (food and drink) or use as a hot food take-away.

But Mr Brian is recommending refusal.

He states: “Whilst it is acknowledged that the economy has changed since the approval of the existing consent in March, 2007, the present market conditions are not considered to be a sufficient justification for approval.”

“There are also concerns that the approval of unrestricted retail use from this site could set a dangerous precedent and could potentially undermine the council’s retail policy and consequently impact on the vitality of the city centre.”

In a letter to the applicant’s agents, PKHT state: “Given the significance and sensitivity of the site and, in particular, the human remains uncovered, we recommend that Direct Flooring demonstrates best practice and carries out a post-excavation study of these remains as soon as possible, followed by the accession of the skeletons to a museum collection or arranging for their reburial.”

As well as the human remains, the archaeological team discovered pieces of grave slabs, window glass and further evidence of the 13th century Carmelite friary.

It is hoped that once the finds have been processed and catalogued, they can be displayed in Perth Museum.

During a previous excavation in 1982 about 20 skeletons were found at the site.

Archaeologist Derek Hall said: “Perth had four friaries - Carmelite, Dominican, Franciscan and Carthusian.

“They were taking advantage of the fact that Perth in the mediaeval period was a very rich Scottish burgh.

“So, they were able to exist outside the town limits and people used to pay the friars to pray for their souls and, if they wanted, they could also get buried in the friary burial grounds.”

The friary was founded in 1262 and stood until the Reformation in 1559.