Bleaching, the chief industry, dated from 1774, when the bleaching-field was formed. By means of an old aqueduct, said to have been built by the Romans, it was provided with water from the River Almond, the properties of which rendered it especially suited for bleaching.[1] Bleaching (by chemicals under cover, not with bleach fields) continued Huntingtower until 1981.
Huntingtower Castle, a once formidable structure, was the scene of the Raid of Ruthven (pron. Rivven), when the Protestant lords, headed by William, 4th Lord Ruthven and 1st Earl of Gowrie (c.1541–1584), kidnapped the boy-king James VI, on August 22, 1582. The earl's sons were slain in the attempt (known as the Gowrie conspiracy) to capture James VI (1600), consequent on which the Scots parliament ordered the name of Ruthven to be abolished, and the barony to be known in future as Huntingtower.[1] The Ruthven name and reputation was re-established in 1651, by Sir Thomas Ruthven, for service to the Crown.
The source of the 4.5 mi (7.2 km)-long Perth Lade is just west of the village, at Low's Work weir on the River Almond.
