The search begins
Dr Lucy Dean started by interrogating鈥痑rchival record in James VI Hospital Records [National Records of Scotland, GD79] for written references to the Charterhouse that may contain clues to its location. This research was supported by the James VI Hospital Managers, through permission to photograph documents, and the Geoffrey Barrow Award for research travel costs. Richard Oram, assisted by Gavin Lindsay undertook a map regression exercise to identify historic boundaries and divisions across the broad area where the鈥疌harterhouse is thought鈥痶o have been located. We also explored the well-researched Carthusian monastic complexes elsewhere in the UK, notably Mount Grace in Yorkshire, for comparable site layout. A reorientated overlay of the Mount Grace plan was found to be a close fit for the unusual historic boundary shape noted on the historic Perth maps.
A search area for non-intrusive geophysical survey was agreed based on best probability of encountering the remains of monastic buildings or robber trenches based on this research. Following this, a conversation with one of UKs leading (and founding) archaeological geophysics experts, Dr Sue Ovenden of AOC Archaeology, (also of鈥疶ime Team fame) advised that Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) was the most appropriate technique to apply to the investigation. By summer of 2024, we had funding secured, including a grant of £3000 from the .
