PERNAU, Pärnu, Pernov (Russian) in Estonia. The Livonian bishop, Henricus, first conferred town status on Pernau in 1251 although there had been settlement here from the earliest times. The "new" town  of Pernau was also given town status in 1265 and the two continued separately on either side of the river until they were united under the inter-war Estonian government in 1920.   From the 16th century it was exporting timber, and later, flax to the Angus ports.

    Pernau flax is Livonian and Fellin sorts, the latter being the best under the following marks: Marienburg ; G, cut ; R, risten ; H D, Light Drieband ; D, Drieband ; O D, Ordinary Drieband; L O D, Low Ordinary Drieband.  .. also from Estonia.   Livonia carries on a large export trade, especially through Riga and Pernau, in petroleum, wool, oilcake, flax, linseed, hemp, grain, timber and wooden wares.