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Baxters Vennel
Commerce

Baxters Vennel

There are several vennels in Perth, not all towns have them. The word is derived from the French “venelle” meaning a narrow lane between buildings. Baxters Vennel goes between St John Street and the Watergate, along the side of the former McEwans/Beales building. Walking along St John Street from South Street it is the first opening on the right. The plaque on the south side of the Vennel explains that Baxter was the old Scots name for bakers. There is evidence that the Baxter Incorporation had property in this area including a “Bakers Hall”. The plaque was donated by McEwans…

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19/11/2023
King James VI Hospital
1000-1603 AD / 1774-1901 AD

King James VI Hospital

An information board (panel 10 of the PKHT Medieval Trail) explains the history of the Hospital. A Hospital at that time could be described as an early form of Poor House. It was built on the site of a Carthusian Monastery A royal charter in 1569 during the regency of the Earl of Moray established a hospital in Perth. The 1587 date on the building refers to a second royal charter by King James VI when he become old enough to rule, although buildings were not erected until 1596. The original buildings were not on the present site but close to…

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19/11/2023
City Mills in West Mill Street
Commerce

City Mills in West Mill Street

A modern information board on the east side of the City Mills near the Lade gives full details of the importance of the Lade and the City Mills. (This information board was sponsored by the Perth Civic Trust.) There were almost certainly mills on this site in the 12th century. Commercial activity continued until 1966. Until fairly recent times the importance of the Lade was confirmed by the annual inspection carried out by members of the Town Council. The buildings were restored by Perth and Kinross Council between 1982 and 1988 and became a working mill again for some years.…

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19/11/2023
Mercat Cross in New Scone
Commerce

Mercat Cross in New Scone

This cross in Cross Street, New Scone is a replica of the Old Scone Mercat Cross, still to be found in its original position in the grounds of Scone Palace. It was erected in 1903.

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18/11/2023
St Paul’s Church
Religious

St Paul’s Church

A modern information board entitled Going to Market (Panel 9 of the Perth Medieval Trail) can be found beside the newly redeveloped St Paul’s Church open-air space. This replaced an earlier information board describing the history of St Paul’s Church and surrounding area (also shown). St. Paul’s was the first church to be built outside the area of the old city walls. The population of Perth 1801 was 16,388 a rise of 7.00 in the previous 56 years. Perth City Council agreed an additional church was required. The current site was chosen in preference to one by the shore despite…

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18/11/2023
Glasite Meeting House at St Paul’s
Religious

Glasite Meeting House at St Paul’s

On the other side of the High Street from St Paul's Church stands a building which used to be the Glasite Meeting House. John Glas founded the Glasites in Scotland in 1730.  A Glasite Church which was regarded as the “foundation of the Glasites” may have been founded in 1733. This church building was later, thought to have been erected in Perth in 1773. The date of 1839 it is thought refers to a later renovation, not to the building’s actual construction. (History of St Paul’s Church, J. R, Maclean 1957) The Glasite churches aimed at a strict conformity with…

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18/11/2023
St Paul’s Hospital
Religious

St Paul’s Hospital

A  simple plaque showing the approximate site of the hospital and a founded date as March 1650 A History of St Paul’s church gives the date of founding of this establishment by John Spens as 1434. The site at the corner of the Newrow had previously been occupied by a nunnery one of whose chapels was dedicated to St. Paul. It is stated in this History of St Pauls that the chapel was of a considerable size allowing it to provide a hospital for travellers, the infirmed and the poor. (History of St Paul’s Church, J. R, Maclean 1957)

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18/11/2023
Bishop of Dunkeld’s House, St John Street
Religious

Bishop of Dunkeld’s House, St John Street

A painted wooden board high up at the southern end of St John Street describes the position of the Bishop’s House. The house was erected in 1414-1416 and demolished in 1821. The board is in poor repair and becoming illegible. This board should be read in conjunction with Fountain Close.

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18/11/2023
Greyfriars Monastery and Burial Ground
1000-1603 AD / Religious

Greyfriars Monastery and Burial Ground

The  Franciscan Monastery was founded in 1460 but destroyed in 1559 at the start of the Scottish Reformation. Franciscans are sometimes referred to as Greyfriars. The original Rule of Saint Francis did not allow ownership of property, requiring members of the order to beg for food while preaching. The austerity was meant to emulate the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Franciscans travelled and preached in the streets, while staying in church properties.      The gate post and lintel at the entrance to the grounds give information on the Spey Tower, the city walls and details the site of the deaths…

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18/11/2023
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