floods – Perth Civic Trust

1000-1603 AD / 1603-1774 AD / 1774-1901 AD

Bridges of Perth – North Inch plaques

At the gateway to the Memorial Garden, on the North Inch, there are two plaques, one on each side of the entrance. The left -hand side shows present Perth Bridge, the right-hand side shows the Old Perth Bridge. By comparison the new bridge has fewer arches each of which is higher and wider than in the Old Bridge. The Old Bridge being lower and the arches narrower it is clear there was a greater possibility of debris brought down by the river in flood could form a dam, which would cause the bridge to collapse.

0 Comments

27/11/2023

1603-1774 AD / 1774-1901 AD

Perth Bridge

A plaque on the bridge itself at its western end states that the building of Perth Bridge was started in 1766, following a proposal tabled in 1760, by the 9th Earl of Kinnoull in his capacity as Lord Provost William Stewart. John Smeaton an accomplished architect was appointed. Smeaton had built a varied number of projects including harbours and lighthouses such as the Eddystone Lighthouse. The bridge is often called Smeaton's Bridge. The bridge opened in 1771. In 1869 pavements were added, outside the main supports of the bridge. On the north side of the westmost pillar are flood level…

0 Comments

27/11/2023

1000-1603 AD / 1603-1774 AD / 1774-1901 AD

The Guildry Plaques on Tay Street

A series of six metal plaques are set on the top of the riverside flood wall on Tay Street, just north of the viewing platform. The plaques were funded by the Guildry Incorporation and describe various elements of the civic history of Perth. The first plaque records the visit of James VI in April 1601, before he became King of the United Kingdom. It records how much he was made welcome with ‘much wine’ and ‘a banquet’ but this was less than a year since an attempt had been made on his life while he resided at Gowrie House in…

0 Comments

27/11/2023

War Memorials

North Inch Flood Gate War Memorials

On the eastern side of the main North Inch flood gates, close to the Garden of Remembrance are two war memorial plaques. The right hand one records those employees of Perth Co-operative who fell in the First World War, together with a second panel below remembering three more servicemen and women who died in the Second World War.. On the left hand is a plaque to remember those who volunteered to fight in the Spanish Civil War. (1936-1939) The plaque bears a poem by William Soutar and is a dedication to the people of Perthshire who served.

0 Comments

23/10/2023