Gowrie House – Perth Civic Trust

The Monks Tower

One of the carved alcoves in the flood defence wall on Tay Street tells of the Monks Tower. The Monks Tower was situated in the south-east corner of the gardens of Gowrie House and jutted out over the river. The tower acted as a lookout post, working in tandem with the Spey Tower to defend the southern approaches to Perth. The Tower later served as an ammunition store prior while Gowrie House was being used as a barracks prior to its demolition at the end of the 18th century.

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04/12/2023

1000-1603 AD / 1603-1774 AD / Military

The Gowrie House and Conspiracy

The large plaque on the front of the Sherriff Court in Tay Street records the events of the 5th August 1600 when an attempt was made on the life of James VI. The Gowrie House was built in 1520 by the Countess of Huntly who later sold it to the Ruthven family. After the Gowrie conspiracy the Ruthven family, who were considered responsible for the attack on the king, forfeited the building which was then held jointly by the Murrays of Stormont and Perth Town Council. Charles II stayed in Gowrie House after his Scottish coronation in Scone in 1651…

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04/12/2023

1000-1603 AD / 1603-1774 AD

Water Vennel

Water Vennel runs from the Watergate down to Tay Street. A small plaque near its junction with Tay Street tells of its importance and gives some history of the Gowrie House whose northern boundary was formed by Water Vennel. This was an important access to the river when Gowrie House and its gardens blocked so much of the river frontage.

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28/11/2023

1000-1603 AD / 1603-1774 AD

Watergate

There is a modern information board just around the corner in nearby Baxter’s Vennel which gives a detailed account of the Watergate, one of the most important streets in historic Perth. For centuries it was the nearest road parallel to the River Tay. The board recounts the layout of vennels dating from medieval times including Water Vennel and Fountain Close. It also lists various buildings which existed here in the Medieval and Post Medieval periods. These included the Lord Chancellors House, the Bishop of Dunkeld's Palace and Gowrie House. The present buildings in Watergate were largely built in the 18th…

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28/11/2023

1000-1603 AD / Commerce

The Old Ship Inn

A notice board, updated in 2023, suggests an Old Ship Inn has been on this site in the Skinnergate since Medieval times. The present building is described by Gifford as late-Victorian. The Inn was close to the Old Mercat Cross where presumably there were lots of customers on market days. The building also displays a series of boards showing mock newspaper headlines relating to events occurring within the life-time of the public house.

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02/10/2023