Watergate

Jessie Mann and David Octavius Hill – Watergate

In June 2025 the first two Perth Civic Trust blue plaques were unveiled at 3 Watergate in one of Perth's most historic streets. Although it is something of a backwater now, we need to remember that, before Tay Street was constructed in 1870-1875, Watergate was the main street along the river Tay with the land sloping down from it to the river bank. The first plaque concerns the early photographer Jessie Mann, considered to be Scotland's first female photographer. It is thought that her birthplace, now demolished, may have been number 22, opposite 3 Watergate where David Octavius Hill was born three years earlier. Hill was educated at Perth Academy then studied painting in Edinburgh. Mann also moved to Edinburgh and became assistant to Hill and his partner Robert Adamson at their studio in Rock House. There is evidence that she took photographic portraits in 1843 and 1844, making her the first women in Scotland ever to become involved professionally in the new medium of photography. Hill and Adamson took many of the earliest photographs in Scotland and their work has featured in national exhibitions. Jessie Mann was included in the Tate Britain exhibition 'Painting with Light' in 2016.

0 Comments

05/10/2026

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.

0 Comments

28/11/2023

1000-1603 AD / 1603-1774 AD

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 century.

0 Comments

28/11/2023

1774-1901 AD

Green House in High Street

This green-painted building bearing a multi-coloured coat-of-arms is at 28-30 High Street and is on the corner of High Street and Watergate. Pevsner describes this building as late 18th century. He considered it possible that much of the embellishment of the façade might be attributed to early 19th century. (Griffith, J. Perth And Kinross, After Pevsner 2001 p619).

0 Comments

28/11/2023

1901-present / Benefactors

Night Shelter for Females in Watergate

House number 13 in the Watergate was once the Burns Tavern but was converted in 1902 to become the Perth Night Shelter for Females by a charitable foundation set up around 1892. The Pullar family put up funding for this night shelter which provided shelter and a simple evening meal and breakfast for destitute women. Whilst at the shelter, its residents were preached to by a reader from the City Mission. By 1918 it became a paid-for lodging house and was finally wound up in 1952.

0 Comments

26/09/2023

1603-1774 AD / Commerce

Wright Incorporation in Watergate

The building dated 1725 at 21-29 Watergate was occupied by the Wright Incorporation of Perth from its construction in 1725 until as recently as 1968. The Wright Incorporation of Perth was one of a number of Guilds which were given monopoly rights to trade within the city, goods relating to their particular craft. The Incorporations were empowered to decide who should be admitted to the Guild and to set rules and standards to which members were required to adhere. The Wright Incorporation looked after the interests of masons, weavers, glaziers, barbers, carpenters and bookbinders. In 1833 they lost their authority to control trade and became charitable organisations. This building may also have been used by masons. In 1745 it was briefly used as a hospital by the Jacobite army.

0 Comments

26/09/2023