General view of Watergate, Rothesay, Bute, from SE

Description General view of Watergate, Rothesay, Bute, from SE

Date 29/6/2011

Collection Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu

Catalogue Number DP 106252

Category On-line Digital Images

Scope and Content Rothesay grew up around the 13th-century circular Castle, becoming a royal burgh in 1400/1. The town expanded north along the High Street until two major phases of land reclamation in the 18th and 19th century. This shifted the main axis of the town along the shoreline, with the creation of Montague Street (mid- to late 18th century) and Victoria Street (1839-40). Subsequent development of the town took place along the shoreline, particularly as the town’s popularity as a tourist destination grew during the 19th century. The town centre has developed in a fairly ad hoc manner, as with so many historic towns. This has continued into the 21st century with redevelopment of historic buildings such as the Court House and other smaller infill. This view along the narrow streeet, Watergate, leading from Castle Street to West Princes Street, shows the rear elevations of the tenements on Montague Street, which faces onto Guildford Square. Watergate displays some remnants of the harbour buildings which were established near the original harbour in Rothesay, prior to the land reclamation schemes of the mid-19th century. To the left is a group of former storehouses, with loading doors into the upper floors. Most are now used for small-scale industrial functions. These buildings would originally have been hidden behind tenements or terraced houses, which have since been demolished.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/1248596

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap