Archaeology Notes

Event ID 688702

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/688702

NO51NW 11 5059 1655.

(NO 50591655) West Port (NR)

OS 25" map (1914)

One of the few surviving examples of a city gate in Scotland stands at the west end of South Street. The contract for its building dated 18th May 1589 and a supplementary contract of three months later are printed verbatim in the Transactions of the Edinburgh Architectural Ass Volume 9.

The Port, however, was 'completely renovated' in 1843, when some structural alterations were also made. It now consists of a central archway. 11 1/2 feet wide, set between two semi-octagonal gun-looped turrets and smaller archways of modern construction. The 'battling' is confined to the central portion . A modern carved panel replaces the coats of arms specified in the original contract which in time had become almost obliterated.

RCAHMS 1933

There is no evidence to show that St Andrews was ever a walled city, but in the 16th century the outer extremities of all the streets and wynds were closed by ports or gates (D H Fleming 1914). Original contracts for building West Port detailed in Fleming 1928.

West Port, Date of erection unknown, but it is mentioned in chronicles about 1560. Twice rebuilt, second time in 1843.

Official Guide to St Andrews 1934; D MacGibbon and T Ross 1892

The West Port remains in a good state of preservation and is as described and illustrated by RCAHMS.

Visited by OS (JLD) 16 October 1956

Above confirmed.

Visited by OS (WDJ) 28 May 1964