Perth, Town's Wark

NO12SW 50 0698 2568 to 1154 2373

See also NO02NE 4.

(NO 1087 2440) Boot of Balhousie (NAT). Towns Lade.

OS 25" map, (1932)

A stone dyke or sluice across the River Almond diverts its waters into an aqueduct. This dyke is called Lowswark (NO02NE 4). and is said to be of Roman origin.

Both the Lowswark and the aqueduct seem to have been constructed for the purpose of supplying water to the fosse which surrounded Perth City Wall (NO12SW 5) and also for use by the city mills. One of the earliest documents connected with Lowswark is dated 1494.

The Boot of Balhousie is an offshoot of this aqueduct. Royal licence to build it was granted the Laird of Balhousie. The'Boot',for conveying water to the mill, is a stonework, on the east bank on the aqueduct, in which is a hole of 32 inches circumference, with an iron ring at each end.

S Cowan 1904.

The name applies to an aperture in a stone wall, in which is an iron ring about 1ft diameter through which water is allowed to run from Perth City's mill race to that of Balhousie Mill.

Name Book 1860.

At NO 1087 2440, in the face of the revetment wall on the N side of the Town's lade, and at water level is a stone bearing the date 1766. This is no doubt over the aperture of the conduit known as the 'boot', although this could not be seen at times on investigation owing to the high water level. The part of the conduit shown exposed on the OS Map for about 40m NE of this point has now been covered over. The only other open sections (but now dry) is that through the policies of Balhousie Mill and Mansion (Castle) as on the OS Map.

Visited by OS (J L D) 16 December 1960.

The lade from NO 1126 2439 to NO 1133 2441 has now been filled in and garages are erected on it; the portion from NO 1146 2440 to NO 1157 2437 has also been filled in, partly under an ornamental garden.

Visited by OS (W K R D) April 1962.

Lade from NO 1139 2441 - 1146 2441 has now been filled-in

OS Reviser, March 1977.