Markets in Perth

Markets in Perth

Look for the octagonal stone in the middle of the High Street. This is where Perth’s Mercat Cross stood in Medieval times. It was a large eight-sided rotunda with a stone pole, symbolising the town’s right to hold markets and used as focal point for public life. Proclamations, entertainment, punishments, gossip, it all happened here. Markets were held on set days and were crowded, noisy and smelly affairs. Specific markets had designated trading areas to help orientation and confining their dirt to one place. On market days, animals were brought into Perth on the hoof and slaughtered in clear sight of the buyers, offals and blood then cleaned away by porters. Fish was sold in Watergate, near the harbour; while salt was sold in Salt Vennel. You could also buy your ale, bread, vegetables and fruit, and many imported goods from England, Scandinavia and fine wines from France, all arriving by waterway and unloaded in Perth harbour at the end of the High Street. On special days throughout the churches’ calendar, fairs would be held and the merriment was enlarged by entertainment, big crowds, noisy celebrations and lots of trading from further afield than on a normal market day.

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Markets in Perth

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