Dundonians have already practised social distancing... 500 years ago

and dying. The Wishart Arch is still situated in the Cowgate. Along with the core of Gardyne’s Lodging, the arch – and the Old St Mary’s Steeple – is all that remains of Dundee at that time.

In St Roque’s Lane, off the Seagate, also stood a chapel named after a Frenchman who devoted his life to the plague-stricken.

It was here, outside the old burgh wall, that Dundee’s plague victims were banished so their infections were less likely to spread.

Mr Flett said: “St Roque’s Lane, still there, is linked with St Roque or St Roche, patron saint of the plague-ridden.

“Presumably there would have been a plague pit nearby where those who did succumb to the disease were buried.

“There’s also a reference as late as 1906 to a St Roque’s Place in West Ferry which may be a nod to where passengers and crew may have been buried as ships then were not allowed to disembark until quarantined.

“One of the many titles of the Lord Provost is ‘Admiral of the Tay’ from 16th Century which comes from the French ‘Amiral’ – meaning an administrator.

“It was the provost’s duty to close down the small sail ferries if ‘The Pest’ was approaching from Fife. Will the Tay Bridge master have to do the same? We hope not.”

In 1605 unfortunate ferrymen were told not to take hires over the Tay during the plague.

But in one incident they were physically threatened by the bodyguards of a lady from landed gentry unless they complied.

One of them was later fined 40 shillings or two Scottish pounds and banished from the burgh.

Mr Flett said in 1605 that £2 was worth 16p in English sterling, which today would be worth £500, which puts the Covid-19 £60 fine into perspective.

Anyone found visiting the sick could be fined £100.

If they didn’t have the money they would be burned on the cheek.

Those who broke the rules also found themselves “banished forever” from the burgh.

In another documented incident, quartermasters appointed by the council to look over the Murraygate, found that George Mitchell, maltman, (a brewer), had “twa sick bairns that had been sick twa days”.

Mr Mitchell, his servants and his family were commanded “to keep themselves close within their houses”.

Sound familiar?

The plaque commemorating George Wishart, and, right, Iain Flett.