Grisly tale to tell

“For hundreds of years the Thorter Row which joined the Overgait (Upper Street) to the Nethergait (Lower Street) had many a grisly tale to tell of murder and mayhem,” writes Keith Walker of Dundee.

“General Monck’s rampage of looting and death was brought to a halt by the slaughter of a woman and the crying of her baby trying to feed from its dead mother in Thorter Row.

“This old photograph (see right), from DC Thomson files, shows the 1866 replacement tenement at the corner with Kirk Wynd, just opposite the old phone box.

“In 1584, the Earl of Gowrie fled to William Drumond’s house on this site when his plan to hold and influence the young king had failed. As Gowrie waited for a boat to take him to Norway the king’s troops turned up and demanded that Gowrie should surrender. Soon, musket shots were being exchanged.

“The officer called for a ship’s cannon from one of the boats lying in the old harbour (site of the Caird Hall). When Gowrie saw the cannon in Thorter Row he tried to make a few demands – then he surrendered to the troops.

“This all happened on what is now the site of Primark’s tights and socks department near the changing room! “Shortly afterwards, Gowrie was beheaded at Stirling Castle.”

“This delicate-looking flower was out in quite large numbers in the woodlands near Dunkeld,” says Eric Niven of Dundee. “I think its called Ladies Smock.” Can anyone confirm this?