Life through a lens: Archive images of the Fair City.

Years pass and habits change but let’s hope playground games never go out of fashion. The year in our first photo from the archives, top left, is 1984 and these youngsters at St John’s Primary School are having great fun seeing how many of them can jump the rope at once.

Another fixture of Perth life is depicted in the next photograph, which shows three women visiting the Fair Maid of Perth’s House in 1966. Dating back to about 1475, this little property is the oldest secular building in Perth. Its title is more recent though and takes its name from the novel published in 1828 by Sir Walter Scott.

In his story, this is the home of Simon Glover and his daughter Catharine, the Fair Maid. Scott must have known something about the history of the house, because from 1629 this was the headquarters of the Glovers’ Incorporation, whose motto Grace and Peace is carved above the door.

Meal Vennel has not stood the test of time, however. It was demolished to make way for St John’s Square. The Post Office now occupies the furniture showroom site, with the Royal Bank of Scotland on the opposite corner. The photo doesn’t have a date so if any readers can suggest when it was taken, we’d love to know.

And finally, the Square itself was the venue for a visit by the Queen during her Silver Jubilee celebrations in May 1977.

Recognise anyone in these photos? Please email craigie@dcthomson.co.uk

St John’s Primary School pupils see how many of them can jump the rope at the same time in 1984.

Queen Elizabeth II visits Perth as part of the Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977.

Meal Vennel, now the site of St John’s Square, undated.

Three ladies take a look around the Fair Maid of Perth’s House in 1966.