THE WELLMEADOW ARCHITECTURE

Being part of Blairgowrie town centre, the Wellmeadow lies within the Conservation Area, and the architecture offers much to be admired.

Let us take you on a walk around the Wellmeadow. Starting from the Leslie Street corner walk along the south-west side of the Wellmeadow and admire the very fine Category B listed buildings of three and four storeys, with shop units on the ground floor with flats above.  Don't forget to look up so that you may fully appreciate the splendid architecture.

In 2022 the shop units on this side of the Wellmeadow are occupied by the following businesses:

20 WELLMEADOW

THE EDINBURGH WOOLLEN MILL LTD

Sells a range of knitwear and other clothing for men and women.

21 to 23 WELLMEADOW

DAVIDSONS CHEMISTS

The Wellmeadow, Blairgowrie, is where the firm of Davidsons Chemists was founded in 1897 and the company's headquarters continues to be here in Blairgowrie.  There are now more than 40 branches of Davidsons in Scotland.

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This 1926 photo of Walter Davidson outside the Wellmeadow shop shows that it was a 'Dispensing and Photographic Chemist'.  Before the age of digital cameras and mobile phone cameras, people brought their films here to be developed.

For more information go to https://www.davidsonschemists.co.uk/about-us/

24 and 25 WELLMEADOW

Here we have the rear entrance to The Dome Café which has its main entrance at 14 to 20 Leslie Street.  If walls could talk, the cellar area below The Dome would have some fascinating and possibly some gruesome tales to tell, as this housed the town's police cells during the 19th century.  In the 1870s this was the location of The Perth Arms, also known as Jackson's Inn due to the owners being the Jackson family.  In 1900 the name was changed to the Blairgowrie Arms, which closed in 1922.

The Constitutional Club, opened in 1891, occupied the flat above the Blairgowrie Arms, and included a billiard room, reading room and library.  Meetings to discuss politics and concerts were held here.

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26 WELLMEADOW

ADVENTURE INTO BOOKS

For many years this was the Tourist Information Office, but following its closure in 2018 it has become a popular book shop.

PLAQUE The Plaque, awarded in 1996 by the Scottish Film Council, on the wall beside No 26, honours Andy Clyde (1892-1967) who was born in Rattray and who starred in many films and appeared in several T.V. programmes.

(photo of Blue Plaque)

For more information re Andy Clyde click here

28 WELLMEADOW

HODGE SOLICITORS LLP

This legal firm has practised here for than 100 years.  It occupies all four floors of the building.

29 and 30 WELLMEADOW

These buildings are still referred to locally as the Bank Buildings and Margaret Anton, in "A Social History of Blairgowrie and Rattray" (edited and compiled by Margaret Laing) explains why.

"The Perth Banking Company was a further establishment anxious to test the financial climate of Blairgowrie during the 1800s.  It was opened by William Shaw Soutar.  However, it was destined to be taken over in 1857 by The Union Bank of Scotland which located its Blairgowrie branch in new premises thought to have been designed originally by Andrew Heiton for the Perth Banking Company. The design was subsequently taken over by William Railton for The Union Bank and developed into a magnificent building at 29 Wellmeadow."

"The Union Bank continued its strong presence in Blairgowrie for almost another century until it merged with The Bank of Scotland in 1954.  The existing offices remained in operation as the Wellmeadow branch of the Bank of Scotland until 1972".

Currently the building is occupied by Natural Beauty, a business offering beauty treatments.

31 WELLMEADOW

NUMBER THIRTY-ONE

A public house was opened here in the 1970s and it is now a popular bistro/bar.

33 WELLMEADOW

PROPERTY @ HODGE

Hodge Solicitors opened this Property Office in 2009.

34 WELLMEADOW

BLAIRGOWRIE PUBLIC TOILETS

Perth & Kinross Council sparked a public outcry when in 2013 it proposed the closure of the public toilets. Fortunately, they were saved from closure.

Across Gas Brae stands Wellmeadow House, built as the Gas Works manager's house, and which is now the base for the Strathmore Centre for Youth Development (SCYD)

Find out more at www.scyd.org.uk

42 WELLMEADOW

THE CROWN BAR

The original building dates from 1868, but, over the years it has been extended and other properties have been incorporated into it.  In the past it has been known as The Crown Inn and The Crown Hotel.

46 WELLMEADOW

THE ANGUS HOTEL

Originally known as the Railway Hotel and dating from 1859, what was a fairly small hotel has been extended over the years, even incorporating some shops into the building.  It is now a family owned 3 star hotel offering 90 bedrooms.  It also boasts a Spa with swimming pool, jacuzzi, steam room and sauna.

47 WELLMEADOW (also known as Bridgend and Meadow Place)

NEST CREATIVE SPACES COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY

This impressive building dates from 1890 when it was built by the Blairgowrie and Rattray Temperance Hotel and Coffee House Company.  It operated as a Temperance Hotel until the 1960s when the name was changed to the Glen Ericht Hotel.  Other name changes like the Brig o' Blair Hotel and Slipstream followed.  The ground floor has been occupied by a variety of retail outlets, and is now home to Nest, where crafts people meet to share ideas and sell their crafts.

To learn more visit

https://www.nestcreativespaces.co.uk

1 WELLMEADOW

CUT ABOVE HAIRDRESSING

On the corner of the Wellmeadow and the steps leading to the Riverside Walk, this hairdressing business has been here for around 30 years.

4 WELLMEADOW

FISH IN BLAIR

Owned by Willie Little this shop sells fresh fish like his Fish in Crieff business.

5 WELLMEADOW

THE CHIPPY

Traditional fish and chip shop serving take-away with the option to sit in.

6 WELLMEADOW

BUNTERS

Sandwich shop and ice cream parlour.

8 WELLMEADOW

W.M.COUPAR

This electrical appliance supplier has occupied this location for more than 30 years.

12 WELLMEADOW

THE HAIR LOUNGE

Hairdressing salon

13 WELLMEADOW

THE ERICHT ALEHOUSE

Although this Category C listed public house dates back to around 1802, it was named The Ericht Alehouse in 1996.  Before that it had been known as The Meadow Arms, Brunton's Bar and the Greentree Inn.  This is a very popular public house, especially for real ale enthusiasts.

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13A WELLMEADOW

GOOD NEWS

This building on the corner of the Wellmeadow and Lower Mill Street, currently being used by a newsagent, attracts attention because it is different in design to neighbouring buildings.  It is listed as Category C.

Apparently it is shown in a photograph taken around 1920 to be a single storey building, believed to have been built in the late 19th century.  The first floor with mock-half timbering and the splendid ogee dome with its band of slates in a fish scale pattern appears to have been added after that date.

There is a similar ogee dome at Duncraggan, Perth Road, which was designed by James Lowe, architect, for his own family.  It would be interesting to find out if he also designed the dome at 13A Wellmeadow.

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14 WELLMEADOW

SUBWAY

This fine Category B listed Art Deco style building on the opposite corner of the Wellmeadow and Lower Mill Street was built by the Commercial Bank of Scotland. Shops on the site were demolished to allow building to begin in 1937.  The bank opened in 1939 and continued in business until the 1970s.  Currently the ground floor is occupied by a sandwich shop.

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17 WELLMEADOW

THE CARTWHEEL INN

This Category C listed building is believed to date back to 1694, but it was around 1840 that part of the dwelling house became an inn.  Records show that in 1840 John Mitchell Senior, a builder, took over the property which comprised "a dwelling house with stables and garden behind, lately occupied as an Inn".  It was named THE CARTWHEEL INN in 1971, having been previously known as The Commercial Inn.