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TITLE
Gowrie House
EXTERNAL ID
QZP40_941_32_P002
PLACENAME
Gowrie House
DISTRICT
Perth
OLD COUNTY/PARISH
PERTH
DATE OF IMAGE
1806
PERIOD
1800s
CREATOR
R Littlejohn
SOURCE
Highland Libraries
ASSET ID
31376
KEYWORDS
houses
conspiracies
plots
Scottish Crown
buildings
rivers
Gowrie House

Gowrie House stood at the end of South Street in Perth. It was demolished in 1809 so that the street could be extended to the River Tay. Gowrie House was the scene, in 1600, of the slaughter of John Ruthven, 3rd Earl of Gowrie, and his brother Alexander Ruthven. The events leading to and surrounding the deaths are sketchy and the incident has come to be known as the Gowrie Conspiracy.

The official reason for the deaths has been that the Ruthvens were involved in a secret plot to kill or kidnap King James VI. In attempting to carry out this plot they were killed by the King's attendants. It is said, however, that this was a Royal plot to remove the Ruthvens, who supported Queen Elizabeth of England. The Queen was openly hostile towards the Scottish King.

This illustration was taken from 'Memorabilia of the City of Perth' by Rev Alexander Duff (1806)

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Gowrie House

PERTH

1800s

houses; conspiracies; plots; Scottish Crown; buildings; rivers

Highland Libraries

Fraser Mackintosh Collection (illustrations)

Gowrie House stood at the end of South Street in Perth. It was demolished in 1809 so that the street could be extended to the River Tay. Gowrie House was the scene, in 1600, of the slaughter of John Ruthven, 3rd Earl of Gowrie, and his brother Alexander Ruthven. The events leading to and surrounding the deaths are sketchy and the incident has come to be known as the Gowrie Conspiracy. <br /> <br /> The official reason for the deaths has been that the Ruthvens were involved in a secret plot to kill or kidnap King James VI. In attempting to carry out this plot they were killed by the King's attendants. It is said, however, that this was a Royal plot to remove the Ruthvens, who supported Queen Elizabeth of England. The Queen was openly hostile towards the Scottish King.<br /> <br /> This illustration was taken from 'Memorabilia of the City of Perth' by Rev Alexander Duff (1806)