Broad Street - an historic street in stirling

Stirlings' Old Town

The Castle
The Old Grammar School
Argyll's Lodging
Mar's Wark
Holy Rude Church
John Cowane's Hospital
John Cowane's House
Auchenbowie's House
Broad Street
The Tolbooth
Norie's House
Darnley's House
Robert Spittal's House
The Town Wall
The Smith Art Gallery

In 1226 Stirling was granted the right to have a Merchant Guild and hold a weekly market. An annual trade fair was held in September with people gathering from far and wide to do business, exchange news, and enjoy themselves.

The street was cobbled with open gutters down each side carrying the refuse and sewage down towards the river. In dry weather rubbish built up, encouraging pests and spreading disease. If rain had not cleansed the streets, rubbish had to be removed by horse cart. Despite these unsanitary conditions, Broad Street bustled with activity.

Royal Proclamations were read from the Mercat Cross in Broad Street. Here too criminals were put in the stocks or pillory and executions took place. The last public execution was in 1843.