Narrow Mercat Gait

The eastern end of Market Street is much narrower than the rest of the street. During the late Middle Ages this area was called the Narrow Mercat Gait. It is thought that the Narrow Mercat Gait was originally an alleyway running between the properties on North Street and South Street (hence its restricted width). By the late fifteenth century the Narrow Mercat Gait had become a street in its own right, and there were houses facing on to the former alleyway. However, these homes seem to have been less grand than those on North and South Street. Even today the buildings on the Narrow Mercat Gait are relatively modest.

Street View

Additional Information

Location: Eastern end of Market Street. Date Built: Twelfth to twenty-first centuries.

We do not know exactly when the Narrow Mercat Gait was established, but it has probably existed in some form since the twelfth century.

The houses on the Narrow Mercat Gait were built on what had been the gardens of the houses on North and South Street. The development was a haphazard process which unfolded over time. As a result the property boundaries in this part of St Andrews are unusually complicated.

During the late Middle Ages the Narrow Mercat Gait appears to have been one of the less wealthy areas of St Andrews. Nevertheless, even residents of this slightly poorer part of town gave generously to the church. In March 1479 a citizen of St Andrews named Thomas Walker granted the priests of Holy Trinity Church an annual rent of 15 shillings from his home in the Narrow Mercat Gait.