Langtongate

About Langtongate

At the junction of New Road and Langtongate is a private house “Westways”. This building dates from the early 20th century and was formerly a shop with flat above. Note the fine carvings on the front of the building, depicting an owl, lion’s head and cherubs.
Langtongate is one of the oldest streets in the town, although the buildings have changed over the centuries. On the right is the Volunteer Hall, built in the later 19th century as a Drill Hall.
100 metres from the junction, on the left and set back from the road, is a pair of mid-19th century semidetached Tudor villas, formerly known as Union Cottages. As you can see,the window panes are wider than they are tall. This type of window is called a lying pane window.
Next door is no. 14 Langtongate. This is a late 18th century building. Note the scroll skewputs8 and tin fire insurance plate between the first floor windows, which signified that the owner had paid their dues to the Caledonian Insurance Company.
Opposite the junction of Willis Wynd is no. 47 South Street. This building was erected in 1714 and was formerly one of the town’s breweries.
Turn left up Willis Wynd, which links Langtongate with Newtown Street. Part of the way up is Willis Wynd Chapel, one of many former ecclesiastical buildings in the town. This small, classically designed building with a later vestibule to the front was built c.1825.