Orkney Image Library

Spence's Square?

Spence's Square was wider than that and I don't think there were steps at the rear like this. It leads up the steps to a higher area at the rear which could be garden area as the building behind seems further back, which would indicate the east side of Victoria Street. What was there where Wm Shearer's car parking area is now? Need to check out the stonework on all the buildings on that side of Victoria Street and see if anything fits this picture still.

See picture #1291 for a more recent view

Had a real close look through Victoria St this morning looking for this archway, the facades of the buildings, lane, the steps leading up to a rear garden, the white building in the background, the 2 thingies in the stone slab on the pavement, etc. and could see nothing that approached this view. Could it be that this and the buildings have been removed or renovated since 1920?

Marion take a look at the stones jutting southwards from the Royal (Orkney) hotel wall. I think they are the remains of this archway and the lane would have been Richan's Close. The building to the right was where Sir Robert Strang was born. In 1900 it belonged to a Johnston who I think was a coal merchant. His premises continues to be mentioned in Valuation Rolls till early 1920's. It was cleared and became the car park area that we all remember before the recent "posh" entrance to the hotel was built.

[You can find the remains David refers to on here at picture #1291 - Steven]