...for the entertainment of the decayed...

[Douglas McMann]

The plaque above this imposing door, leading into an equally imposing and scary looking building, dating from the 1600's reads:-

"This Hospitall was erected and largly provyded by John Cowane
Deane of Gild for the entertainement of decayed Gild Brethern"
​

I hate to think what kind of entertainment those poor "decayed" fellows were subjected to...

...or maybe they were the entertainment...

Either way, I'd be a bit wary of John Cowane....!!!!

 

[Rob MacKillop]

Shiver me timbers, the mind is boggling. I don't suppose it could mean decade? That wouldn't make much sense either. Intriguing.

 

[John Allen]

What decayed gild brethren means depends on the guild. Lots of the guilds worked with harmful materials and had absolutely no safety standards. We've all heard of 'mad hatters'. Glassblowers were also subject to sickness and mental issues from the use of certain minerals used to color the glass. Any guild that used mercury or lead would also have 'decayed brethren'. I think it is great to find that guilds were doing something like this for their members even so long ago. Of course, we've all heard the horror stories of houses of bedlam right up until the last few decades.

 

[Pete Askew]

Wonderful shot and story, Dougie. I love the gritty PP.