Conservation Area Appraisal & Management Plan - Home Page

Leslie Conservation Area Appraisal and Management PlanThe area to the north of this is open land (The Commonty), and to the south is the rivervalley of the Leven.Vennels or Gotes (a local word corrupted from the phrase “go-outs”) run at right anglesoff the High Street of the old town, from which local residents were able to access theCommonty to the north or the River Leven to the south with their animals. A number stillexist; The Short Gote and Starks Gote for example, although many have been blockedoff, or built over. Other past names are Victoria Close, Wappin Lane, Baldies Close andBurghers Close. Now the vennels provide access to buildings in the backlands and fewexist in complete form.Vennel and pend with outbuildings alongsideThe practice of building along these vennels and behind the houses on the main streethas continued since the 17 th century and many of these buildings survive. Thesebacklands have now been severely compromised by 20 th century piecemeal buildingand the need to provide car access. The current practice of selling off gardens forredevelopment places the old feu patterns at risk.The original feu divisions are still evident and can still be recognised on modern maps.Very little has changed, although 20 th century development has been intrusive. Morephysical reminders of this Scottish feudal system could once be seen in the Old Townitself, for example, the March Stone at The Clansman marked the boundary of a feu.13