Lying at the heart of Aberdeen, the Castlegate is found at the east end of Union Street and has acted as a market-place since the 12th C. The city's Mercat Cross, located here, is more recent, dating from the late 17th C. It was once the approach to Aberdeen Castle, which was besieged and destroyed by Robert the Bruce in 1308, during the Wars of Independence, massacring the English garrison.
The area is now pedestrianised and a pillar box is painted gold to commemorate the gold medal won by rower Katherine Grainger (b.1975) in the London Olympics of 2012.
