[1] Similar to York's Snickelways, vennels are a public right-of-way passageway between the gables of buildings which can, in effect, be a minor street.

Unlike a tenement entry to private property, known as a "close", a vennel was a public way leading from a typical high street to the open ground beyond the burgage plots.

South Street was originally terminated at its eastern end by Gowrie House (the site of today's Perth Sheriff Court).

Upon its demolition in the early 19th century, direct access was granted to the river.

[3] In 2018, Perth architect Fergus Purdie put forward a design to revamp a space off of Guard Vennel.