As descriptive of the origin of the name of this street, we find the following in Jamieson's History of the Culdees, pages 26 and 27:-

"The Pagan Saxons brought the word Dry from Germany, as being the name by which every German priest was called. Dry undoubtedly signifies a Druid, a wise man, a prophet, a philosopher, and sometimes a magician in the Gaelic."

According to a local antiquary, therefore, the Druidical place of worship having stood on the site of the present Necropolis, and the Druidical town having been evidently built on the ridge now occupied by the Rottenrow and High Street, the only approach to the place of worship from the town at that period must have been by the Drygate, where the Molendinar could be crossed with ease. Hence the street or gate taking its name from the road to the place of worship, or priest's road. Although this street is one of the most ancient in the city, and in early times contained a mint for the coinage of money, no historical interest, so far as we know, is attached to any of the houses represented in the picture. They are still standing, but the projecting stairs have been removed by order of the Dean of Guild Court, for the improvement of the locality. They stand on the north side of the street. The highest one is evidently, from the peculiarity of its construction the oldest, and may have existed when the town was occasionally in a troubled state, from the smallness of the windows and extraordinary appearance of strength which it presents.