A glimpse into Victorian Dundee
The book Victorian Dundee tells of a city at the height of its prosperity, ten years after it was first published a revised and expanded edition has been published. History professor Christopher Whatley explains what the old Dundee tells us about the new.
The Royal Arch on Shore Terrace in 1961. Below — The statue of Queen Victoria is unveiled outside the then Albert Institute, now the McManus, in 1899.
- By Jack McKeown
- Published in the Courier : 19.12.11
- Published online : 24.12.11 @ 09.34am
For much of the 19th century, Dundee was the world's biggest producer of jute, but by the latter half of the 20th century, its star was on the wane. The jute industry was in terminal decline and many of the great buildings and monuments had fallen into disrepair.
Wrong-headed people ran the city. They fell in love with concrete and — allegedly — corruption, and they defaced or even destroyed some of the city's wonders, including the fabulous Royal Arch, which was blown up to make way for the Tay Bridge off ramp because city planners couldn't be bothered having it moved.
Now, after a long and painful labour, the city is poised for a rebirth of sorts. Its life sciences sector is home to some of the finest scientific minds in the world, its computer games sector employs some flourishing young talents, and the V&A in Dundee will complete a cultural revival that began with The Rep and expanded with the opening of the DCA in the year before we flipped the calendar onto a new millennium.
To understand the future, you need to understand the past, and the book Victorian Dundee takes us back to a time before living memory when the city was one of the most vibrant trading posts in the country and had perhaps Britain's strongest links with India.
The book fits in alongside Jute No More: Transforming Dundee, and Dundee: Renaissance to Enlightenment to form a trilogy of volumes on the city's history.
''I don't think any other Scottish town or city is as well represented in terms of a very readable collection of history books,'' says Professor Chris Whatley, Dundee University vice principal and professor of Scottish history, who is also one of Victorian Dundee's three editors.
''Dundee's moving closer to becoming a centre for culture and creativity — topped off by the V&A — and these books provide a very useful promotional tool.''
The second edition contains two new chapters, one of which was penned by Chris. He explains the need for a series of books covering Dundee's wider history: ''When I came to Dundee I could read a lot about the jute industry, class struggle and all the social consequences of a city dependent on a single industry that was in decline. But Dundee has been around since the 12th century. There has been a lot of history before jute and since.''
Instead, Victorian Dundee tells stories that even lifelong Dundonians might not be too familiar with.
''We look at the way Dundee used its riverside location to its advantage by the construction of a remarkable docks stretching hundreds of metres along the waterfront,'' Chris continues.
''There's an important story to tell about Dundee being for so long a maritime city, and we've kind of forgotten that — although we're now rediscovering it.
''There was also the introduction of the railway, which had the unfortunate side effect of separating the city from the foreshore. And there's the way the commercial centre of the town moved from down by the docks up to Albert Square and Reform Street.''
03.54pm - 24.12.2011 mark - dundee, scotland Report This
sounds like a fantastic book, that will be one i need to buy with my christmas money. from the books and pics ive already got old dundee was a fascinating place, hope there are a few picture of dundee west railway station - fabulous building which is sadly gone
06.24pm - 24.12.2011 John Jones - Dundee, Scotland Report This
Great stuff. And Whatley is right. Destroying historic Dundee was a self-inflicted wound by blind ideologues who hated the city they inherited and wanted to change it utterly. We still live with the ugly consequences which now in turn are being finally put right.
12.15pm - 26.12.2011 Joyce Brown - Hilltown, Dundee Report This
As a young adult from the early '80's my rage has smouldered at the decimation of our once great cities' landmarks especially the Royal Arch. Shame on the the corrupt/misguided town planners from late '40's till late '70's. You should all be named and shamed. I would hope your descendants are aware
03.40pm - 29.12.2011 Margaret - Dundee, United Kingdom Report This
Whilst agreeing with some points of the comments Nostalgia 's no what it used to be like long hot summers there was a lot needing changed like gas lights slum housing.outside toilets ,cold water& washhouses in the greenie ,tuberculosis.I liked dundee when it was agood hearted working city
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