A Dundee dad is developing a mobile app to tell the story of one of the city’s oldest legends.
Despite being born and bred in the city, John-Paul Thain had never heard of the Nine Maidens and the Dragon a folk tale that has inspired local place names and monuments.
After learning about it a few years ago, the 36-year-old became determined to preserve the legend for future generations.
He is hoping to create the app with the help of children at Strathmartine Primary School, who are designing the art work for it.
John-Paul, from Bridgefoot, said: “I set up my app company with the intention of creating children’s storybook apps.
“A few years ago I heard the legend and thought it would be good to tie it in with what I was doing.
“I’ve lived in Dundee all my life and I never knew about this legend until recently, despite the fact I live near where it was meant to have taken place. A lot of people I know have never heard of it either.
“I thought making a free app would be a good way of preserving Dundee’s history and letting kids learn about it.
“It would be an interactive version of the story, with a voice-over and various effects.
“I did research in the local library and online, and I’m now ready to make the app.
“The only issue is funding and I’m applying for that at the moment.”
The legend, originating some time between the seventh and ninth centuries, tells of a farmer from the village of Pitempton who sent one of his nine daughters to fetch water from a well.
When she didn’t return, he sent the others one by one, but none of them came back.
The farmer then goes to the well to discover his daughters dead and mutilated by a dragon-like beast.
Martin, the lover of one of the daughters, chases and slays the creature, watched by the village folk who chant “Strike, Martin”.
The parish was then named Strikemartin, later changed to Strathmartine, according to some versions of the story, and is now known as Bridgefoot.
Because the legend was passed down through word of mouth, there are many different versions of the story.
A Dundee student recently wrote a project analysing each variation and its historical importance.