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- Dundee Women | The Dundee Tapestry
Dundee women have always been a force to be reckoned with. They played an invaluable role in the city’s mills and factories and enjoyed more freedom than was typical at the time. But their skills and talents went far beyond the factory floor. This panel celebrates the achievements of some spirited women of Dundee who made their mark in vastly different ways, and who once called the city their home. Up Up Dundee Women Overcoming the challenges of being a woman Dundee women have always been a force to be reckoned with. They played an invaluable role in the city’s mills and factories and enjoyed more freedom than was typical at the time. But their skills and talents went far beyond the factory floor. This panel celebrates the achievements of some spirited women of Dundee who made their mark in vastly different ways, and who once called the city their home. 1. Dundee Women Women have always played a major role in Dundee’s economy. In 1901, a third of Dundee’s female population was employed in the mills and, later they would also dominate the workplace at factories like Timex, NCR and Valentine’s. 2. The linen and jute mills Women made up the majority of the workforce in Dundee’s textile industries in the 19th century because the mill-owners could pay them less than male workers. 3. Lily Thomson Lily started work as a 15-year-old weaver in Dundee’s jute mills in the 1950s. After retiring, she volunteered at Verdant Works for several decades and proved to be an invaluable source of information. 4. Daisy Tasker Young Daisy Tasker worked at Baxter Brothers Works, having joined Lower Dens Mill as a weaver at just 14. She organised social activities for the mill workers, including work outings, tea dances and dinner dances. The mill is now home to Hotel Indigo, and the hotel’s restaurant has been named in Daisy’s honour. 5. Emma Caird Also known as Mrs Emma Grace Marryat, Emma’s family fortune helped to transform Dundee. She donated to the Dundee Royal Infirmary, and she contributed financially to the building of the Caird Hall. 6. Sheena Wellington Born in Dundee in 1944, folk singer Sheena Wellington sang Robert Burns’ A Man’s A Man for A’ That at the opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999. She holds honorary degrees from the University of St Andrews, the University of Dundee, and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. 7. Anna Thomp son Dodge Anna Thompson was born in Dundee in 1871 and emigrated to the US city of Detroit as a child. In 1896 she married Horace Leslie Dodge, owner of Dodge Brothers Automobiles. Anna became an important philanthropist and patron of the arts and, when she died aged 99, she was one of the richest women in the world. 8. Mary Maloney Mary was a suffragette who famously disrupted Winston Churchill’s speech in 1908 by ringing a handbell. 9. Liz McColgan Athlete Liz McColgan grew up in Whitfield and is one of Scotland’s most successful athletes. She holds two Commonwealth gold medals, an Olympic silver medal, a World Championship gold and two London marathon titles. Her 1997 marathon time was a Scottish record until 2019, and her 10,000 metres personal best, set in 1991, was a Scottish record until 2022, when it was broken by her daughter Eilish McColgan. 10. Mrs Wallace ‘Mrs Wallace’s Pie Shop’ is the title of a photograph, captured in Hawkhill by Scottish artist Joseph McKenzie, and now owned by the National Galleries Scotland. The name Wallace is synonymous with Dundee pies and bridies, and in the early 1900s, there were seven separate Wallace bakeries. 11. Margaret Irwin Born in Broughty Ferry in 1857, Margaret became a trade unionist and suffragette in order to improve women’s rights in the workforce. 12. Frances Wright Frances ‘Fanny’ Wright was born in the Nethergate in 1795. As the daughter of a radical linen manufacturer, Fanny became an outspoken and free-thinking writer, lecturer and abolitionist. In the 1820s, she campaigned for equal rights, universal education, free love, birth control and the eradication of slavery. She even set up a commune near Memphis, called ‘Nashoba’, where she hoped to help enslaved people prepare for freedom. 13. Marilyn Gillies Marilyn used her experience of being born without arms to raise awareness of the challenges faced by amputees. She stood as a political candidate in 1981, and published her autobiography, Look No Hands, in 1982. 14. Ethel Moorhead Ethel was a trained artist and a passionate supporter of the Women’s Suffrage movement for which she was arrested many times. 15. Victoria Drummond God-daughter to Queen Victoria, the young Victoria trained at Dundee Technical College and joined Caledon Ship Works, where she stayed until 1922. As Britain’s first female marine engineer, and the first woman to join the Institute of Marine Engineers, she sailed the world on cargo ships and tramp steamers. During the Second World War, she was awarded an MBE and the Lloyd’s War Medal for bravery at sea. 16. Cathie Connelly After coming second in a Dundee dance competition, Cathie became the World Twisting Champion in 1964 when she danced for 102 hours. Up Up This panel was stitched by June Anderson Lindsey Grieve Sheila Mathieson
- Dundee Music | The Dundee Tapestry
Dundee has been a hub of musical creativity for decades. Within its dance halls, bandstands and performance spaces, lots of musical genres have found their feet, and many musical icons have emerged. This panel name-checks notable musicians, popular venues, local singing groups, and song titles, all with close links to Dundee. DUNDEE CULTURE Up Up Dundee Music Celebrating bands and musicians that hail from Dundee Dundee has been a hub of musical creativity for decades. Within its dance halls, bandstands and performance spaces, lots of musical genres have found their feet, and many musical icons have emerged. This panel name-checks notable musicians, popular venues, local singing groups, and song titles, all with close links to Dundee. 1. ‘The Road and the Miles to Dundee’ The song lyrics of this classic Scottish ballad tell the story of a chance encounter between a young man and a young woman who subsequently fall in love. Many Dundonians will associate this tune with Scottish entertainer Andy Stewart, but the song has been recorded by other artists, including folk trio The Corries. 2. Average White Band The Average White Band was founded by saxophonists Malcolm ‘Molly’ Duncan and Roger Ball, bassist Alan Gorrie and guitarist Onnie McIntyre, and the band’s roots took shape in the Dundee art college scene during the late 1960s. ‘Let’s Go Round Again’, released in 1980, remains a funk-pop classic. 3. Danny Wilson Indie band Danny Wilson was formed in 1984 by Dundee-born brothers Gary and Kit Clark, and Ged Grimes. The band’s name was inspired by a 1952 Frank Sinatra film, and in 1988, the trio’s single ‘Mary’s Prayer’ reached No 3 in the UK charts. 4. Big Noise Douglas Big Noise is an education and social change programme that involves hundreds of children and young people in Dundee every week. Originally inspired by a Venezuelan music education programme called El Sistema, Big Noise Douglas is one of only six programmes in Scotland, and it began in 2017. 5. Musical heritage The Caird Hall was formally opened in 1923 by H.R.H. The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII), and is named after Sir James Caird, a local industrialist. The adjoining hall is named after his sister Mrs Emma Grace Marryat. Both donated funds to help complete the new City Square scheme in the 1930s. The Wighton Heritage Centre, a collection of national music, is housed in the Central Library, Dundee. 6. Accordion Fife-born accordion-player, Jimmy Shand, got his big break when he started working in a Dundee music shop. 7. St Andrew and the Woollen Mill This band is known in the local area for their witty songs that play on the Dundee dialect and sense of humour. Some of their most notable songs include ‘Dinna Ast me (Eh Dinna Ken)’, ‘Rare to be Alev’ and ‘This World is Phul o’ a Number o’ Things’. 8. Palais de Danse Built around 1820, the Category ‘B’ listed Palais building in South Tay Street was once a city centre dance hall. The vast hall behind the smart architraved facade became one of Dundee’s premier music venues in the 1960s and ’70s, when owner Andy Lothian brought bands like Manfred Mann, The Yardbirds and The Hollies here. The Palais later became Samantha’s, then Bloomers, before the interior was destroyed by fire in 1980. The beautiful stained glass ‘Palais’ sign can still be seen above the entrance portico. 9. The Choirs of Dundee From NYCOS Dundee and the University Gospel Choir for young and student choralists, to the Choral Union, Gaelic Choir and Cathedral Choir, there is a choir for everyone. Just Sing at Maggie’s welcomes anyone affected by cancer, while the Total Memories Recall Choir is made up of people with a diagnosis of dementia and their carers and family members. Community singing group Loadsaweeminsinging was founded in 1994. 10. Deacon Blue When former schoolteacher Ricky Ross moved from Dundee to Glasgow, he formed Deacon Blue, with Lorraine McIntosh, James Prime, Dougie Vipond, Ewen Vernal and Graeme Kelling. The band’s debut album, ‘Raintown’, was released in 1987, producing the singles ‘Dignity’, ‘Chocolate Girl’ and ‘Loaded’. Up Up This panel was stitched by Heather Berger Sharman Frost Pauline Lavery Angela Mehlert Morag Nowell
- She Town | The Dundee Tapestry
In 19th century Dundee, women were the backbone of the jute industry. As they went off to work in the mills – for lower wages than their husbands could earn – the men were left ‘at hame to bile kettles’, and the city became known as ‘She Town’. This panel celebrates women who may not have received the recognition they deserved in their lifetimes, including welder Bella Keyzer, suffragettes Ethel Moorhead and Lila Clunas, and councillor Agnes Husband. DUNDEE WOMEN Up Up She Town Change-makers and unsung heroes In 19th century Dundee, women were the backbone of the jute industry. As they went off to work in the mills – for lower wages than their husbands could earn – the men were left ‘at hame to bile kettles’, and the city became known as ‘She Town’. This panel celebrates women who may not have received the recognition they deserved in their lifetimes, including welder Bella Keyzer, suffragettes Ethel Moorhead and Lila Clunas, and councillor Agnes Husband. 1. Timex factory By the mid-Sixties, Timex was Dundee’s single largest employer of women. Around 80 per cent of the workforce at the Camperdown watch factory were women working on the assembly lines. Many female employees took part in the six-month-long strike that ultimately led to the closure of the Camperdown factory in August 1993. 2. Lyrics from a folk song These lyrics are the chorus from a popular Dundee ballad called ‘It’s Aa Yin Tae Me’ which promotes the financial independence that many female jute weavers experienced. 3. Ethel Moorhead Ethel Moorhead (1869-1955) was a trained artist and a passionate supporter of the Women’s Suffrage movement for which she was arrested many times. In 1910, she threw an egg at Winston Churchill at a meeting in Dundee, and in 1912 she smashed a glass case at the Wallace monument near Stirling. In 1913, she went on a hunger strike when she was sentenced to 30 days’ imprisonment. 4. Kettle bilers When the jute industry exploded in Dundee in the early-mid 1800s, women outnumbered men in the mills three to one. Unemployed husbands and fathers were forced to stay at home to look after the kids and boil the kettle – making them ‘kettle bilers’, a term which is still used today. 5. Bella Keyzer Bella Keyzer (1922-1992) was a jute weaver, a munitions worker, an assembly line worker and, most unusually, a welder because she worked at the Robb Caledon shipyard in Dundee during the Second World War. Bella was an outspoken supporter of women’s equality throughout her life. 6. The Washie In the 1900s, the public steam laundry (or ‘washie’) was where women did their family’s washing. It was also a hub for local gossip, and no one wanted to be the ‘talk of the washie’. 7. Mrs De Gernier When Belgian couple Edward De Gernier and his wife Julia settled in Dundee in the 1870s, Edward spotted a gap in the market for a Belgian-style chip stall. A ‘Dundee buster’ (chips with peas and vinegar), served up by Mrs De Gernier, quickly became a popular treat. 8. Dundee’s Suffragette Movement In the early 1900s, Dundee had an active suffragette movement who made it their mission to gain the vote for women. Teacher and Labour Party councillor Lila Clunas (1876-1968) was the first Dundee suffragette to be imprisoned in London, after taking a swipe at the Prime Minister, H. H. Asquith. Fellow suffragette, Agnes Husband (1852-1929) was a local councillor who also worked hard to improve education and to support people in poverty. Finally, Margaret Irwin (1858-1940) campaigned hard for women’s rights in the workplace. She established the Scottish Council for Women’s Trades, and she was a driving force behind the creation of the Scottish Trades Union Congress. Thank you to illustrator Lucy Mennim who allowed us to use her ‘Timex Worker’ image on this panel. Up Up This panel was stitched by Hilltown Craft Group Susan Falconer Sheila G Gorrie Judith Robertson Susan Scott
- Comics and characters | The Dundee Tapestry
DC Thomson has published millions of newspapers and magazines since 1905, and the family-owned company has also diversified into digital technology, retail and TV. The company’s comic cartoons took off in 1936 with the publication of The Broons and Oor Wullie which both appeared in ‘The Sunday Post’. Today, comics like ‘Beano’ (launched in 1938) and ‘The Dandy’ (1937) still have global appeal. This panel celebrates Dundee’s most memorable comic characters. CREATIVE DUNDEE Up Up Comics and characters Dundee’s best-loved comic characters DC Thomson has published millions of newspapers and magazines since 1905, and the family-owned company has also diversified into digital technology, retail and TV. The company’s comic cartoons took off in 1936 with the publication of The Broons and Oor Wullie which both appeared in ‘The Sunday Post’. Today, comics like ‘Beano’ (launched in 1938) and ‘The Dandy’ (1937) still have global appeal. This panel celebrates Dundee’s most memorable comic characters and, below, we discover when they first appeared and who first drew them. 1. Meadowside This iconic building on Albert Square has been DC Thomson’s head office since 1906. Clad in red sandstone from Dumfries in south-west Scotland, the shape and style of the building was greatly influenced by the architecture of American newspaper offices in Chicago and New York. The flag that flies on the top of the building commemorates the first ship that DC Thomson owned. 2. Oor Wullie ‘The Sunday Post’, 1936. First drawn by Dudley D. Watkins. 3. Plug (from The Bash Street Kids) ‘Beano’, 1954. First drawn by Leo Baxendale. 4. Toots (from The Bash Street Kids) ‘Beano’, 1954. First drawn by Leo Baxendale. 5. Biffo the Bear ‘Beano’, 1948. First drawn by Dudley D. Watkins. 6. Minnie the Minx ‘Beano’, 1953. First drawn by Leo Baxendale. 7. Betty and The Yeti ‘Beano’, 1993. First drawn by Robert Nixon. 8. Brassneck ‘The Dandy’, 1964. First drawn by Bill Holroyd. 9. Grandpaw Broon from The Broons ‘The Sunday Post’, 1936. First drawn by Dudley D. Watkins. The other members of The Broons family are Paw Broon, Maw Broon, Hen Broon, Daphne Broon, Joe Broon, Maggie Broon, Horace Broon, The Twins and The Bairn. 10. Roger the Dodger ‘Beano’, 1953. First drawn by Ken Reid. 11. Beryl the Peril ‘The Topper’, 1953. First drawn by David ‘Davy’ Law. 12. Big Eggo ‘Beano’, 1938. Drawn by Reg Carter. 13. Lord Snooty ‘Beano’, 1938. Drawn by Dudley D. Watkins. 14. Bananaman ‘Nutty’, 1980. First drawn by John Geering. 15. Desperate Dan ‘The Dandy’, 1937. First drawn by Dudley D. Watkins. 16. The Four Marys ‘Bunty’, 1958. First drawn by Bill Holroyd. 17. Harsha (from The Bash Street Kids) ‘Beano’, 2021. 18. Dennis the Menace & Gnasher ‘Beano’, 1951 (Dennis) and 1968 (Gnasher). Both first drawn by David ‘Davy’ Law. 19. Korky the Cat ‘The Dandy’, 1937. First drawn by James Crighton. 20. Danny (from The Bash Street Kids) ‘Beano’, 1954. First drawn by Leo Baxendale. 21. Calamity James ‘Beano’, 1986. First drawn by Tom Patterson. 22. Billy Whizz ‘Beano’, 1964. First drawn by Malcolm Judge. 23. Rubi von Screwtop ‘Beano’, 2017. 24. Colin the Vet ‘Beano’, 2004. First drawn by Duncan Scott. Up Up This panel was stitched by Sarah Houstoun Michelle Peet
- Dundee Culture | The Dundee Tapestry
In Dundee, a collective sense of humour means daily life is never dull. This panel spotlights evolving aspects of Dundee’s culture, alongside a selection of words and phrases in Dundee dialect, inspired by the works of local author and journalist Norman Watson. To help you enjoy this panel in full, we’ve ‘translated’ the words and phrases stitched on it. Up Up Dundee Culture Dundee’s love for humour, music and dancing In Dundee, a collective sense of humour means daily life is never dull. This panel spotlights evolving aspects of Dundee’s culture, alongside a selection of words and phrases in Dundee dialect, inspired by the works of local author and journalist Norman Watson. To help you enjoy this panel in full, we’ve ‘translated’ the words and phrases stitched on it. Baffies – Slippers Bidie in – Live-in partner Brah day, is it? – It’s a lovely day Breeks – Trousers Bunker – Coal store (indoors or outdoors) Circul – Traffic roundabout Cloot – Cloth Closie – Shared access in a tenement block (including the stairs) Cundie – Drain Denner – Dinner Eh’m a Dee till eh deh – I’m a Dundee football fan until I die Eh’m fair puggled – I’m exhausted Eh’ve got the boak – I’m feeling sick Ehe’i’a halfloaf plen – I’ll have a plain half loaf Fleg – A fright Gaun yersel! – Go for it! Geez a keek – Let me have a look Geez a plehn ane, an’ an ingin’ ane an’ a? – Can I have a plain pie (or bridie) and an onion one as well Geez a skiffy – Give me a clue Glaikit – Foolish, silly or thoughtless Haivir – To talk rubbish Heez affy oary – He’s very common or rough He’s a ke-ul biler – He’s a kettle boiler (a stay-at-home husband) It’s barkit – It’s filthy Jings, crivens, help ma Boab! – Oh my goodness! Lobbie (or Lobby) – The hallway or passageway inside a flat or house Midden – A pile of rubbish Oxter – Under-arm Pleh’y – A ‘plettie’ is a long external landing (attached to the stairs) that ran behind tenement buildings, connecting up to four or five flats on each floor. Saffy cahld – It’s awful cold Stervin – Starving Sweemin – Swimming The Tully – ‘Evening Telegraph’ (a local Dundee paper) Twa jeelie pieces, pleeze – Two jam sandwiches, please Twuz name – What’s its name? Weemin – Women Whit a fairdee gowk – What a scaredy cat Yir on – Agreed ’Znarab – He’s an Arab (how Dundee FC fans describe a Dundee United fan) Up Up This panel was stitched by Maggie Ballantyne Frances Lavery Jeanette Smeaton Christine Willatts Mary Wilson
- Health | The Dundee Tapestry
Dundee is home to Ninewells Hospital & Medical School so the city plays an invaluable role as a teaching centre for student doctors and health practitioners. This panel explores some of the medical ‘firsts’ which have historically been achieved within the city. It also celebrates the health professionals who have transformed outcomes for people across the world. DUNDEE INDUSTRY Up Up Health Dundee’s contribution to healthcare Dundee is home to Ninewells Hospital & Medical School so the city plays an invaluable role as a teaching centre for student doctors and health practitioners. This panel explores some of the medical ‘firsts’ which have historically been achieved within the city. It also celebrates the health professionals who have transformed outcomes for people across the world. 1. NHS employees From the first-year student nurse in her pink uniform and the sternly efficient Sisters and Matron in navy of the 1950s, to the 2020s where tunics and trousers of varying colour combinations denote many different roles and functions, NHS staff are the beating heart of Dundee’s healthcare system. 2. Renal dialysis Ninewells Hospital is one of 10 renal units across Scotland, and the hospital is also a specialist training centre in renal medicine. 3. Scarf badge This small scarf badge was once worn by some of Dundee Royal Infirmary’s nurses. The colours reflect nursing grades, while the motto reads ‘For sick and injured’. 4. Dundee Blood Transfusion Service Ninewells Hospital is home to the Dundee Blood Donor Centre, where donors can give blood all year round to help save lives. 5. DNA helix MRC PPU has been providing DNA sequencing and molecular biology services from its Dundee HQ since 1998. 6. Keyhole surgery The familar ‘butterflies in the tummy’ feeling inspired this motif for laparoscopy (also known as keyhole surgery). The technique was pioneered by Professor Sir Alfred Cuschieri who came to Dundee in 1976. The first example of minimally invasive surgery was carried out by him at Ninewells Hospital in 1987, and is still widely used. 7. Surgical knots The modern nurse’s shoes, at the bottom of the panel, feature real surgical knots, stitched by two practising surgeons at Ninewells Hospital. 8. Midwifery badge This badge was stitched by a retired nurse who copied the badge she was given when graduating from Dundee College of Nursing & Midwifery. The almond tree represents spring and new birth, while the blue and white lines represent the River Tay and the Nine Wells from which the hospital takes its name. The red lines on the right reflect the various disciplines within a hospital. 9. Prosthetic limbs Professor George Murdoch (1920-2004) specialised in the study of prosthetics and orthotics. In 1965, he founded the Dundee Limb Fitting Centre in Broughty Ferry which was officially opened by WW2 amputee Douglas Bader. In 1979, it was renamed the Tayside Rehabilitation Engineering Service and the unit later moved to Ninewells Campus in 1999. Currently, the centre is known as TORT (Tayside Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Technology Services). 10. Radiation therapy After visiting the Marie Curie Foundation in Paris in 1926, Professor Margaret Fairlie of Dundee Royal Infirmary pioneered the clinical use of radium in Scotland. You can discover more about Professor Fairlie on the SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH panel. 11. Eye health The Eye Clinic at Ninewells Hospital is a busy place. Pioneering methods of patient management have helped to reduce NHS waiting lists for cataract surgery, and many patients are treated here for common eye conditions, including Macular Degeneration and Glaucoma. 12. Breast cancer screening Kirsty Semple founded Tayside Breast Care and Mastectomy Group at Ninewells Hospital in 1978, and worked as a counsellor there. 13. Lung care Much work has been done in Dundee to progress treatment and outcomes for people with respiratory diseases. Professor James Chalmers, Asthma and Lung UK Chair of Respiratory Research, and Clinical Professor at the University of Dundee’s School of Medicine, was recognised for his work with the treatment of Covid 19 patients during the pandemic, while Dr Anil Mehta’s team at Ninewells created the European Cystic Fibrosis Register. It began in Scotland in 2003 and was extended across the UK in 2007. Up Up This panel was stitched by Isobel Brown Friedel Devlin Margaret Hume Marjorie Morrison Margaret Ross
- Twin Cities | The Dundee Tapestry
Dundee has four twin cites, and a fifth partner city, and we celebrate each of them here. This panel celebrates highlights and places of interest from Dundee’s twin cities, along with other towns and cities called Dundee across the world – including the most southern Dundee in New South Wales, Australia. INTERNATIONAL DUNDEE Up Up Twin Cities Promoting kinship across the globe Dundee has four twin cites, and a fifth partner city, and we celebrate each of them here. This panel celebrates highlights and places of interest from Dundee’s twin cities, along with other towns and cities called Dundee across the world – including the most southern Dundee in New South Wales, Australia. 1. Twin Cities and a World of Dundees Dundee has four twin cities. Orleans in France twinned with Dundee in 1946, followed by Nablus in Palestine in 1980. In 1993, two more cities came on board: Alexandria in the US, and Würzburg in Germany. Dundee is also partnered with Zadar, Croatia’s fifth largest city. 2. Glass from Zadar Zadar’s Museum of Ancient Glass is a unique collection of over 5,000 ancient glass objects, and 1,500 complete glass works. 3. St Kilian Cathedral, Würzburg At 105m high, St Kilian Cathedral is Germany’s third largest cathedral. It can be found in the centre of this twin city, facing the old bridge of the Main River. 4. Old Crane, Würzburg The Old Crane in Würzburg stands as a monument to shipping in the city. It is located in the docks, next to the Custom House, and was used until 1846 to unload cargo from ships. 5. Fire engine In 2011, a fire engine from Dundee was driven to Nablus by Dundee firemen, who fundraised to present it as a gift to the city. 6. Olive trees Olive trees that grow in Palestine can be up to 5,000 years old. 7. George Washington Masonic National Monument, Alexandria This monument was built as a memorial to the USA’s ‘founding father’. 8. Trolley bus Alexandria has a free Trolley Bus service, used by visitors and residents alike. 9. Cathedral of Sainte-Croixe This Gothic cathedral dominates the centre of Orleans, and was built in various stages between 1601 and 1829. It was completed exactly 400 years after Joan of Arc ended the siege of Orleans by the English. 10. Joan of Arc Joan of Arc is believed to be a peasant girl who saved the kingdom of France from domination by the English. As a result, she became a national hero and a patron saint of the Catholic Church. Her statue is located in the main square at Orleans. 11. Vanilla pods Vanilla beans is a common harvest in Jamaica – another island with a place called Dundee. 12. Cotton farming Historically, cotton was a major product grown in Nablus for export. 13. Crocodiles In Jamaica, crocodiles are an endangered species. At the Animal Farm & Nature Reserve, near Montego Bay, a resident crocodile has been named ‘Dundee’. 14. Dundee Island Located in Antarctica, Dundee Island was named in 1893 by Captain Thomas Robertson during the Dundee Antarctic Whaling Expedition. Today, this ice-covered island is home to a large population of seabirds. 15. UFOs Dundee in Wisconsin, USA, is a popular place to spot UFOs. 16. Goat weathervane Located in Dundee, Kentucky, this is believed to have originally been created in Dundee, Scotland. 17. Grapes 18. Tayberries 19. Olives 20. Oranges Up Up This panel was stitched by Catherine Boland Irene Stephen Jessie Tarbet
- Dundee Nature | The Dundee Tapestry
In the past, Dundee’s beautiful parks and outdoor spaces – including Baxter Park, Caird Park, Dawson Park and Lochee Park – were largely made possible by historical bequests from wealthy individuals with close links to the city. More recently, new developments such as the Green Circular Cycle Path, Riverside Nature Park, Slessor Gardens and the Urban Beach, plus a thriving collection of allotments and community gardens, continue to prioritise access to nature. Up Up Dundee Nature A celebration of Dundee’s favourite parks and green spaces In the past, Dundee’s beautiful parks and outdoor spaces – including Baxter Park, Caird Park, Dawson Park and Lochee Park – were largely made possible by historical bequests from wealthy individuals with close links to the city. More recently, new developments such as the Green Circular Cycle Path, Riverside Nature Park, Slessor Gardens and the Urban Beach, plus a thriving collection of allotments and community gardens, continue to prioritise access to nature. The city currently holds seven Green Flag awards. 1. Beautiful Scotland – Gold Medal 2023 Bonnie Dundee is a Beautiful Scotland group, supported by Dundee City Council, that helps to brighten up Dundee’s environment. This group of committed volunteers has been awarded several Gold medals in the Beautiful Scotland Awards. 2. The Camperdown elm In the mid-19th century, the Earl of Camperdown’s head forester replanted a young, contorted elm on the Camperdown estate which is still growing there today. However, by later grafting a cutting from this contorted tree to the trunk of a wych elm (Ulmus glabra), the earl’s gardener is thought to have cultivated the first weeping elm, called Ulmus glabra ‘Camperdownii’. This mushroom-shaped tree is still widely grown and propagated across the world. 3. Cherry trees Every spring, local people and Japanese visitors flock to see the spectacular pink cherry blossom at Dawson Park in Broughty Ferry. 4. Swannie Ponds Locally, Stobsmuir Ponds are known as ’Swannie Ponds’, thanks to the swans who live there. 5. Barnhill Rock Garden This beautiful park is located close to Broughty Ferry beach, on what was once the ancient shore-line. 6. The ‘lemon’ tree The original ‘lemon’ tree was created by Tay Bridge toll workers who, each spring, hung plastic Jif lemons on a nearby tree. This practical joke persisted until 1993 when the tree, to the west of the old toll booths, was felled in response to safety concerns. In 2016, a successful comeback campaign coincided with the road bridge’s 50th anniversary, when the ‘lemon’ tree was re-created on a different tree. 7. Madonna lilies The City of Dundee’s coat of arms includes a pot of Madonna lilies (Lilium candidum) to represent St Mary, the city’s first patron saint. 8. The River Tay The River Tay is the longest river in Scotland, at approximately 117 miles (190km). It begins as a tiny spring in the Highlands, and by the time it reaches Dundee, it’s almost 2 miles wide. Dolphins and seals can often be spotted in the Firth of Tay, where the river meets the North Sea. 9. University of Dundee Botanic Garden An important centre for horticultural research and education, attracting more than 80,000 visitors a year. 10. The Miley This urban nature reserve follows part of the old railway route between Dundee and Newtyle, one of the first passenger-carrying railways in Scotland. The Miley runs from Lochee to Clepington Road, skirting the playing fields of St John’s High School. The route is a haven for songbirds from March to October, and wildflowers and butterflies in summer, including the small tortoiseshell and the red admiral. 11. Riverside Nature Park Highland cattle are an unexpected sight in a coastal city like Dundee. But for decades, these mighty beasts grazed in fields adjacent to Riverside Nature Park – a beautiful space created from Dundee’s old landfill site. While the cattle have now gone, many species of native birds and insects can be seen or heard while walking and cycling through the park. 12. Bats at sunset Favourite sites for bats in Dundee include the city’s parks and graveyards. 13. Templeton Woods Located just outside the city, Templeton Woods currently holds a Green Flag award and supports roe deer, buzzards and red squirrels. 14. The Law The Dundee Law sits at the heart of the city and, at 175m (572 feet) high, it’s a prominent feature on the local skyline. Formed by volcanic activity around 400 million years ago, the Law was used as an Iron Age hill fort and prehistoric graves dating to about 1500 BC have been uncovered on its slopes. Today, you can see for up to 45 miles in all directions on a clear day. Up Up This panel was stitched by Margaret Clarke Wendy Herron June Jelly Joyce Porteous Anne Soave
- International Dundee | The Dundee Tapestry
Busy ports create cities with strong international connections. This panel looks at how Dundee has made its mark across the globe, the vessels that have docked here, the trade routes sailed, and how a history in shipping has influenced local industries and street names. The panel also shows the words ‘My Home’ translated into several different languages. Up Up International Dundee Establishing global links by sea and air Busy ports create cities with strong international connections. This panel looks at how Dundee has made its mark across the globe, the vessels that have docked here, the trade routes sailed, and how a history in shipping has influenced local industries and street names. The panel also shows the words ‘My Home’ translated into several different languages. 1. International Dundee Dundee has been a trading port since medieval times, importing and exporting a diverse list of goods – from salt, iron and timber, to sugar, fish, wine and textiles. 2. Shipping Dundee was once a centre for shipbuilding. The trade began with small wooden fishing vessels and, in the 19th century, the city became synonymous with iron-built ships – including sturdy whaling vessels that could cope with ice-floes. 3. Navigational compass In the 19th century, the introduction of iron and steel in the hull and engines of ships affected the accuracy of the traditional magnetic compass. 4. Trade routes Initially, the Baltic states, Scandinavia and Europe were important connections, but in the 19th century Dundee’s transatlantic trade really took off. The port became an indispensible contributor to the city’s economy, and profitable trade routes were established to India, USA and Jamaica. 5. Space software Bright Ascension, a global space software engineering company, is based in Dundee. 6. Rotary in Dundee As well as local fellowship and charitable work at home, Rotary in Dundee contributes to and supports international initiatives. 7. Cruise shipping industry Various cruise lines, including Ambassador and Azamara, now visit the Port of Dundee. 8. Bessie Maxwell Bessie was born in Dundee to a family of journalists. Her great-grandfather was the first editor of The Peoples’ Friend , her father had been an editor, and her sister Annie worked at D.C. Thomson for 40 years. So it was no surprise when Bessie joined the company, too. Her big break came when, aged 23, she was sent on a year-long trip with fellow journalist Marie Imandt to report on women’s lives all over the world. 9. Marie Imandt Marie had been working at D.C. Thomson for seven years when she and Bessie Maxwell began globe-trotting. The two women wrote two weekly reports, complete with sketches, for Dundee Courier and Weekly News which were often picked up by the London press. The duo explored Europe, before travelling much further afield. Their destinations included factories, women’s prisons and temples, before returning to Dundee in February 1895. 10. Mercury seaplane In 1938, a small seaplane called Mercury was involved in a world-record attempt, flying 6,370 miles from Dundee to Cape Town. Bad weather scuppered Mercury’s distance record, but it did achieve the record for the longest non-stop seaplane flight. 11. North Carr Lightship Weighing almost 270 tons, the North Carr lightship was once located off Fife Ness, where its bright light and loud foghorn protected sailing ships from dangerous rocks. The lightship was decommissioned in 1975. 12. Minecraft ‘Creeper’ One of Dundee’s gaming success stories was the ‘porting’ of Minecraft (originally a PC game) to consoles and handheld platforms by local games developer, 4J Studios. For millions of players worldwide, these hostile characters called ‘Creepers’ are a familiar sight. 13. Circuit board Up Up This panel was stitched by Lesley Arthur Alison French Norma Scothern Jenny Stewart
- UNESCO City of Design | The Dundee Tapestry
In 2014, Dundee became the UK’s first UNESCO City of Design and in 2018, the city welcomed V&A Dundee, Scotland’s design museum. This panel showcases some of the important creative milestones which have contributed to Dundee’s continuing design renaissance. CREATIVE DUNDEE Up Up UNESCO City of Design Designing a new future for the city In 2014, Dundee became the UK’s first UNESCO City of Design and in 2018, the city welcomed V&A Dundee, Scotland’s design museum. This panel showcases some of the important creative milestones which have contributed to Dundee’s continuing design renaissance. 1. V&A Dundee Designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma & Associates, the V&A Dundee building was inspired by the rugged cliffs of the Scottish coastline and it opened on 15 September 2018. It is Kengo Kuma’s first building in the UK, and the design and location are intended to reconnect contemporary Dundee with its historic River Tay waterfront. 2. UNESCO designation When Dundee was chosen as the UK’s first City of Design in 2014, it was recognised by UNESCO for its diverse and consistent design contributions in a variety of fields – from biomedical research to video games and comics. 3. Maggie’s Centre Designed by renowned LA architect Frank Gehry, this unusual building opened in 2003 within the grounds of Ninewells Hospital. Its garden was created by leading landscape designer Arabella Lenox-Boyd, with a sculpture by Anthony Gormley called ‘Another Time X’. Frank Gehry’s original sketch (right) and finished building (left) are both stitched here. 4. Postage stamp progress James Chalmers (1782–1853) was a stationer and bookseller in Dundee when he proposed the idea of an adhesive postage stamp in 1838. 5. NCR and the ATM Although Britain’s first automated teller machine (ATM) was unveiled in London in 1967, the idea really took off in the 1970s when NCR rolled out its Model 770. Millions of cash dispensing machines were made in NCR’s Dundee factory and shipped around the world until the factory closed in 2009. 6. Castlehill Lampposts Located in Castle Street, the lampposts were designed by David Findlay Wilson, a graduate of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, and installed in 2004. The title reflects the old name for this part of Dundee. 7. Waterfront Place Waterfront Place is a prime spot within Dundee’s new 30-year Waterfront Masterplan. It re-establishes the important connection between people and the River Tay, and has been designed to be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. Highlights include the Urban Beach, an active travel hub and cycle hire to promote low carbon transport, and an interactive play area. Development of Waterfront Place created new jobs and an apprenticeship, and surplus materials were donated to community-based enterprises. 8. The McManus The McManus, Dundee’s award-winning gallery and museum, has a bronze statue of ‘Oor Wullie’ (from the ‘Sunday Post’) outside. The Gallery also previously hosted the ‘McMenace Design Festival’, to pay tribute to the comics industry’s influence on the city. 9. V&A Dundee Tartan The V&A Dundee Tartan was created by royal kiltmakers, Kinloch Anderson, to celebrate the museum’s 2023 exhibition, ‘Tartan’. The design was inspired by Kengo Kuma’s initial concept pencil sketches, with a dash of shocking pink to reference Italian designer Elsa Schiaparelli’s regular visits to Scotland in the late 1940s. 10. ‘Tay Whale’ This public sculpture was designed by Lee Simmons and installed on the Waterfront in 2021, close to the V&A Dundee and the Urban Beach. 11. James Bowman Lindsay Although most people associate Thomas Edison with the invention of the lightbulb in 1879, local inventor James Bowman Lindsay (1799-1862) had already explored the concept in 1835. Working as Science and Mathematics Lecturer at the Watt Institution in Dundee, James created a prototype electric lightbulb with copper filament – very similar to the ones we use today. Design around the world The names of other UNESCO Cities of Design have also been stitched around the edges of this panel. Up Up This panel was stitched by Val Beveridge Kay Deas Margaret Geyer Catherine Lawson Natalie McCluskey Kaye MacGregor Tricia Paton Ann Penhale Alice Simpson Sue Tindell
- Comments | The Dundee Tapestry
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- Botanic Gardens | EDEN project | The Dundee Tapestry
The University of Dundee Botanic Garden is an important centre for research and education, and many rare species of flora and fauna are safeguarded here. This panel showcases highlights from the Garden, and it also acknowledges the potential impact of the Eden Project in Dundee, and its initial focus on rewilding with wildflower meadows. DUNDEE NATURE Up Up Botanic Gardens and the Eden Project Tackling environmental challenges through botanical research The University of Dundee Botanic Garden is an important centre for research and education, and many rare species of flora and fauna are safeguarded here. This panel showcases highlights from the Garden, and it also acknowledges the potential impact of the Eden Project in Dundee, and its initial focus on rewilding with wildflower meadows. 1. Seasonal highlights The Botanic Garden’s display of plants and trees changes with every season. 2. The living laboratory Climate change, population growth and the unsustainable use of natural resources all present serious challenges to global biodiversity. With important plant collections from across the world, Dundee’s Botanic Garden undertakes research and education to help mitigate these challenges. 3. Soil secrets What happens below ground, as plants grow, is an important aspect of botanical research. 4. Garden of Evolution The Garden of Evolution is a recent addition to the Botanic Garden and is surrounded by decorative drystone dykes (walls). The garden represents the evolution of plants from primitive lichens and mosses to colourful flowering plants which now provide food for birds and insects. 5. ‘The Bridge’ sculpture Created by Canadian artist Ron Martin, this sculpture was originally installed in Hunter Street in the 1980s, where the University of Dundee’s Dalhousie Building is now located. This sculpture represents the bridge from a cello or a double bass. 6. Pond life Several ponds here create freshwater eco-systems that reflect different environments across Scotland. 7. Wildflower meadows In 2022, community groups and schools helped to sow wildflower meadows across the city, in partnership with Eden Project Dundee. 8. Plants, people and places The Botanic Garden is a busy place, with an education centre, an art gallery, a café, and greenhouses. In 2011, the University of Dundee’s Architecture, Physics and Engineering departments also introduced a zero-energy, self-sufficient studio – the first entirely renewable‐powered ‘off‐grid’ building to be constructed in the UK. The Botanic Garden even has its own elephant: a wooden sculpture called Nellie, created by Graham Hogg. 9. The Good Grief Memorial Garden This garden opened in 2023 to honour victims of the Covid 19 pandemic – the first memorial garden of its kind in Scotland. The idea for the garden came from Lorena Weepers during her final year at Dundee University, and the design was developed with local landscape architect Keith Lando Vernon, and Scottish glass artist, Cass Peters who created the season-themed fused glass obelisks. Up Up This panel was stitched by Jean Davidson Christine Don Ervin Mackie Lynne Potts



