Search Results
41 results found with an empty search
- 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
- 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
- Sporting Dundee | The Dundee Tapestry
When Dundonians are not working, dancing or listening to music, their focus shifts to sport. The city’s two football teams – Dundee in blue and white, and Dundee United in tangerine and black – have both tasted domestic success, and their home-grounds are a stone’s throw from each other. This panel highlights popular local sports, like boxing, golf and ice hockey, and some of the talented people who have excelled in them. DUNDEE CULTURE Up Up Sporting Dundee Aiming high in the world of sport When Dundonians are not working, dancing or listening to music, their focus shifts to sport. The city’s two football teams – Dundee in blue and white, and Dundee United in tangerine and black – have both tasted domestic success, and their home-grounds are a stone’s throw from each other. This panel highlights popular local sports, like boxing, golf and ice hockey, and some of the talented people who have excelled in them. 1. Marshall Key Born in Dundee in 1932, Marshall Key made his debut for the senior Dundee Tigers, aged just 16, during the 1948-49 season. He later played in Paisley, Harringay and Edinburgh, and as player-coach for Swiss team Crans-sur-Sierre – it was in Switzerland that he would find himself giving skating lessons to actor Charlie Chaplin’s son, Michael. 2. Bowling In September 1892, 122 clubs formed the Scottish Bowling Association. Dundee still has many outdoor bowling clubs, some of which date back to the mid-1800s. 3. David Leslie Born in Dundee in 1952, David Leslie is a former international rugby union player who represented Scotland 32 times between 1975 and 1985. He also trained as an architect, graduating with first-class honours from DJCAD. 4. Willie Smith Champion golfer Willie Smith (1876-1916) was born in Dundee and initially played at Carnoustie. He and his brothers emigrated to the US, where he turned pro in 1894 and won the US Open five years later, winning by a margin of eleven shots. This record remained in place until 2000 when it was broken by Tiger Woods. 5. Shirley Robertson OBE Born in Dundee in 1968, champion sailor Shirley first sailed as a child, in a homemade dinghy. She went on to make history as the first British woman to win Olympic Gold medals at two consecutive Olympic Games, in 2000 (Sydney) and 2004 (Athens). 6. Jenny Wood Allen Jenny Wood Allen (1911-2010) became the world’s oldest female marathon runner in 2002, when she ran the London marathon aged 90. She had previously been the unofficial Scottish women’s cycling champion, ran her first marathon aged 73, and completed over 50 marathons in her lifetime. 7. Neil Paterson The multi-talented Neil Paterson (1915-1995) captained Dundee United FC in the 1936-37 season, as an amateur player, and went on to win the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, for ‘Room at the Top’ in 1959. 8. Dick McTaggart MBE One of five boxing brothers from Dundee, Dick McTaggart competed for the Lightweight title in the 1956 and 1960 Olympics, winning Gold and Bronze medals respectively. More recent success in the same sport was achieved by Dundee’s Sam Hickey who won Gold in the Middleweight event at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. 9. Tennis Dundee has three LTA-affiliated tennis clubs – Broughty Ferry TC, Forthill Community TC and West End LTC – and eight park-based courts. 10. Natasha McKay Born in Dundee in 1995, Natasha is a six-time British Figure Skating Champion, and she also competed with Team GB at the Beijing Olympics in 2022. Natasha announced her retirement from competitive skating in May 2023, to focus on coaching in her home city. 11. Snooker Dundee’s longest-established snooker hall is Tivoli Snooker Club on Bonnybank Road. It is often used as a venue for Scottish Snooker’s national tournaments. 12. Dundee FC & Dundee United FC Located just 200 yards (183 metres) from each other, Dens Park (Dundee FC) and Tannadice (Dundee Utd FC) are the two closest senior football clubs in the UK. Both clubs have tasted domestic success, and many heroes have emerged – these include former player and longest-serving manager Jim McLean, goalkeeper Hamish McAlpine and Maurice Malpas for Dundee United; and, for Dundee FC, players Billy Steel and Bobby Cox, and manager Bob Shankly who led the club to its one and only League Championship win in 1962. Up Up This panel was stitched by Lesley Arthur Alison French Sheila G Gorrie Amanda Hastings Eleanor Mitchell Mariachiara Tiboni Anna Rooney Kirsten Mae Wallace
- Cinemas and Dancehalls | The Dundee Tapestry
The city’s first-ever ’moving picture show’ was unveiled by cinema pioneer Peter Feathers in Castle Street in 1896 and, at one point, Dundee had 75 cinemas. The city was big on bars and nightclubs, too. Bob and Betty Barty ran the Star Ballroom in Lochee for many years, and taught disco and ballroom to generations of dance-loving Dundonians. Meanwhile, Northern Soul fans would take to the floor at Marryat Hall and The Nine Maidens, or catch the bus to the legendary Wigan Casino. DUNDEE CULTURE Up Up Cinemas and Dancehalls Places to dance and dream Favourite entertainment venues are honoured on this panel. The city’s first-ever ’moving picture show’ was unveiled by cinema pioneer Peter Feathers in Castle Street in 1896 and, at one point, Dundee had 75 cinemas. The city was big on bars and nightclubs, too. Bob and Betty Barty ran the Star Ballroom in Lochee for many years, and taught disco and ballroom to generations of dance-loving Dundonians. Meanwhile, Northern Soul fans would take to the floor at Marryat Hall and The Nine Maidens, or catch the bus from Lindsay Street to the legendary Wigan Casino. Here, we celebrate current and long-gone venues that are still loved and remembered by the people of Dundee. Up Up This panel was stitched by Meg Bartram Susan Falconer Louise Laing Valeen Lyons Ann Ross Susan Scott Sheena Sigsworth
- Dundee Industry | The Dundee Tapestry
In the 19th century, the development of linen mills, whaling and ship-building, followed by jute, jam and journalism – the famous ‘three Js’ – enabled Dundee and its busy port to flourish. By hosting oil rigs, wind turbines and cruise ships today, the River Tay and the port of Dundee are still key to the city’s economy, but console games technology and life sciences have taken over from more traditional manufacturing sectors. This panel honours Dundee’s diverse array of key industries. Up Up Dundee Industry Remembering Dundee’s industries, past and present In the 19th century, the development of linen mills, whaling and ship-building, followed by jute, jam and journalism – the famous ‘three Js’ – enabled Dundee and its busy port to flourish. By hosting oil rigs, wind turbines and cruise ships today, the River Tay and the port of Dundee are still key to the city’s economy, but console games technology and life sciences have taken over from more traditional manufacturing sectors. This panel honours Dundee’s diverse array of key industries, past and present. 1. Production of Levi’s jeans Dundee’s Levi’s jeans factory opened on Dunsinane Industrial Estate, off the Kingsway, in 1972 and closed in 2002. 2. Weaving loom By the mid 1800s, Dundee’s mills were weaving Baltic flax into a coarse cloth called Osnaburg Linen. The finished fabric was used for sailcloth and wagon covers, and some of it was also made into clothing for enslaved people. As the cost of flax increased, many of the city’s mills switched from weaving linen to jute, as Dundee’s jute industry took off. 3. Gaming Abertay University was the first in the world to introduce computer games degrees, and over 40 gaming companies have now set up in the city. Popular video games created here include Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto, both created by DMA Design (now known as Rockstar North). 4. Oil rigs The port of Dundee has become an important hub for oil rig decommissioning, refits and repairs. 5. Ship-building Many small shipyards once operated on the banks of the River Tay. The three largest were Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd (otherwise known as W B Thompson & Co Ltd), Gourlay Brothers & Co (Dundee) Ltd, and Alexander Stephen & Sons Ltd. 6. Furniture-making Dovetail Enterprises (1993) Ltd is an amalgamation of two long-established Dundee charities: Royal Dundee Blindcraft Products (Blindcraft) and Lord Roberts Workshop (LRW). Dovetail continues to offer employment and training for those disadvantaged in the workplace due to disability, and the company now creates high quality beds, furniture, doors and door-sets. 7. NCR Makers of cash registers and ATMs, NCR had a large factory near Camperdown Park, from 1947 to 2009. 8. Whisky bonds Dundee had several ‘whisky bonds’ (a type of secure warehouse) with the most famous being Robertson’s Bond on Seagate. 9. Keiller’s Marmalade In the 1760s, Mrs Janet Keiller turned locally-grown, seasonal soft fruits and sugar-beet into jam. She also modified a quince recipe to create ‘chip’ (shredded peel) marmalade, using imported oranges. Janet’s son took over the business in 1775 and, by 1869, James Keiller and Sons was the largest confectionary business in Britain. 10. Whaling The use of whale oil and water to soften jute fibres for processing meant the whaling industry lasted longer in Dundee than in most other British ports. Whalebone was also an important commodity, and was used in the same way we might use plastic today. 11. Wind turbines Wind turbines for the forthcoming Inch Cape wind farm – one of Scotland’s largest offshore renewable energy projects – are currently being assembled at the port of Dundee. 12. Journalism David Couper Thomson took over his family’s publishing business in 1884, and the company officially became known as DC Thomson from 1905. ‘The Courier’ and ‘Evening Telegraph’ are still widely read, along with titles like ‘The Scots Magazine’ and ‘The Sunday Post’ and children’s comics, ‘Beano’ and ‘The Dandy’. 13. Michelin The Michelin factory in Dundee created millions of car tyres from 1971 to 2020, and in 2006 it was the first UK factory to install wind turbines. The site has since become Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc, hosting entrepreneurs and manufacturers who are focusing on diversity and climate change. 14. Valentines of Dundee Valentine and Sons Ltd was founded in 1851 by James Valentine, a Royal-appointed photographer, and by the early 1900s, the company was synonymous with colourful picture postcards, greetings cards and Christmas cards. Hallmark took over the business in 1970, and the factory closed in 1994. 15. Timex The Timex watch factories in Milton and Camperdown were built after World War II and by the mid-Sixties, Timex was Dundee’s single largest employer – particularly among women. The Camperdown factory closed in August 1993, ending 47 years of production. 16. Keiller’s Dundee Cake As well as making marmalade, Janet Keiller came up with iconic Dundee Cake – an all-butter sultana cake, believed to be adapted from a 16th century recipe . Up Up This panel was stitched by Jean Davidson Christine Don Ervin Mackie Lynne Potts
- The Four Marys | The Dundee Tapestry
The four Dundee women on this panel helped to improve people’s lives in diverse ways – from healthcare, housing and access to green space, to education and working rights. DUNDEE WOMEN Up Up The Four Marys Women who made a difference The four Dundee women on this panel helped to improve people’s lives in diverse ways – from healthcare, housing and access to green space, to education and working rights. 1. Mary Ann Baxter Philanthropist Mary Ann Baxter (1801-1884) lived and died in Ferry Road, Dundee, and she made it her mission to improve life for Dundee people in quite different ways. Her father was William Baxter, a flax and jute baron who owned Lower Dens Works, and Mary Ann benefited from the family’s fortune. She and her siblings donated Baxter Park to the city in 1863, and she also gave money to several local charities, including the Congregational Mission in Hilltown, the YMCA and the Sailors’ Hall. But perhaps her greatest achievement was the generous funding of what is now the University of Dundee. The university opened in 1883, providing ‘the education for persons of both sexes and the study of science, literature and fine arts’. 2. Mary Slessor Mary Slessor (1848-1915) was born into a poor family in Aberdeen and arrived in Dundee when she was a child. After becoming a skilled jute worker at Baxter’s and attending the old Wishart Church regularly, Mary volunteered to work at the United Presbytery Mission in Calabar, Nigeria and sailed there in 1876. By tending the sick, setting up mission hospitals, fighting for women’s rights and reforming local belief in superstition and human sacrifice, Mary made a huge difference in the communities she served. Unusually, she made the decision to work deep inside the jungle, became fluent in the Efik language and earned the respect of a local chieftain. Recurring illnesses took their toll and Mary died of a fever in 1915, aged just 67. 3. Mary Brooksbank Another mill-worker, Mary Brooksbank (1897-1978) is remembered today as a socialist songwriter and a prominent member of Dundee’s labour movement. She began working when she was just 12, and marched for a pay rise at the age of 14. At 21, Mary decided to join the Communist Party to fight for women’s rights and contribute to the demise of capitalism. Her objective was always to improve workers’ right and she raised awareness of their plight through her contributions to politics, literature and folk music. Indeed, she is celebrated in Dundee as a poet and musican, and many of her songs are still sung – including the most famous: ‘Oh Dear Me (The Jute Mill Song)’ about the life of a young female jute worker. 4. Mary Lily Walker After her mother’s death in 1883, Mary Lily Walker (1863-1913) became one of the University of Dundee’s first female students, studying Latin, Maths, Biology and Chemistry. However, she could not ignore the shocking living conditions around her and when a group of university professors founded the Dundee Social Union, Mary became an early member. Thereafter, she campaigned hard for social change in health and housing, and fought to improve the life chances of women and children in Dundee. A new Women’s Hospital, baby clinics and health visitors, school dinners, children’s convalescent holidays and clubs for all age groups were just some of her achievements. Mary’s memory lives on in the Lily Walker Centre, a 24-hour centre which supports people in Dundee who become homeless. Up Up This panel was stitched by Avis Moore Susan Fraser Yvonne Tweedie
- Whaling | The Dundee Tapestry
Dundee’s whaling industry was significant in the 18th and 19th centuries. Whale oil was used to soften jute fibres for weaving, to provide heat and light in homes and factories, and to lubricate machinery in the jute mills. Whale bones were also exported from Dundee across Europe. This panel reflects on important whaling ships at that time and where they sailed, and how the memory of Dundee’s whaling industry lives on in street names close to the city’s port – like Whale Lane. DUNDEE INDUSTRY Up Up Whaling The story of Dundee’s whaling industry Some might disapprove today, but Dundee’s whaling industry was significant in the 18th and 19th centuries. Whale oil was used to soften jute fibres for weaving, to provide heat and light in homes and factories, and to lubricate machinery in the jute mills. Whale bones were also exported from Dundee to furniture-makers and corset-makers across Europe. This panel reflects on important whaling ships at that time and where they sailed, and how the memory of Dundee’s whaling industry lives on in street names close to the city’s port – like Baffin Street, named after Baffin Bay near Greenland, and Whale Lane. 1. Whale Dundee whalers hunted for baleen whales whose toothless jaws contained strong, supple whalebone – a valuable commodity for export. The most commonly hunted whale in this group was the bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus (shown in the centre of this panel) which could be up to 60ft (18m) long, with a huge skull to break through thick Arctic ice. Despite its size, this whale was easier to catch because it swam more slowly. Blubber from the whales was then chopped up and placed in barrels to be brought home to Dundee for processing. 2. Whaling ships & boats Whaling ships were built, or adapted, to cope with icy water, but smaller open boats were used to hunt for the whales. Typically, Dundee whaling ships would head north from Dundee to Orkney or Shetland, then across the Atlantic to St John’s in Newfoundland or north to the Greenland Sea. Dundee’s first whaling ship is believed to be the ‘Bonny Dundee’: it left the port in 1753 on a voyage to the Greenland Sea, and caught four whales. By 1890, Dundee was the only UK whaling port still in existence. 3. Northern Lights Greenland is one of the best places to see this natural phenomenon, but the sight of the Northern Lights is unlikely to have made up for the extreme dangers associated with whaling life. 4. Walrus and Seal Walruses and seals were also hunted in the 18th and 19th centuries, for their tusks, skin and meat, and for blubber to make oil. 5. Whale oil An essential lubricant used in the production of jute. It was also used for lamps, soap production, varnish, explosives and paint amongst other things. 6. Ropes Long, heavy ropes were attached to harpoons and, once the whale had been impaled, it was towed back to the whaling ship. Dundee had its own ropemakers and a ready supply of jute. 7. Grapple hook This sharp, multi-purpose tool was commonly used by whalers. 8. Lyrics from ‘The Balaena’ ‘The Balaena’ is a folk song/sea shanty about one of Dundee’s steam-powered whaling vessels. The first ship to be modified was the ‘Tay’, and subsequent steam-powered whaling ships included ‘Balaena’, ‘Active’, ‘Diana’, and ‘Polar Star’. As whales grew scarce in the Arctic from over-hunting, these four ships were sent to the Antarctic in 1892, to search for whales there. The whales in this region were too large to catch, so the men on board hunted for seals and penguins instead. One unexpected result of the expedition was the discovery of an uncharted island: Thomas Robertson, the captain of the ‘Active’, named it Dundee Island. 9. Harpoons Whalers used this tool to wound the whale. Made from iron or steel, with a barbed head to ‘catch’ in the whale’s flesh, harpoons were usually mounted on a pole and attached to a long rope. 10. Ribbons Whaling ships were away from home for many months, with men hunting in treacherous waters for their livelihood. Wives of whalers would give them a ribbon with knots tied in it, to signify how many whales they would catch. Up Up This panel was stitched by Dennie Anderson-White Evelyn Baker Karen Bennett Jackie Berg John Berg Patricia Duffett-Smith Patricia Gibson Liz Law Jill Muchall Holly Turner
- Jute | The Dundee Tapestry
In the mid-19th century, Dundee’s fortunes revolved around jute. The first bales of jute fibre arrived by ship from Bengal in 1820, and by the 1890s, more than 120 jute mills were in operation, employing around 50,000 people. The majority of jute workers were women and children because they cost less, and serious accidents were common. By 1914, the industry was in decline. The last ship to bring bales of raw jute from India was the ‘Banglar Urmi’ in 1998. DUNDEE INDUSTRY Up Up Jute The story of Dundee’s jute industry In the mid-19th century, Dundee’s fortunes revolved around jute. The first bales of jute fibre arrived by ship from Bengal in 1820, and by the 1890s, more than 120 jute mills were in operation, employing around 50,000 people. The majority of jute workers were women and children because they cost less, and serious accidents were common. By 1914, the industry was in decline. The last ship to bring bales of raw jute from India was the ‘Banglar Urmi’ in 1998, and Dundee’s last jute mill, Taybank Works, closed in 1999. 1. Jute workers Working in a jute mill was exhausting, poorly paid and very dangerous – many workers lost their hearing from the noise of the machinery or developed breathing difficulties. From 1876 onwards, children under 13 combined mill-work with school and became known as ‘half-timers’ – either attending school every other day, or in the afternoons. Some mills even had their own schools. 2. Verdant Works Verdant Works is one of Dundee’s best-known mills and it was built in 1833 for flax merchant David Lindsay. In the mid-1800s, the mill switched from flax to jute, but all production ceased by the late 19th century. Verdant Works opened to the public as a museum in 1996, and is now owned by Dundee Heritage Trust. As a rare surviving example of a courtyard-type mill, it carries a Category ‘A’ listing. 3. Jute production Dundee’s jute mills used water from Scouring Burn, Dens Burn and Dighty Burn to power the steam engines, and to process the jute. 4. ‘Heckling’ the jute The ‘heckling’ process involved splitting and straightening the jute fibres, before they were spun into coarse yarn for weaving. 5. Jute bales These came from Bengal, an area now divided between India and Bangladesh. Each jute bale weighed almost 200kg, and was known as a ‘pukka bale’. 6. ‘Oh dear me, the mill’s gaein fast’ A lyric from a song called ‘ Oh Dear Me/Jute Mill Song’ by socialist songwriter Mary Brooksbank. 7. Jute plant The jute plant (Corchorus olitorius) takes around three months to grow from seed to harvest. 8. Reels of jute During the spinning process, jute fibres were twisted together to create a continuous thread and the resulting yarn was wound onto bobbins or reels. 9. Rope-making Jute is fully biodegradable and recyclable, and is still widely used today in carpet-making, agriculture and packaging. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the long jute fibres were also used for rope-making at Tay Rope Works in Dundee’s West End. 10. Dundee mill names Today, former jute mills in Dundee have new identities: Verdant Works is a popular museum, Baxter Brothers Works has become Hotel Indigo, and other mills have been turned into apartments and workshops. Up Up This panel was stitched by Leigh Kane Gail Foulis Aileen Scoular Susan Watson
- Artists and Art Education | The Dundee Tapestry
Art education continues to be a fundamental part of Dundee, with art and design-focused programmes offered by three future-facing educational institutions: Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, Abertay University, and Dundee & Angus College. This panel honours internationally renowned artists with links to Dundee and the city’s arts education – including jewellery-makers, photographers, film-makers, computer graphic designers, painters and printers, sculptors and fashion designers. DUNDEE EDUCATION Up Up Artists and Art Education Inspiring generations of creators Art education continues to be a fundamental part of Dundee, with art and design-focused programmes offered by three future-facing educational institutions: Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design (DJCAD), Abertay University, and Dundee & Angus College. This panel honours internationally renowned artists with links to Dundee and the city’s arts education – including jewellery-makers, photographers and film-makers, computer graphic designers, cartoonists, graffiti artists, painters and printers, sculptors, fashion designers, and stained glass artists. 1. The rug makers This image is inspired by a photo of local rug-makers that appeared in ‘The Courier’ in 1932. 2. Angela Hunter – ‘March of the Penguins’ Dundee’s much-loved bronze penguins can be found walking along the wall near St Mary’s Church, where they are often dressed for the season by locals. The sculpture was created by Angela Hunter in 2005, and commissioned by Dundee City Council. 3. Francis Boag – ‘White Anemones and Kumquats’ Born in Dundee in 1948, Francis Boag studied at DJCAD in the late sixties where his tutors included Alberto Morrocco and David McClure. Francis has been a full-time artist since 2001, painting vibrant still life studies, portraits and landscapes. 4. David Mach – ‘Out of Order’ David Mach’s iconic tumbling telephone box sculpture can be seen in Kingston upon Thames in Surrey, where it was installed in 1989. David was born in Fife in 1956 and studied sculpture at DJCAD. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Dundee in 2002, and appointed Professor of Inspiration and Discovery there in 2004. 5. David McClure Artist David McClure (1926-1998) taught painting at DJCAD between 1957 and 1985. His own paintings included carefully observed, boldly coloured still life and landscape studies, including locations in Fife and Angus. 6. James McIntosh Patrick RSA – ‘The Tay Bridge from my Studio Window’ Born in Dundee, James McIntosh Patrick (1907-1998) was a successful painter and printmaker, and a part-time lecturer at Dundee College of Art (the forerunner to DJCAD). His work includes meticulous landscape etchings and dramatic landscapes painted in oil, and he became an elected member of RSA (Royal Scottish Academy) in 1957. 7. Alastair Smart ARSA – ‘The Dragon’ Alastair Smart (1937-1992) taught sculpture at DJCAD for 28 years, and several of his sculptures can be seen in or near Dundee – including ‘Peter Pan’ in Kirriemuir and the ‘Whale’s Teeth’ at Polepark Road junction. ‘The Dragon’ is located in the city centre and was completed by Anthony Morrow, a former student, after Alastair’s death. 8. Life drawing Drawing from life is a regular exercise for art students at DJCAD. 9. Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art DJCAD is named after James A. L. Duncan of Jordanstone and Drumfork, who bequeathed a large sum of money from his estate in 1909 to build an independent school of industrial art. In 1911, the existing Dundee Technical Institute moved to Bell Street and re-opened as Dundee Technical College & School of Art. In the 1930s, it was agreed that the School of Art would have its own site but, due to the war, construction did not begin until 1953 and classes eventually began in 1955. The college was officially renamed Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in 1975 and remained independent until 1994, when it became part of the University of Dundee. 10. Linda Brownlee After a 38-year career in nursing, trained textile designer Linda Brownlee returned to her love of drawing. She now creates beautiful ink-pen and collage drawings of her home town of Dundee which she describes as ‘Dundee Rearranged Slightly’. 11. Michael McVeigh Born in Lochee in 1957, Michael McVeigh left school with no formal qualifications but, after attending DJCAD without consent, he was later accepted as a full-time student. He became a street artist in Edinburgh in the 1980s, and is now a modern day folk artist. 12. Alberto Morrocco RSA, RSW – ‘Sleeping Melon Vendor’ Alberto Morrocco (1917-1998) became a key name in 20th century Scottish art, and his bold and distinctive painting style reflects his Italian heritage. He was Head of Painting at DJCAD from 1950, and he was elected RSA in 1962. 13. Sydney Jordan – ‘Jeff Hawke’ Sydney Jordan was born in Dundee in 1928, and after training in aviation technology, he worked as an illustrator and cartoonist. Sydney’s best-known creation was Jeff Hawke, an intrepid RAF pilot who took part in extraordinary sci-fi adventures. It ran in the ‘Daily Express’ from 1954-1975. 14. Charles Monteith Walker – ‘Sunflowers’ Scottish painter Charles Monteith Walker attended DJCAD from 1978-1982. Following visits to Mediterranean Europe in the 1990s, he produced warm, colourful oil paintings of still lifes and landscapes. 15. David Foggie – ‘The Little Dancer’ Dundee-born artist David Foggie (1878-1948) took art lessons from an early age, and joined the Dundee Graphic Arts Association in 1896. He studied in Antwerp and by 1920, he was a teacher of Life Drawing at Edinburgh College of Art. He painted tender, empathetic portraits that celebrated everyday life. Up Up This panel was stitched by June Anderson Jackie Berg John Berg Jean Davidson Christine Don June Fraser Sharman Frost Lynne Potts Ervin Mackie Angela Mehlert
- 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
- Futures | The Dundee Tapestry
Planning for the future is essential to Dundee’s growth and development. One exciting project currently in the planning stage is the Eden Project Dundee which looks to ‘the future Nine Trades’ as a road map to how the city can continue to flourish in a sustainable way. THE DUNDEE TAPESTRY Up Up Futures Onwards and upwards Planning for the future is essential to Dundee’s growth and development. One exciting project currently in the planning stage is the Eden Project Dundee which looks to ‘the future Nine Trades’ as a road map to how the city can continue to flourish in a sustainable way. Located on the former Dundee Gasworks site, the design of Eden Project Dundee pivots around the nine environmentally-focused ‘guilds’ portrayed on this panel: 1. Alchemists 2. Celebrators 3. Growers 4. Healers 5. Menders 6. Myth-Makers 7. Navigators 8. Noticers 9. Re-Sourcerors Up Up This panel was stitched by Wafaa Alkwifi Kathy Anderson Cat Forsyth
- Osnaburg Linen | The Dundee Tapestry
As Dundee’s linen industry grew, the proceeds were inextricably linked to the enslavement of people from Africa and the Indies. A coarse cloth called Osnaburg was bought in huge quantities by slave-owners in the West Indies and the US, and evidence shows that Frederick Douglass, a former slave turned abolitionist, was invited to speak in Dundee. This panel explores the links between Dundee, colonialisation, and the business of enslavement. INTERNATIONAL DUNDEE Up Up Osnaburg Linen Acknowledging Dundee’s links with enslavement and the Commonwealth As Dundee’s linen industry grew, the proceeds were inextricably linked to the enslavement of people from Africa and the Indies. A coarse cloth called Osnaburg was bought in huge quantities by slave-owners in the West Indies and the US, and evidence shows that Frederick Douglass, a former slave turned abolitionist, was invited to speak in Dundee. This panel explores the links between Dundee, colonialisation, and the business of enslavement, and how these links exist today through the city’s statues, buildings and street names. 1. Osnaburg Linen production Osnaburg was a coarse linen cloth, purchased by slave-owners in the West Indies and the USA to make clothes for enslaved people on their estates. William Baxter of Balgavies belonged to a family that had been connected with the weaver trade in Dundee from the beginning of the eighteenth century and, in 1836, Messrs W. Baxter & Sons became the first mill in Dundee to weave large quantities of linen by power loom, in a large new factory at the company’s Dens Road works. 2. Trading commodities Products that were imported into Dundee from the British Colonies included raw sugar from plantations in Jamaica, and dark rum from the newly formed colony of British Guyana, formalised in 1831. The Dundee Sugar House was located on the Seagate, where it operated from 1767 to 1841. 3. Joseph Knight Joseph Knight was taken to Jamaica from West Africa as a young teenager, where he was bought by a Scottish plantation-owner called John Wedderburn. Joseph was brought to Ballindean, near Dundee, in 1768 – one of the few Black people in Scotland at that time. Although he was well-fed, dressed and educated, he had no prospect of freedom or independence; he was also at risk of being sent back to Jamaica, where conditions were very dangerous. After a four-year legal battle, Joseph Knight’s final appeal for freedom was granted in 1778, at the Supreme Court in Edinburgh – a decision that also led to the abolition of personal slavery in Scotland. In 1807, the slave trade in British Colonies became illegal and British ships were no longer allowed to carry enslaved people, although it took until 1838 for all enslaved people in the colonies to be freed. 4. Jute harvesting Dundee’s jute industry was closely associated with colonialisation. From 1757, Britain’s control of India increased and from 1858 onwards, the British government directly ruled India. Jute was grown and harvested in India, by local people, then shipped to Dundee on behalf of the increasingly wealthy mill-owners. By the early 20th century, India had developed its own jute industry and production in Dundee tailed off. 5. Seal Wax seals were often used on documents relating to the purchase of enslaved people. 6. Wearing Osnaburg Linen The experience of wearing a coarse cloth like Osnaburg was extremely unpleasant. The prominent Black author Booker T. Washington, who was born into slavery in 1856, compared it to, “A hundred pinpoints in contact with the flesh”. 7. Frederick Douglass Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) was one of the former enslaved people invited to speak in Dundee. Having escaped slavery in the USA in his early 20s, Frederick became a well-known orator and social reformer and he spoke at several venues in Dundee in 1846 and 1860, including hotels and churches. 8. Enslavement ships British ships that are known to have transported enslaved people include ‘Dolphin’, ‘Minerva’ and ‘Mercury’. 9. Dundee’s leading abolitionists Despite the efforts of local abolitionists, the first Anti-Slavery Society was only formed in Dundee in 1832 – a year before the enslavement trade was finally abolished. The Reverend George Gilfillan, and his wife Margaret, were Dundee’s most active abolitionists. Rev Gilfillan invited many formerly enslaved people to speak in Dundee, while his wife Margaret was President of the Dundee Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Association, a popular organisation in the 1850s. Lasting reminders The panel also contains Dundee street names associated with global trading at this time; the names of local mills which were producing linen; and two quotes stitched around the edge: “Where is there a shred of ground to believe that ever a Scotsman considered himself as the property as chattell as the slave of his brother” Joseph Knight “Slavery is the common enemy of mankind” Frederick Douglass Up Up This panel was stitched by June Anderson Janie Brooks Ishbel Duncan Mairi Fraser Polly Golliher Gillian Leiper Jenni Liandu Maliwa Liandu Womba Liandu Abigail Ocansey Morag McQueen Yingying (Leona) Ren



