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This panel celebrates the craft of shipbuilding, and looks at the expansion of Dundee’s docks, the wartime experience of ships built in the city, life below deck, women’s role in the shipyards, and how the success of the shipbuilding industry relied on other local trades. DUNDEE INDUSTRY Up Up Shipbuilding NEW FOR 2025 Ships built on the River Tay Dundee has a long history of shipbuilding. The industry began with small wooden fishing boats, then elegant three-masted sailing ships, and continued until the arrival of steam engines and sturdy iron-built vessels. Among the shipyards active along Dundee’s riverside in the 19th and 20th centuries was the Dundee Shipbuilding Company (formerly Alexander Stephen & Sons) which built and launched RRS Discovery in 1901. At their height, the largest shipbuilders would employ many thousands of men and women, in multiple roles. This panel celebrates the craft of shipbuilding, and looks at the expansion of Dundee’s docks, the wartime experience of ships built in the city, life below deck, women’s role in the shipyards, and how the success of the shipbuilding industry relied on other local trades. 1. Forging a trade Shipbuilding gave local people many opportunities to learn a trade – from estimators and engineers to benders, riveters and welders. The city’s largest shipbuilders were Alexander Stephen & Sons Ltd which moved production to Dundee in 1842, Gourlay Brothers & Co Ltd which built iron ships between 1854 and 1908, and Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd (originally called W B Thompson and Co Ltd) which merged with Henry Robb of Leith in 1968 to become Robb Caledon Shipbuilders Ltd. During 107 years of operation in Dundee, the Caledon yards built a total of 509 ships, 20 barges and 32 launches, before closing their gates in 1981. Caledon was also commissioned to produce the steel box girders for the Tay Road Bridge and the ‘steel-plate’ houses still seen in the Craigiebank area of the city today. 2. ‘The Caledon Shipyard’ by Francis Rooney Two verses of this poem, by shipyard worker Francis Rooney, describe the tough conditions of a life spent shipbuilding. The final verse of the poem laments the demise of the industry. 3. Ships at war Several Dundee-built vessels were involved in military action. Launched in 1938, Glenearn was requisitioned by the Admiralty in 1939 and was initially purposed as a fast store carrier. In 1940, Glenearn and her sister ship, Glengyle, were converted into infantry assault ships and fitted with landing craft. Within a few months, both ships were involved in the first ever Commando assault and joined Operation Demon, the evacuation of British and Imperial forces from Greece in 1941. The following year, Glengyle, with naval escort, made a successful trip from Alexandria to Malta with much needed supplies of food, fuel and ammunition and was later involved in the ill-fated 1942 Dieppe landings and the Operation Torch Landings in Vichy. Meanwhile, Glenearn took the first assault force ashore on Sword Beach in the D-Day landings, and ran a ferry service for several weeks after, bringing in reinforcements and repatriating the wounded. Forty years later, CS Iris – a cable ship built in Dundee in 1976 – served with the British fleet as a special service vessel during the Falklands War in 1982. During seven months of active service, CS Iris travelled over 45,000 miles and was involved in over 800 helicopter operations. 4. Kestrel Marine Located at Prince Charles Wharf and, later, at the old Caledon shipyard site, Kestrel Marine was involved in building and maintaining offshore oil structures and associated engineering services for many years. The bird symbol on the workers’ jackets, stitched here in black and white, was very recognisable. 5. Women in the shipyards During both World Wars, women were employed in the shipyards. Most had the hazardous job of being ‘Red Leaders’ which involved applying highly toxic red lead paint to the hulls of ships to protect them from rust, while working from tall scaffolding. Women took on other roles, too. Bella Keyzer worked as a wartime welder at Caledon and is believed to have loved her job at the yard. The UK’s first female marine engineer, Victoria Drummond (1894-1978) served her apprenticeship in Dundee and worked on many different ships across the world until she retired in 1962. Her military record was equally impressive: in August 1940, she singlehandedly manned the engine room of the Bonita during a sustained bombing raid and was awarded an MBE and Lloyds Medal for Bravery at Sea. 6. Ladies who launched The launching of ships were big events and the task was usually carried out by local ladies of importance, or by women with links to the shipyard owners. In 1980, unusually, a ship called Koscierzyna was sent on her way by Mrs Regina Walentowska, a factory floor worker from Poland. Delighted to have been selected for such a prestigious duty, she jumped down from the podium and clamped her arms around the Caledon managing director of the time. 7. Below deck To ensure a smooth build, meticulous plans were drawn up for every vessel, right down to the position of the pipework. Boilers, engines and utility pipes were arranged in the most practical and efficient way, with decks, storage and living accommodation located above. 8. Dockside development Dundee’s seafront has changed dramatically over the years. The original harbour is thought to have been established in the 11th century, but the port was substantially expanded in the 19th century when civil engineer Thomas Telford designed improvement works in 1815. King William IV Dock opened in 1825, Earl Grey Dock in 1834, Camperdown Dock in 1865 and Victoria Dock and East Graving Dock in 1875. Just 20 years later, modern ships were becoming too large to fit in these shallow walled docks and so the Eastern Wharf was built. In the 20th century, land was reclaimed to enable the construction of the Tay Road Bridge in the 1960s. Earl Grey and King William IV Docks were filled in, but the other docks still exist: HMS Unicorn is berthed in Victoria Dock, and Camperdown Dock sits alongside – close to where the Caledon shipyard and, latterly, Kestrel Marine were once located. 9. Foundry work Once an important part of Dundee’s industrial armoury, the city’s foundries produced a range of textile machinery, steam engines, boilers and locomotives. Foundries included Blackness, Wallace and Lawside, Victoria, Ward and Monifieth and prior to these, Dundee, Douglas and Lilybank. The latter was particularly important to the local shipbuilding industry but its distance from the port was a major disadvantage. When a 40-ton steam boiler had to be transported from Lilybank Foundry to Victoria Dock, the load was drawn by 20 powerful draught horses and, to counter the steep gradient, ropes were fastened to the rear of the boiler carriage and held by 200 men. A wagon followed behind with new manhole covers to replace those destroyed on route. The damage to the city’s roads came to a head when in 1901, transportation was arranged for the 51-ton engines and 85-ton boiler for SS Californian – the Dundee-built ship famous for being the vessel closest to Titanic when she hit the iceberg. Around £500 worth of damage was caused to roads and tramlines, and the weight of the starboard boiler punctured a water main on Arbroath Road and flooded local streets. 10. The Bummer The Bummer – a very loud whistle or siren – signalled the start and end of workers’ shifts in the jute factories and shipyards in the city. At 5.18pm each working day, the bummer of the Caledon shipyard could be heard, and thousands of workers would spill out onto the nearby streets. 11. Ships built to explore Nimrod was a wooden-hulled, three-masted sailing ship with an auxiliary steam engine, built by Alexander Stephen & Sons in 1866 and launched a year later. Originally designed as a whaler, she took Ernest Shackleton to Antarctica in 1908-1909 and, after the Nimrod Expedition, she returned to commercial service. Sadly, she was lost in the North Sea in 1919, along with 10 of her crew. The Terra Nova was also built in Dundee and was used in the British Antarctic Expedition from 1910-1913. This expedition allowed Captain Robert Falcon Scott to continue the work he began on an earlier expedition with RSS Discovery. Information gratefully received from Mr John B. Reilly, last manager of Caledon shipyard, Mr Rob Struzyna, former employee of PO Marine, and Mr John Dein. Up Up This panel was stitched by Jean Davidson Christine Don Ervin Mackie Lynne Potts

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

Producing The Dundee Tapestry has been an evolutionary process over a five-year period. After coming up with the idea in 2019, John Fyffe MBE organised an initial steering group which included Dr. Frances Stevenson, Alister Rutherford and Rhoda Miller, to plan how the project could be managed and delivered. The primary focus was always about engaging with the people of Dundee – in terms of volunteer stitchers and stories about the city. THE DUNDEE TAPESTRY Up Up Making The Dundee Tapestry Producing The Dundee Tapestry has been an evolutionary process over a five-year period. After coming up with the idea in 2019, John Fyffe MBE (Nine Incorporated Trades) organised an initial steering group which included Dr. Frances Stevenson (Textile Designer, DJCAD), Alister Rutherford (Embroiderer’s Guild) and Rhoda Miller (Local Historian), to plan how the project could be managed and delivered. The primary focus was always about engaging with the people of Dundee – in terms of volunteer stitchers, stories about the city and designing the content and illustrations. The steering group expanded as the project grew. Andrew Crummy MBE (Artist), the late Eddie Small (Writer and Historian), Lyndsey Currie (Textile Designer), Caitlyn Fyffe (Marketing and PR), Judy Robertson (Social Media) and Aileen Scoular (Website Copywriter and stitcher) all joined the team to provide various areas of expertise. Themes & Timeline Eight main themes were highlighted as a starting point to reflect key areas pertinent to Dundee: Communities Nature Industry Women Education Culture International Creative Each theme comprises a group of panels, building a picture of that topic through sub-themes and different perspectives. Currently, The Dundee Tapestry has 35 panels. But, importantly, the themed approach was adopted to allow The Dundee Tapestry to grow and expand because other themes, panels and extended timescales can be added in the future. A definitive timeline from the mid-19th Century to the present day provides the parameters within which The Dundee Tapestry is set. Owing to the amount of information involved, this was a necessary constraint due to funding. Designing the panels The Dundee Tapestry’s circular structure was selected by the design team to reflect the growth spiral structures of the eminent 19th century biologist Sir D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson who taught at the University of Dundee. The panel’s structural layouts were designed by Andrew Crummy to reflect Thompson’s work, using eight different templates, with variations of circles and spirals. The circular design also reflects and incorporates The Dundee Tapestry logo. Andrew invited Frances Stevenson to join him in designing some of the final panels. Researching content Pencil sketches onto fabric provided a ‘skeleton’ structure to enable the stitchers to begin, and to allow more content to be added to each panel as further research was carried out. Researching the content was an important, ongoing process which was carried out by stitchers themselves, alongside steering group members. Illustrations to reflect the research were added throughout the making of each panel. Finishing the panels Once stitched, The Dundee Tapestry panels were stretched by the Textile Design staff team at DJCAD, and backed by stitchers Margaret Craig, Sheila Mathieson and Sarah Houstoun. Writing content The Dundee Tapestry website provides content highlights and a concise synopsis for each panel. The text for this website was written by Aileen Scoular, and researched and proof-read by Judy Robertson and Rhoda Miller. Community involvement A key aim of The Dundee Tapestry was to include the community, both as volunteer stitchers and as people who could provide stories about the city. Workshops were organised at key stages to invite members of the public and community organisations to add a stich to the panels, and share their memories of growing up in the city. Communication Public talks were given by members of the steering group, while many stitchers were ‘out and about’ across their own communities to encourage people to add a stitch. Communication regarding all the activities has been recorded and shared through social media by Judy Robertson. Iona French (Graphic Designer) provided the logo – which was designed on the theme of ‘connections’ and people ‘getting together’ around a table – and Wendy Maltman from The Malting House created the website. Finally… The aim of The Dundee Tapestry was to visually narrate stories about the city of Dundee through textiles and stitch. The rich tapestry panels that have been made by over 140 stitchers are full of information and colour, and they reflect the many new friendships that have been forged throughout the making of the Tapestry, and the skills that have developed. We hope you enjoy looking at them. We have not included everything about Dundee in these 35 panels, and there are many more things we could have included. That’s for the future…! Up Up

Dundee is better connected than most, serving as a gateway to many other parts of Scotland. Within the city itself, generations of communities have stayed connected to each other in different ways: by road, rail and water; by the places where people regularly meet; and by long-standing customs and traditions. DUNDEE COMMUNITIES Up Up Connecting Communities Transport and traditions that keep communities connected Dundee is better connected than most, serving as a gateway to many other parts of Scotland. Within the city itself, generations of communities have stayed connected to each other in different ways: by road, rail and water; by the places where people regularly meet; and by long-standing customs and traditions. 1. The Dressed Herring When ‘first-footing’ at Hogmanay, 19th century Dundonians brought a good luck herring ‘dressed’ in a fancy outfit and bonnet, usually made from brightly-coloured paper. 2. Finlathen Viaduct Built between 1845 and 1848, this 152m-long structure (now Category ‘B’-listed) carried a water pipeline from Monikie Reservoir to Stobsmuir Water Works in Dundee. 3. The ‘Washie’ When visiting public wash-houses, the women of Dundee often transported their washing in a baby’s pram. 4. Tay Rail Bridge disaster When completed in February 1878, the original Tay Rail Bridge was the world’s longest bridge, with 85 spans and 13 high girders in the centre. When these high girders collapsed in gale-force winds on 28 December 1879, six carriages fell into the water and more than 70 lives were lost. The wrought iron girders which remained standing were transferred onto the present bridge where they are still in use. Today, a memorial can be seen on the Riverside embankment, alongside William McGonagall’s 1880 poem ’ The Tay Bridge Disaster’. 5. Champion the Wonder Horse Remembered by generations who visited the City Arcade in Shore Terrace before its closure in 1981. 6. Mill Lorry Bales of raw jute were transported, by lorry, from the port of Dundee to the city’s mills. 7. Dundee to Newtyle railway In operation from 1831 to 1863, this 11-mile long railway line was built to bring produce from local farms in the Vale of Strathmore to the mills and docks in Dundee. The hills in between (the Sidlaws) were dealt with by using stationary steam-powered engines to pull the coaches uphill by rope. Part of the disused railway line now forms a nature reserve called ‘The Miley’. 8 & 9. Ice cream treats Knickerbocker glories and ice cream wafers were popular treats at Dundee’s Italian cafés and ice-cream shops. 10. H Samuel clock at Duffer’s Corner The meeting place for generations of friends and lovers in Dundee. 11. Bluebird In the 1960s, an outing on a ‘Bluebird Bus’ to Angus, Fife and beyond, was an exciting adventure. 12. The Fifies Once the only way of crossing the River Tay, steam-powered ‘Fifies’ would carry passengers between Dundee, Broughty Ferry and Fife, six days a week and up to 11 crossings a day. The first regular scheduled vessel was ‘ Union’ in 1821, and the last of the Tay Ferries was ‘Scotscraig’. Her final crossing took place on 18 August 1966 – the same day the Tay Road Bridge opened. 13. Dundee Corporation Bus The first corporation ‘omnibuses’ ran from Dundee High Street to Broughty Ferry in 1920, with tickets for the whole journey costing 4d. The original city centre bus station was on Shore Terrace, near Caird Hall, but the bus stances were closed in March 1973 when go-ahead was given for the construction of Tayside House. 14. Dundee Trams The first horse-drawn tram in Dundee appeared in 1877, followed by steam-powered versions ten years later. The final tram ran between Maryfield and Lochee in October 1956. 15. RNLI, Broughty Ferry The RNLI station at Broughty Ferry was the first inshore station in Scotland, and its first lifeboat was placed here in 1859. Seven medals have been awarded to RNLI crew stationed here over the last two centuries, and the lifeboat station remains an important part of this coastal community. Today, two boats are in operation: the “Elizabeth of Glamis’ and ‘Oor Lifesaver’. 16. Fluke fish Nethergait used to be called ‘Flukergait’ after the flounders that were caught in the Tay. 17. Maryfield Tram Depot Proposed as the Dundee Museum of Transport’s new home, the red-bricked tramshed was built in 1901 and extended in 1920 to its current length of 120m. In service, this Category B-listed building could house up to 70 double-decker trams and when buses took over from trams, it served as a bus depot until the 1970s. 18. The Tay Road and Rail Bridges Dundee is synonymous with the River Tay, and is approached by two bridges that connect the city with the Kingdom of Fife. The Tay Road Bridge measures 2.25km long and was built between 1963 and 1966. The ‘new’ Tay Rail Bridge was completed in 1887. Up Up This panel was stitched by June Anderson Aileen Scoular

Singer-songwriter Michael Marra (1952-2012) was born in Lochee and his colourful song lyrics reflected the highs and lows of daily life in Dundee. He formed his first band, Hen’s Teeth, in 1971 and, later, he played in Skeets Boliver, alongside his brother Christopher. But he was best known as a solo artist. His first solo album was ‘The Midas Touch’, released in 1980, and on his final recording, ‘Houseroom’, he played alongside his children Alice and Matthew with their band, The Hazey Janes. DUNDEE CULTURE Up Up Michael Marra Remembering one of Dundee’s best-loved musicians Singer-songwriter Michael Marra (1952-2012) was born in Lochee and his colourful song lyrics reflected the highs and lows of daily life in Dundee. He formed his first band, Hen’s Teeth, in 1971 and, later, he played in Skeets Boliver, alongside his brother Christopher. But he was best known as a solo artist. His first solo album was ‘The Midas Touch’, released in 1980, and on his final recording, ‘Houseroom’, he played alongside his children Alice and Matthew with their band, The Hazey Janes. This panel celebrates Michael’s song lyrics, his sense of humour, his paintings, and some of the people he loved or admired. 1. If Dundee was Africa In Chris Rattray’s play, ‘The Mill Lavvies’, a character called Archie has heard about Africa but doesn’t know where or what it is. Michael Marra’s song, ‘If Dundee was Africa’, describes this mighty continent by comparing areas and landmarks in Dundee with Africa’s geography. This song appeared in the play, and it also inspired the layout of this panel. 2. Baffies & ironing board Michael used to support his keyboard on an ironing board at gigs when he didn’t have access to a piano, and he often performed in ‘baffies’ (slippers). 3. Fiddle tree bench Niel Gow’s Oak is located in Dunkeld, a Perthshire village on the River Tay, and it’s reputed to be where this much-loved fiddler (violin-player) composed his popular strathspeys and reels. Known locally as the ‘fiddle tree’, the bench below is dedicated to Niel Gow and bears a line from Michael Marra’s song, ‘Niel Gow’s Apprentice’ which reads: “I’ll sit beneath the fiddle tree, With the ghost of Niel Gow next to me.” 4.Tenement building A wee home from home for a man born in Dundee. 5. On Stolen Stationery Michael’s album, ‘On Stolen Stationery’, was released in 1991 and this image appeared on the cover – it portrays actor Clayton Moore, who played the Lone Ranger, and was illustrated by Michael himself. 6. Gaels Blue Michael’s album ‘Gaels Blue’ was released in 1992. 7. Frida Kahlo Michael Marra’s songs were mostly written from personal experience, but he was also inspired by stories people told him or things he read about. ‘Frida Kahlo’s Visit to the Taybridge Bar’ was a classic example where Michael imagined the artist’s ghost waiting in a popular Dundee pub until she could enter heaven. 8. Radio tower This radio mast represents a song called ‘Schenectady calling Peerie Willie Johnson’ – a reminder of how some Scottish folk musicians in the 1920s learned how to build radios, then managed to tune in to early jazz broadcasts beamed live the USA. 9. General Grant Michael wrote ‘General Grant’s Visit to Dundee’ to celebrate the former US President’s trip to the city in 1877. 10. Dog in shoes An Alsatia n wearing pointed shoes was a line from Michael’s song, ‘Baps & Paste’. 11. The Violin Lesson The Dundee Tapestry’s designer, Andrew Crummy MBE, grew up in Craigmillar, in Edinburgh – a disadvantaged area at that time. When Andrew’s brother was denied violin lessons at school, his mother, Helen Crummy MBE, set up the Craigmillar Festival Society to enable all local children to enjoy art, music and drama tuition. Michael Marra wrote a song about that experience called ‘The Violin Lesson’. 12. Flax plant Michael’s song, ‘The Lass Wi’ the Flax in her Hair’, mentions Balgay Hill and Magdalen Green. 13. Hamish McAlpine [goalkeeper] Michael Marra was a big football fan and he supported Dundee FC from childhood. But he put aside local rivalry to write a song about Dundee United FC’s legendary goalkeeper, Hamish McAlpine, for the keeper’s testimonial match against Tottenham Hotspur on 17 August 1983. 14. Baps and paste The song ‘Baps & Paste’ featured on Michael’s album, ‘High Sobriety’, which was recorded live at the Bonar Hall in Dundee, in 2000. 15. Gordon McLean Michael painted a portrait of Gordon McLean, the former director of the An Tobar arts centre in Mull and a close friend of Michael. In 2008, the painting was exhibited at a gallery in Kirriemuir, alongside other portraits by Michael of people he admired. 16. The Sidlaws ‘Big Wide World Beyond the Seedlies’ also appeared on Michael’s album, ‘High Sobriety’, and refers to the Sidlaw Hills behind Dundee. Up Up This panel was stitched by Meg Bartram Louise Laing Valeen Lyons Karolina Palugova Ann Ross Sheena Sigsworth