iKnow Scotland
- Aberdeen
- Around Aberdeen
- Angus
- Angus Coast
- Ballater
- Carnoustie
- Dundee
- Elgin Moray
- Huntly
- Moray Coast
- North Aberdeen Coast
Dundee Accommodation
Dundee & the Tay Bridge from Broughty Ferry
Discovery Point, Captain Scott of the Antarctic Exhibition, Dundee Waterfront
Verdant Jute Works, Dundee. A large Women workforce and role reversals in the city
Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre (DCA), Film & Contemporary Art 
Captain Scott, Scientific Staff & Officers including Wilson on board Discovery, 1901
Desperate Dan and Crew, Publishers DC Thomson who produced the Dandy & Beano Comics herald from Dundee
Taking the Helm, On-board Discovery, Dundee Waterfront
The Shift of Jute Production to India, and the parallel decline in Dundee. Find out more at Verdant Works, DundeeDundee Daytrips, Dundee Jute Works, Discovery Captain Scott Boat
Like a mini Glasgow, Dundee on the Firth of Tay offers a superb selection of attractions relating to its industrial history around the production of Jute, developments along the Dundee Waterfront revolving around Scott's ship Discovery at Discovery Point and in contemporary arts with a focus at the Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre (DCA). Dundee has a city feel but it's compact, friendly and easily got to grips with orientation wise. Dundee centre is excellent for shopping and mostly pedestrianised with a rep theatre, a choice of restaurants, pubs and historic architecture galore. Alongside contemporary art and cinema at the DCA, the Mcmanus Museum & Galleries (currently undergoing extensive restoration 2007) are set to be another string to Dundee's fine attractions choice when it reopens shortly with galleries on local history, natural history, art, archeology and more. The Verdant Works, once a bustling jute factory in Dundee is where to head to discover Dundee's important links with Jute. Verdant Works is one of the best industrial and social history museums you're likely to come across in the UK. The attraction has won European Industrial Museum of the Year and 5 stars from the Scottish Tourist Board. Both awards are more than deserved! Crammed with photography and oral history accounts, here is the history of Scotland that often gets forgotten behind the glamour of Robert Bruce, Wallace, Mary Queen of Scots and Royals spotting at Balmoral.
Dundee Tourist Information Centre, 21 Castle Street, Dundee DD1 3AA. Tel. 01382 527527.
Juteopolis - Verdant Jute Works & the History of Jute Production in Dundee
The Verdant Jute Works in Dundee was built during the peak of the Industrial Revolution in 1833. Scotland was already establishing itself as a leader in the production of railway engines, steel and shipbuilding and Dundee's emergence as a centre for jute production sits within that context. The scene was already set in Dundee prior to the introduction of jute - it was already an established centre for weaving, whaling and shipbuilding with a bustling harbour. Whale oil was used initially to soften the jute, weavers in the town were already skilled in operating machinery and ships built here in Dundee were used to transport the jute from India.
What is jute you may ask. The Verdant Works exhibition offers comprehensive answers, and explores Dundee's close links with India where the jute plant was grown and shipped out to Dundee for processing (until India finally took over the processing as well at a cheaper cost).
Jute still has many uses today with its strong natural fibres which are easily manipulated. The raw jute fibre comes from two specific plants - Corchorus olitorius and Corchorus capsularis - which are both native plants of Bangladesh. The list is long for the uses of jute. It's everywhere in every day products such as boot linings, sacking, ropes, aprons, carpets, oven cloths, horse covers, parachutes, electric cable, meat wrappers, tarpaulins and roofing felts to name a few. See exhibits at Verdant Works which list some of the uses of jute too from its early period of production, including the canvas on wagons used by American settlers pushing into the west, or for parachutes during wartime. More recently jute often sees consistent revival in the fashion industry as a novel material. Various fashion jute garments are on display.
Not by chance did Dundee get the nickname 'Juteopolis! Dundee's population exploded between 1841 and 1901 with the boom in jute works, from 45,000 to 161,000. As Dundee entered the 20th century over 50,000 people were employed in over 100 mills in the city. Most of the workers were women and children on low wages living in some of the poorest housing and diets in the country. Women workers outnumbered men 3 to 1 in the jute factories leading to an unusual role reveral in Dundee, with men minding children at home whilst the women worked for abysmally low wages. Dundee women jute workers had a reputation for boldness, many participated in the Suffrage Movement and Votes for Women. You can see for yourself the bold stars and the stubborn independence of these women workers in photography at Verdant Works. Verdant Works, West Henderson's Wynd, Dundee DD1 5BT. Tel. 01382 225282. (website right for details).
Discovery Point Antarctic Museum, Scott of the Antarctic Exhibition & Dundee Waterfront
Discovery Point on Dundee's picturesque waterfront overlooking the Firth of Tay and Tay Bridge is another 5 star rated attraction by the Scottish Tourist Board in Dundee.
The link is with the Discovery ship (now skillfully renovated and open to the public as part of the exhibit). Discovery was the last wooden three-masted ship to be built in Britain. It was constructed in Dundee specifically for scientific research, with particular features to help it withstand the harsh polar climate. Displays within the Antarctic museum show the Discovery being built in Dundee shipyards and the launch ceremony in 1901. Discovery was used by Scott and his polar expedition crew prior to the final and fateful journey to the south pole in 1912. Another vessel took them to the Antarctic on their final journey, but they made a previous expedition to the Antarctic in 1902 in the Discovery. By 28 March 1902 Discovery was frozen into the ice in the Antarctic and there she remained until February 1904 when finally after an endless effort of ice blasting the rescue ship 'Morning' reached her. The story of Discovery's time spent locked in the ice and two winters endured in the Antarctic by the crew is told in a superb film in the exhibition.
Further displays in the Antarctic Museum on Dundee's waterfront show numerous Scott expedition archives (including some amazingly preserved Huntley & Palmer biscuits found near one of Scott's camps, which at 90 years old are still intact). The last South Pole expedition by Scott, Bowers, Evans, Oates and Wilson, who all died on the return from the South pole, is explored in-depth through photography, archive and newpaper articles of the time. Scott's last diary entry is on display, 'We shall stick it out to the end but we are getting weaker .. I do not think I can write more - Robert. For Gods sake look after our people'. The entry is dated 29th March 1912.
A tour around the restored Discovery Ship is a fascinating journey. Access is not just on deck, but right down into the living quarters and cabins of Wilson, Scott and others. Move back into the museum for an exhibit on the Antarctic today which draws attention to environmental concerns. Discovery Point, Discovery Quay, Dundee, DD1 4XA. Tel. 01382 201245. (weblink right for details).
Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre (DCA)
There is no doubt, Dundee is developing a reputation as a centre for contemporary art and film. The Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre just up from the waterfront on Nethergate is home to a cinema showing mainstream and art house cinema, art galleries displaying innovative cutting edge contemporary art, Jute Cafe Bar, a print stuido and art and design shop.
Spread across five floors, the DCA has attracted huge numbers of visitors since it opened in 1999.
Checkout the DCA's website right for event, cinema and gallery listings.
Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre, 152 Nethergate, Dundee DD1 4DY. Tel. 01382 909900.
Sensation Live Science Centre, Family Attraction Dundee
'Warning - high risk of serious fun!' A superb attraction for children, Dundee's top family attraction - Sensation Live Science Centre is interactive science fun come educational extravaganza! Over 80 hands-on exhibits are here, with talking robots greeting you as you enter!
Live science shows inside include the Magic Planet Show. With on-site Infusion Cafe on-site and birthday parties available. Check Sensation's website right for what's on.
Sensation Live Science Centre, Greenmarket, Dundee, DD1 4QB. Tel. 01382 228800.
Click Search
