Lochee Explained

Country:Scotland
Official Name:Lochee
Pushpin Map:Scotland Dundee
Pushpin Map Caption:Location within Dundee City council area
Population:5218
Os Grid Reference:NO378317
Coordinates:56.4733°N -3.0113°W
Map Type:Dundee
Unitary Scotland:Dundee City
Lieutenancy Scotland:Dundee
Constituency Westminster:Dundee West
Constituency Scottish Parliament:Dundee City West
Post Town:DUNDEE
Postcode District:DD2
Postcode Area:DD
Dial Code:01382
Static Image:Lochee High Street - geograph.org.uk - 10375.jpg

Lochee is an area in the west of Dundee, Scotland. Until the 19th century, it was a separate town, but was eventually surrounded by the expanding Dundee. It is notable for being home to Camperdown Works, which was the largest jute production site in the world.

History

'Lochee' originally referred to the area in which weavers' cottages were situated at the burn which flowed through Balgay Lochee; thus, they were at the eye of the loch or Loch E'e, which eventually became Lochee. It is believed this site is close to where Myrekirk stands today.[1] Indeed, John Ainslie's map of 1794 makes reference to 'Locheye' on the north and south banks of the burn.[2] However, G. Taylor and A. Skinner's 'Survey and maps of the roads of North Britain or Scotland' in 1776 makes reference to 'Lochee'.[3]

When the loch was drained by the Duncans in the 15th century they offered crofting tenancies along the burn. One of the tenancies went to a Dutchman, James Cox and his family. After a change of name and with a reputation for quality linen, the Cox family eventually set up as linen merchants in 1700.

By 1760 the firm had 300 weavers and after using steam power and moving into the jute industry the family built Camperdown Works in 1864, said to be the largest factory in the world, with over 5,000 employees.[4] Cox’s Stack, the 86 m (282 ft) high campanile-style factory chimney which includes 1,000,001 bricks, designed by local architect James MacLaren, survives.[5] [6] Lochee became a company town with 2 railway stations, police force, fire service, schools, swimming pool, casino, library, washhouse and several churches.

In 1890, the Cox Brothers donated a 25 acre public park to Lochee.[6]

Immigration

Many immigrants were attracted to the area by the prospect of employment in the city's jute mills. By 1855, there were 14,000 Irish immigrants in Dundee,[7] most of whom stayed in Lochee, or 'Little Tipperary' as it would come to be known.[8] In 1904, the Lochee Harp football club was formed by Lochee Irishmen as a means of recreation for the poor immigrants; the club still plays to this day.[8]

Lochee is still regarded as Dundee's Irish 'quarter'.[9]

Notable Lochee residents

See also

Demographics

Lochee | Scotland

References

  1. Web site: Letters . Evening Telegraph . 24 March 2008 . 20 January 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120302075202/http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/output/2008/03/24/letters.shtm . 2 March 2012 .
  2. Web site: View: Map of the County of Forfar or Shire of Angus. - Maps of Scotland, 1560-1928 - National Library of Scotland . Nls.uk . 20 January 2013 .
  3. Web site: View: The Road from Dundee to Cupar and Dunkeld; the Roa... - Taylor and Skinner's Survey, 1776 - National Library of Scotland . Nls.uk . 20 January 2013 .
  4. Web site: Lochee . Gazetteer for Scotland . 3 April 2024.
  5. Web site: Dundee, Methven Street, Camperdown Works, Cox's Stack . ScotlandsPlaces . 20 January 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120610232202/http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/search_item/index.php?service=RCAHMS&id=165116 . 10 June 2012 .
  6. Web site: Collection MS 6 - Cox Brothers Ltd, Jute Spinners and Manufacturers, and Cox Family Papers. Archive Services Catalogue. University of Dundee. 16 August 2024.
  7. Web site: Legacies - Immigration and Emigration - Scotland - Perth and Tayside - Little Tipperary: The Irish in Lochee - Article Page 1 . BBC . 20 January 2013.
  8. Web site: Legacies - Immigration and Emigration - Scotland - Perth and Tayside - Little Tipperary: The Irish in Lochee - Article Page 2 . BBC . 20 January 2013.
  9. Web site: Legacies - Immigration and Emigration - Scotland - Perth and Tayside - Little Tipperary: The Irish in Lochee - Article Page 3 . BBC . 20 January 2013.
  10. Web site: 'I took his No. 9 shirt at St Columba's' — George Galloway and Billy Boyle trade pot shots in Lochee 'slum' row . 18 June 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120628020416/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Dundee/article/22343/i-took-his-no-9-shirt-at-st-columba-s-george-galloway-and-billy-boyle-trade-pot-shots-in-lochee-slum-row.html . 28 June 2012 .
  11. Web site: Blether with Brown: Dunc helped level the new Thomson Park for thruppence . 28 November 2021 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20211129153731/https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/columnists/2620522/blether-with-brown-dunc-helped-level-the-new-thomson-park-for-thruppence/ . 29 November 2021 .
  12. Web site: Lochee Community Profile. 20schemes. 20schemes. 24 February 2016.

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