Northwood Dundee

welcome to
Looking to buy, sell,
rent or let in Dundee,
Perth & Fife?
Then look no further! Our estate agents and letting agents are
at your disposal!
As a leading Dundee, Perth & Fife estate agent, we’re a professional
team of local, friendly experts who are passionate about property.
We know the property market across Tayside, Perthshire and Fife
and our team is genuinely committed to guiding you through the
process of buying, selling, letting or renting a property in a way that
provides the right solution for you.
Office Address:
2 Panmure Street
Dundee
DD1 2BW
Get in Touch:
e: dundee@northwooduk.com
t: 01382 221 343
CONTENTS 4 Esk glazing and interiors
6 Our local area
8 Why Northwood? Testimonials
10 Search for your new home
14 Saving energy in the home
19 Dundee - city of rediscovery
www.northwooduk.com/
dundee-fife-estate-agents/
Opening Hours:
Monday: 09:30 - 17:00
Tuesday: 09:30 - 17:00
Wednesday: 09:30 - 17:00
Thursday: 09:30 - 17:00
Friday: 09:30 - 17:00
20 How to stay in control
on moving day
22 A creative city...
2 www.northwooduk.com/dundee-fife-estate-agents

A welcome from
Ron & his team
Hello and a warm welcome to the latest edition of
our property magazine. Whether you are a past,
present, or future customer, we’re sure you will
find something of interest within these pages.
Well, it’s certainly been a strange couple of years in
the property market, hasn’t it? From the pandemic
and the uncertainty this brought to all of our
lives, through recent and ongoing property rental
legislation, and now the dreaded mortgage rate
increases. It’s been tough for everyone involved in
property. However, despite all of this, the Dundee
and Fife property markets are once again booming.
The only way is up!
Keeping it local...
Property, like any investment, will have ups and
downs along the way. We opened our doors in
2009, during the biggest property crash we’re
ever experienced. We survived this and helped
countless buyers, sellers and renters through these
troubled times. 14 years later we are still here, a
bit older, but much, much wiser. I remember clearly
the day we took on our first rental property. 25th
September 2009. Our very first property - and our
very first Landlord - are still with us today.
So, huge thanks to everyone who have helped us
through the last 14 years. All of our Landlords,
tenants and maintenance contractors. Our sellers
and purchasers. All the fantastic staff who played
some part in our success. It’s been a journey and
who knows where the next 14 years will take us.
Why not come on this journey with us? Get in
touch to learn how we can help you.
www.northwooduk.com/dundee-fife-estate-agents
3

East Scotland’s expert for glazing,
windows, doors and more...
People throughout East Scotland have trusted us with their
window replacements and repairs for over 40 years.
A family-run business since 1974, today we are proud to
offer you an exciting range of home improvement products
and services.
Choose from a huge range of window styles and materials
– from energy-saving uPVC and Velux options to durable
timber frames and bespoke casement windows. We offer
everything you need to create your dream home, including
high-quality doors, kitchens, roofs, balustrades, mirrors plus
our design studio that makes bespoke glass designs with our
in-house designer. All with an impressive choice of styles,
expert installation, and pricing that’s as transparent as our
glass.
Where it all started...
Eric Irons formed Esk Glazing in 1974 with just himself, an
assistant and one administrator, firmly establishing roots
in Montrose. Wanting to encourage a family orientated
business Eric has continued to employ family members
starting with his own son Craig who completed his
apprenticeship with Esk and is now the Director alongside
Eric.
Over the years showrooms opened in Arbroath & Dundee
also. 2018 saw the Head Office move to Margaret House
in Arbroath where the glazing and UPVC division came
together under one roof.
2019/2020 – Esk Interiors (formerly knows as Kitchens By
Esk) & Balustrades were added to Esk’s repertoire.
Fast forward to 2022 Margaret House has undergone
major alterations, a new rebrand, sleeker window and door
showrooms, recruitment drive, internal restructure of
staffing roles all to enhance the customer experience.
Craig told us: “Coming out of lock down and so many companies
failing to survive we all need to adapt to a better way of thinking
and integrating all products and processes. The current rebrand
helps us to achieve this, with updated products a new sleeker
Arbroath showroom that incorporates people’s current tastes and
styles. As Esk moves into new markets it helps align the corporate
identity internally and externally.
Whilst we have several divisions, Esk Interiors, The Design Studio
we remain Esk Glazing Limited and will continue to do so, Esk
Glazing has been a brand name for almost 50 years whilst we
have the Esk Group Scotland, Esk Glazing is the name that people
know and will remain.”
Dedicated to quality
Simply put rebranding Esk enables us to adapt to the
changes and reflects the contemporary up to date products
that are currently available, the latest rebrand offers a
sleeker look which is reflected in the products we offer,
clean lines, minimalistic products.
Our products are known for their excellent quality, value
and durability. We put this down to the skills of our team
and careful vetting of suppliers and materials. And because
we’re a member of consumer protection services like the
Dundee Trusted Trader Scheme, you can be confident you’ll
receive a high standard of work that’s constantly reviewed
and recommended by people like you.
Esk Glazing 2023 Onwards
Esk Glazing Ltd currently undertakes a variety of contracts
ranging from glazing repairs, small window replacements,
larger public contracts and intricate restoration work, all
of which are carried out to a high standard to ensure Esk
remains committed to its Core Values of:
• Quality
• Service
• Excellence
• Respect
• Integrity
Esk Glazing Ltd has achieved a number of accredited
recognitions within the industry plus we use QMS ISO:9901.
Esk Glazing Ltd also believes in supporting the local
communities and donates on a regular basis to several
charitable organisations as the organisation believes in
giving back to the community; this is something that has
been instilled in the organisation since Eric Irons began the
formation of Esk back in 1974.
4 www.northwooduk.com/dundee-fife-estate-agents

esk interiors
Full range of bathrooms, kitchens and appliances to suit all budgets
VISIT OUR
SHOWROOMS
IN ARBROATH,
DUNDEE AND
MONTROSE
Contact Gina: 01241 434489
www.eskglazing.co.uk
email: gina.bynert@eskglazing.co.uk
East Scotland’s expert for glazing,
windows, doors and more
UP TO
15 YEARS
GUARANTEE
For our full range of products
and services, please visit:
www.eskglazing.co.uk

our areas
dundee
Dundee is known as ‘One City, Many Discoveries’ in honour
of Dundee’s scientific activities and the Robert Falcon Scott’s
Antarctic exploration vessel, RRS Discovery, which was built
in Dundee and is now berthed in the city harbour. The city is
a surprisingly cosmopolitan, with a high proportion of foreign
students studying at the two highly regarded Universities
as well as the School of Dentistry and Ninewells University
Hospital.
The hugely exciting Waterfront Regeneration will continue to
transform the City, with the V&A Museum at the heart of this.
The regeneration project also includes a number of major Hotel
chains and a host of new bars and restaurants.
Dundee is a great City to invest in, with entry level properties
priced as low as £40,000. With a good mixture of traditional
terraced flats, modern waterfront apartments and a wide range
of urban and rural family homes, there really is something for
everyone’s taste and budget.
perth
Another former capital of Scotland, Perth was made a city again by the
Queen as part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012. With a rich and
influential history that stretches back over 800 years, Perth has served as its
country’s capital and has always been one of the most important political,
judicial and commercial centres in Scotland. Many of the Scottish kings were
crowned on the Stone of Destiny at Scone Palace, while there are many
famous historical figures that left their mark on this royal burgh.
Today, Perth is a bustling city of around 50,000 inhabitants. It offers a range
of entertainment, shops, cafe’s and restaurants and is recognised as one of
Scotland’s premier culinary centres. Perth City Centre has a very buoyant
residential and rental market, with a mixture of traditional and modern
apartments available. The outskirts of the City offers a variety of family
homes, with the wider rural areas hosting some of Scotland most stunning
country properties and Estates.
dunfermline
Just a short drive from Edinburgh over the Queensferry Crossing lies Fife’s most
populous town, the ancient borough of Dunfermline. The town is steeped in royal
history with some of Scotland’s most fascinating history and architecture. Dunfermline
was the capital of Scotland for more than 300 years and was the burial place of
Scottish Monarchs, including King Robert The Bruce, who’s grave lies under the pulpit
of the historic Dunfermline Abbey.
Another famous Son of Dunfermline is industrialist and philanthropist Andrew
Carnegie. He is globally renowned for his donations to needy causes and a particular
interest in libraries. He also donated large sums of money to his home town and it’s
thanks to his generosity that the local library, concert hall, swimming pool and the
beautiful Carnegie Park continue to attract visitors to Dunfermline.
The town of Dunfermline is one of the fastest growing areas of population in Scotland
today. The eastern expansion, which commenced in the late 1990’s was hailed as the
largest private development in Europe and almost 30 years later, it continues to grow,
with a mixture of residential and affordable homes. The growing amenities, bustling
town centre, ancient history and great commuter links into Edinburgh, all help make
Dunfermline a buoyant and attractive town to set up home.
6 www.northwooduk.com/dundee-fife-estate-agents

HANDYMAN
PROPERTY
MAINTENANCE
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A first class service since 2009
Here’s why!
Trying to navigate the current
housing market is difficult as
a buyer, let alone as a seller.
Audrey has been nothing short
of outstanding in terms of her
communication, support, and
professionalism. All of my
apprehensions disappeared after
meeting with Audrey back in
November, she truly is an absolute
superstar to work with.
Thank you again
- SIMONE L
We recently put a property on
the market with Northwood and
Audrey from the Dundee branch
has been absolutely fantastic
throughout this process. From
the very beginning, she was
very transparent regarding fees
and services, extremely quick to
respond to all our queries and give
advice, always kept us up to date
on viewings and also handled all
the viewings on our behalf which
made things very easy for us.
- LAONA A
Our customers are really
important to us and we
love receiving feedback on
how we’ve helped them
to achieve their goals over
the years. Here’s some
wonderful words from some
of our lovely clients...
Very happy that I found
our new home through
northwood the staff are
brilliant especially audrey the one
that dealt with most of the forms
and she has went out her way
contacting the solicitors for me and
got my house sold within 4 days
.Once again thank you for all the
work that you have done
- JAMES M
I have used Northwood on
many occasions including
selling properties and
their managed rental service. All
have been positive experiences
with professional abs friendly
advice very step of the way! I can
personally highly recommend their
services.
- VICKI C
Moving home is a stressful time
and Northwood have went over
and above to make this super
smooth and easy, they reply to any
queries and issues very promptly
and are extremely supportive
I cannot say a bad word about
their service and couldn’t be
happier. Would definitely highly
recommend them.
- ALEKSANDRA J
My wife and I started to use
Northwood nine years ago to
market and manage our two
bedroom flat. At the time we
thought it required a well known
agent with the ability to attract
the right tenants and manage the
property carefully, especially as
the other flats were permanently
occupied by their owners. From the
start, the staff at Northwood have
done an excellent job in achieving
what we wanted. We would
be very happy to recommend
Northwood to anyone requiring
an agent to handle their property
rental.
- ANTHONY H
8 www.northwooduk.com/dundee-fife-estate-agents

What can we do for you?
Covering Fife, Perth and Dundee we
provide a wide array of solutions for the
management of your property whether it
be rental or residential including;
• Landlord Documentation and
Compliance “M.O.T.”
• PAT Testing
• Legionella risk assessment
• Written and photographic
inventory reports
• Tenanted property inspections
• Cleaning
• House and garden clearance
• Locksmith services
Tel: 07776 915 004
enquiries@scotiapropertysolutionsltd.co.uk
www.scotiapropertysolutionsltd.co.uk
No one values your home more
We offer a range of property services including
Home Reports, EPCs and valuations.
DUNDEE OFFICE
T: 01382 873100 I E: dundee@dmhall.co.uk
dmhall.co.uk

FIND YOUR
NEW HOME
your next home could
be just a click away!
10 www.northwooduk.com/dundee-fife-estate-agents

recently sold...
Denoon Terrace
Kirkstead Drive
SOLD: £245,200
Morlich Road
SOLD: £215,000
West Shore
SOLD: £130,000 £287,500
Exchange Street
SOLD: £160,000
Sauchie Place
SOLD: £120,000
SOLD: £75,000
www.northwooduk.com/dundee-fife-estate-agents
11

Bliss Beds is an independent bed and furniture
specialist in Dundee and Perth, selling Beds,
Mattresses and household furniture.
As a family run business we pride ourselves on our ability to
provide old fashioned customer service and thoroughly believe
customer satisfaction is the most important thing regardless of
which industry you are in.
“
A friendly, professional, family run
business, providing great service from
start to finish. Highly recommend and
will definitely shop again
- S Tares
With years of experience within the industry we have mastered
the art of sourcing manufacturers and suppliers from around
the world, supplying the highest quality beds, dining collections
and furnishings ensuring that all our customers receive the
best experience from start to finish when purchasing a product
from our store or website. our beds and mattresses are
manufactured in the uk.
VISIT OUR SHOWROOMS:
DUNDEE:
Unit G, Ground Floor
Wellgate Shopping Centre
Dundee DD1 2DB
PERTH:
56 St John St
Perth
PH1 5SN

Bed and furniture
showrooms in Dundee & Perth
SOFAS
FURNITURE
DINING
scan me
MATTRESSES
BEDS
01738 230 669
blissbeds.co.uk
01382 250 004

saving energy in the home
Ask the right questions
Whether you’re looking to buy a or rent a new home or wondering
how to assess your own home, here’s what to look out for to make
sure your energy bills are as low as they can be.
What’s in the walls?
Check the Energy Performance
Certificate rating
All domestic and commercial buildings in the UK available to buy
or rent must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). If you
own a home, getting an energy performance survey done could
help you identify ways to save money on your energy bills.
Much like the multi-coloured sticker on new appliances, EPCs tell
you how energy efficient a building is and give it a rating from A
(very efficient) to G (inefficient): the lower the efficiency, the more
the home will cost to run.
How is the home heated?
Gas heating costs a lot less to run and is more energy efficient
than electric alternatives. Ask the landlord or seller to leave
behind any heating control instructions so you can set your
controls to only heat the rooms you want to. If they can’t find
them, you can download them from the manufacturers’ website.
Check if radiators can be adjusted in each room, whereby you can
heat the rooms you need.
Is the loft insulated?
Loft insulation is one of the most efficient ways to keep heat
from escaping in a home. The thickness of the insulation plays an
important role but it’s easy to top up if there’s some there but not
enough. 270mm is the recommended depth. To give an idea of
cost savings, topping up from 100mm to 270mm can save around
£25 a year on heating bills.
A third of the heat in an un-insulated home is lost through the
walls. There are two wall types – solid walls and cavity walls.
Both can be insulated to improve the energy efficiency of a
property. If the home was built from 1920 onwards there is a
good chance it has cavity walls. A home with uninsulated cavity
walls could cost up to £140 more to run each year than one with
insulated cavities, so it’s worth finding out the state of play.
If you’ve fallen in love with a home with uninsulated cavity walls,
it’s not difficult to get it fixed. Installation costs are about £450 to
£500 but you should make this back in about four years.
Homes built before 1920 are likely to have solid walls. Solid
walls may sound like they should be better at keeping in heat but
unfortunately the opposite is true. Uninsulated solid walls can
lose heat twice as fast as uninsulated cavity walls, but insulating
them could save over £460 each year – so if you’re looking to
move into an older build, make sure you ask about the insulation.
14 www.northwooduk.com/dundee-fife-estate-agents

It’s good to see double
Double-glazed windows can save up to £165 on heating bills
compared to a single-glazed property. Heavy lined curtains can
help keep the heat in if double-glazing can’t be fitted.
The newer the boiler,
the better
Look out for draughts
Check round windows and doors for gaps. If it’s a windy day and
a home is particular draughty, you can often hear the whistle of
wind as it sweeps through the property. It’s quite easy to draught
proof homes and there are lots of DIY options available. Draught
proofing can save up to £55 a year on heating costs.
The latest boilers are a lot more energy efficient than older
models. Check the age of the boiler and if it is Energy Saving Trust
recommended. If the landlord/seller doesn’t know, you can find
out the energy efficiency of different boilers at the Boilers.org.
uk website. Boilers have energy ratings, much in the same way
as homes. Once again, A is the most energy efficient and G is the
lowest. Replacing a G rated boiler could save around £310 a year
on running costs.
The lighter way to save energy
Does the property have energy saving light bulbs or fittings? If so,
will the landlord or seller be leaving these light bulbs behind? If
not, invest in your own before you move in.
Check appliances
Have a look at any the seller is offering, or ask your new landlord
about the energy efficiency of appliances. Fridges and freezers
should come with an energy rating from A to G, with A being the
most energy efficient.

Scott
Anderson
Mortgage and
Protection adviser
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18 www.northwooduk.com/dundee-fife-estate-agents

dundee: city of discovery
& rediscovery
Cities, just like people, are subject to changes of fortune over
the years and Dundee is no exception. Once known for jam, jute
and journalism, it was a flourishing place, but it seemed to get
left behind by its neighbour, Aberdeen, during the north sea
oil boom during the 1970s and 80s. This was a period of quiet
contemplation for Dundee, but never underestimate this city’s
ability for reinvention. This is a city with a tradition of being a
leader and not a follower.
World’s First
Marmalade Factory
Dundee opened the world’s first marmalade factory back in 1797.
James and Janet Keiller had a small confectionary shop in Seagate,
Dundee and they are credited with using bitter Seville oranges
and thick peel to make marmalade for the first time. They must
have been a very entrepreneurial, not to mention enterprising
couple, because Janet Keiller invented the famous Dundee cake
when she had an excess of oranges and created a cake which is
known the world over today. This rich sultana cake flavoured with
oranges and almonds has a layer of almonds on top, giving it a
distinctive look which sets it apart from other fruit cakes.
The Royal Research
Ship Discovery
In 1901 Captain Scott and a team of forty-eight men sailed from
New Zealand to explore Antartica. This difficult and dangerous
trip resulted in the discovery of over five hundred new species
and important scientific discoveries. In 1905 she was bought
by the Hudson Bay Company and sailed the world until she
was refitted in Portsmouth in 1923 so she could resume more
scientific research and was a designated Royal research Ship for
the first time. Her last Antarctic expedition was from 1929 -1931.
She then went to London as a training ship for Sea Scouts and
Royal Naval Reserve. In 1979 she was bought by the Maritime
Trust. She arrived in Dundee in 1993 and took pride of place at
Discovery Point. There are few finer sights than the majestic
Discovery’s masts perfectly aligned in front of the V&A Museum,
which gives the impression that the award winning V&A building
has masts.
Ninewells Hospital
Ninewells was the first teaching hospital to be built in the UK
since the 19th Century when it opened in 1974. The hospital is
known for having introduced laparoscopic surgery (also known as
keyhole surgery) to the UK. It is also known as a leading centre
for cancer management and robotic surgery. The opening of
Ninewells resulted in some other hospitals in the city having to
close. Dundee Royal Infirmary had been the city’s main hospital
for over 100 years. It closed in 1998 when most of its services
relocated to Ninewells. The city’s Maryfield hospital, which was
originally built as a poorhouse hospital in 1893, also closed after
Ninewells opened.
If you haven’t visited Dundee for a while, it is well worth a
trip. It is Scotland’s sunniest and driest city, so you are almost
guaranteed good weather - well almost, but pack an umbrella just
in case.
www.northwooduk.com/dundee-fife-estate-agents
19

be in control on moving day
Here’s a few quick tips to help keep you
in control on your moving day…
Be prepared:
1. Communicate
Keep in touch with your Conveyancing Solicitor and Estate Agent,
ensure they are all prepared for completion day, and remember
they are working for you. Inform your Conveyancing Solicitor of
anything that could be an issue, no matter how small, they can
judge if they need to do anything to ensure a smooth transaction.
2. Avoid same day exchange
and completion
If you’re in a chain of people moving this is not recommended as
it would only take one person to have an issue with the exchange
for all your plans to be void. If you are using Help to Buy Equity
Loan the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) could take up to
1 week to release the funds between exchange and completion,
whilst this may or may not apply to you, it may be relevant to
some parties in the chain. Allowing a week between exchange
and completion will also give you time to make final arrangements
now a definite date is known such as setting up a Royal Mail
postal redirect service, which takes up to 5 working days,
informing your removals company, booking time off work etc.
3. Ensure all the required funds are ready
You should ensure your Conveyancing Solicitor has all the funds
needed from you to close on completion day. Try to include in your
budget an amount for other costs like changing locks, domestic
connections, other miscellaneous fees and service charges etc.
4. Book a professional mover early
A professional removals service is recommended by the majority
of house movers. They will ensure all your things are out of your
home on time before the next property owners obtain possession
and ensure they get your belongings to your next home safely.
They can be booked in advance and a date confirmed once it is
agreed with your solicitor. Professional removal companies deal
with the property business on a daily basis, they can give you
advice and they will be able to help guide you through some
of the moving hurdles. Remember to reserve a parking space if
necessary.
5. Pack up your belongings way
in advance of move day
A removals company can help with packing and can pack up your
entire house in a day or two or to reduce costs you can decide to
pack belongings into boxes yourself. Do start this at least a week
before your move. Pack your breakables carefully with bubble
wrap, or old t-shirts and curtains etc. to avoid breakages. Label all
the boxes with the room they will be going to in your new house
to help your removals company. Decide what you want to take
with you, what you can recycle or find a new home for; envisage
your new home to see where your furniture is going to be placed
to save you moving anything that you do not have room for.
Moving Day
1. Child and pet care
Children will want to be involved in the move, but it can be a
distraction for you and unsafe environment for them. Pets also
will be distressed and confused, so asking someone to help look
20 www.northwooduk.com/dundee-fife-estate-agents

after them on the day will allow you to concentrate on your move.
If the children are old enough to help, find age appropriate tasks
for them so they can feel part of the move. They could help make
beverages if old enough, or help with the final clean up and say
goodbye to their old house.
2. Meter readings
Before you leave, get a final meter reading of all your metered
services and call the relevant suppliers to inform them of the
numbers so you can settle up the final balance and close the
account ready for moving. If you don’t do this you could end up in
disputes with the new owners and it’s just added stress when you
could be relaxing in your new home.
3. Pack an overnight bag as if
you’re going away for the weekend
This will help you on your first night and day once you arrive in
your new home to help you find clothes and toiletries that are
otherwise packed away.
4. Essentials box packed and
transported with you
Essentials box to include; kettle, cups, tea and coffee, milk, sugar,
loo roll, snacks, phone charger, small radio, tape, pens,
scissors. These will be still needed in your old house and
the first thing you will want to find in your new house!
Remember your removal team will need refreshments
too!
2. Your first meal
Who knows how many helpers you will have and you are bound
to have worked up an appetite. To be very organised, a grocery
delivery would be one less job, but you need to ensure that you
have your kitchen sorted out by the time it is delivered. Locate
a local takeaway delivery company so when you get hungry in
the middle of building the beds and wardrobes you can have a
welcome break without taking too much time off!
3. Home insurance
This may be the last thing on your mind, but do ensure your
policy has started and everything is covered for your new home.
It would be awful if you your foot goes through the ceiling whilst
unpacking and your home insurance policy has not been updated
so you’re not covered.
4. Meter readings
As when you left your previous home, take meter readings of all
your metered services, record the numbers and call the relevant
suppliers to ensure your services don’t get cut off, there are no
outstanding balances on these services from the previous owners
and they have your new details.
5. The neighbours
Having good neighbours can be a great benefit. As well as
making new friends, you can reciprocate keeping an eye on
each other’s homes, take in deliveries if you are not at
home etc
5. Final checks and clean
Make sure you are fully prepared for the day ahead.
Go through each room of your home and ensure that
you have not forgotten anything. Do leave your old home
in a clean and tidy condition for the new owners; if you
have time before the move a spring clean is recommended and
do remember if leaving white goods in the kitchen to give them
in good condition and consider a professional oven clean. It
is a good idea not to pack the vacuum cleaner and give the
house a good clean once it is empty.
Your new home,
where to begin...
1. Make up your new
beds in the new
house first
When you’re tired later and you can’t face
anymore unpacking, you can hop straight
into a comfy bed and get a good night’s sleep.
This way you will feel revived and ready to
crack on again in the morning! Putting up
curtains in the bedrooms are also a great
start.
“Pack your
breakables
carefully with
bubble wrap, or
old t-shirts and
curtains, to avoid
breakages”
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21

the CREATIVE city...
Modern day Dundee is totally different
to the gritty industrial city it used to be.
When the jute mills closed, whaling ceased and sailing ships
were replaced with ships with engines, what happened to all
the people who were employed there? One thing this city and
its inhabitants don’t do, is sit around and wallow in self pity,
it takes action.
Timex times
In 1947 the American watch manufacturer Timex set up a small
operation employing just eleven people. Within a couple of years
the operation had moved to a purpose built factory and employed
mostly women to make their watches. Timex watches were a
very popular choice and most primary school aged children’s first
watches were a Timex. These watches were reliable, affordable
and inoffensive looking, but the world of watch manufacture
moved away from mechanical watches and Timex watches
became outdated. The chairman, Fred Olsen, persuaded Sir
Clive Sinclair to let the Dundee plant handle the assembly of the
ZX81 computer which was the successor to the ZX80. The ZX80
was released in 1980 as an inexpensive introduction to home
computing before the ZX81 was launched in March 1981.
Game on
Timex in Dundee was producing a computer every four seconds.
Early computer games such as Football Manager were produced
there. These games are often credited with being responsible
for the creation of the computer games industry in the UK. They
were affordable, enjoyable and created a whole new market
for emerging games companies. Abertay University was the
first university in the world to offer computer game design as a
degree course. Dundee is renowned globally as a centre for award
winning computer games which have been designed there.
The Keiller’s factory making marmalade, jam and Dundee cake
was gaining in popularity and its fame spread across many
continents. DC Thomson the Media Company was established
in 1905 and their various publications proved extremely popular.
The Sunday Post was the most popular Sunday Newspaper in
Scotland for a long time. The people who created the cartoons
for The Brooms, Oor Wullie, The Beano and The Dandy were
very talented artists. The Creative side of Dundee is totally
at odds with the hard, industrial image that is often associated
with the city.
This has led to a whole new influx of creative people who live and
work in the city. Where a lot of towns and cities are scratching
their heads and wondering what to do with their crumbling and
decaying city centres, Dundee is a vibrant University town with
a stunningly restored waterfront area where the V&A museum
sits next to the Discovery and the creative scene is very much in
evidence.
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, art galleries
and museums all contribute to the feeling of Dundee being a city
with a new identity as a city of culture with a wealth of creativity
and ready to face the 21st Century. Dundee seems like a great
place to live.
22 www.northwooduk.com/dundee-fife-estate-agents

Master of reinvention
Dundee was once a thriving port on the
East Coast of Scotland, thanks in no
small part to the textile industry and of
course whaling. Jute was a major import
to Dundee and was a the very heart f this
great industrial city during the days of the British Empire. Jute
required heat and standing water in order to grow. Scotland may
have been able to offer standing water occasionally, but certainly
not the required heat. Jute has been used for textiles in the Indus
river valley for thousands of years, and the Dundee jute barons, as
they were known, set up many jute mills in India and Bangladesh.
“D C Thomson are
responsible for some of
Scotland’s most loved
newspapers and magazines”
Juteopolis
Jute fibres are used to create rough fabric, such as hessian, burlap
and twine. Originally the jute plant was separated by hand using
running water to part the fibres. Then it was discovered that
this slow, labour intensive process could be treated with whale
oil and the fibres could then be processed by a machine, cutting
the cost of production. This discovery triggered the jute boom
in Dundee and the city was soon nicknamed ‘Juteopolis’. At its
peak of production, an estimated 40,000 families in Dundee were
directly dependant on Jute production. It’s no wonder Dundee
was also a shipbuilding hub — jute played a huge role in tallship
rigging and sails, just the infrastructure the British Empire needed
to sail halfway around the world to its colonies in the Indian
subcontinent.
A whale of a time - for a while
For about one hundred and fifty years, whale oil was
indispensable and was used for lighting and heating, soap, as well
for softening the raw jute fibres that Dundee made into sacking in
the city’s mills.The whale bone could sell for up to £3,000 a ton
and had a myriad of uses, from whips to chair backs to the bristles
of brushes, but its main use was corsets in the female fashion
industry. In the whaling heyday, almost 20 whaling ships sailed
from Dundee, and the townsfolk abandoned desk, bench and
loom to wave them farewell, throwing oranges and pennies on to
the decks for luck as the boats left the quays. By the late-1830s,
overfishing of whales had seriously affected the industry, and by
the mid-1880s Dundee was the only remaining whaling port in
the whole of the UK.
Journalism
It is hard to imagine the landscape of Dundee when the port was
buoyant, the tall chimney stacks belching out smoke from the jute
mills, and everything was very industrious all around.
However, by 1905 when D C Thomson Media was founded by
David Couper Thomson, things had started to decline. Jute and
jam were still important, but now there was a new kid on the
block and journalism became another important employer in
Dundee. D C Thomson are responsible for some of Scotland’s
most loved newspapers and magazines including The Sunday
Post, and comics like Our Wullie, The Brooms, The Beano, The
Dandy and hugely successful teenage magazine The Jackie to
name but a few.
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23

2 Panmure Street, Dundee DD1 2BW
e. dundee@northwooduk.com
t. 01382 221 343
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