Gillian Molloy

Talk to Friends of The Magdalen Green As in all things - street names are subject to the whims of fashion. Paris, Edinburgh, Dundee. The town had to be seen to be modern and outward looking. Developers have to entice people to buy one of their properties rather than those offered by a rival. Who would want to live in Scouringburn when they could live in Well Road. Paris led the way by naming streets after royalty, national heroes and victorious battles. Windsor, Richmond, Osborne , are all probably named for the royal connection, whereas Dalhousie Terrace, Shaftesbury Road, Hyndford Street and Terrace all have a political connection. Many streets get their name from the lands on which they were built: Seafield, Westfield, Hawkhill, Springfield, Ryehill, Hermon Hill A document dated 26 October, 1620 states "... from five acres of arable land lying in the West field of Dundee, holding of St James Chaplainry..." In 1665 the Lands of Westfield were acquired by the Hospital Fund from the Trustees of Graham of Claverhouse, including "that aker of land called the Marmaiden Pot , lying in the Seafield". Marmaidenpot was roughly on the site of Airlie Terrace. For sale - range of dwelling-houses and about 3 roods of land situate at Seafield. The houses are all newly built, substantially finished and laid out in the most convenient manner to accommodate genteel families. The property is well supplied with water; has an entry both from the Perth Road and Magdalen Yard. Apply George Robertson, proprietor (Dundee, Perth and Cupar Advertiser 25 June, 1819). William Lyon Mackenzie was born in Springfield, Dundee on 12 March, 1795. He emigrated to Canada in 1820 and in 1828 was elected M.P. for Upper Canada. In 1832 he was one of a deputation from Canada to present a petition of grievances to the King and to Parliament. In 1837 he was one of the leaders of a rebellion and had to leave Canada for a time as there was £1,000 bounty on his head. He was allowed to revisit Canada in 1849 and was re-elected as M.P. He died in Canada on 30 August 1861, and is regarded as one of the founder fathers of modern Canada. Ground at Rhye Hill at the West End of Hawkhill of Dundee was to be feued in January 1805. Described as "that plot of ground with the privilege of a gable-wall, fronting the old Perth post-road. Also another plot of ground to the southward, fronting the new Perth post-road." In 1837 Provost Patrick Hunter Thoms was living at Crescent House, Perth Road. The Crescent grounds were west of Windsor Street and ran down to the shore. His son, George Hunter MacThomas Thoms of Aberlemno, feued the Crescent estate. He proposed Hunter-Thoms' Terrace which was intended to extend westward from the foot of Windsor Street, however, this proposal was withdrawn and in 1896 he made know his intention of laying down four new streets on the Crescent Property west of Windsor Street. He proposed naming them " Melgund Terrace ", " Thoms Crescent ", " Fort Street " and " Letham Place ". Also in 1896 Mr Thoms gave the sloping bank south of Melgund Terrace to add to the Magdalen Green. However, he later decided that the "Melgund Terrace" should be called " Richmond Terrace " and that "Letham Place" should be " Minto Place ". The Committee approved (Works Committee meeting 4 January 1898). The names Melgund and Minto commemorate Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynymound (1845-1914), 4th Earl of Minto and Viscount Melgund. He was Governor General of Canada (1898-1904) and Viceroy of India (1905-1910). Melgund Castle, Aberlemno was built by Cardinal Beaton in 1542. The name Melgund, is still with us in the tenement block Melgund Place , in the Perth Road built in 1903. To the west of the Crescent estate was Clarendon Park Nursery which gave its name to Clarendon Street Plan received from Professor Geddes, University College showing a Botanic Garden and Pleasure Ground on the ground known as Clarendon Nursery, extending south- wards to the Caledonian Railway and eastwards to Magdalen Green (Parks and Cemeteries Committee 12 September 1906). The Committee were of the opinion that they could not undertake the scheme. Plan to be recommended to be put on display at the Art Galleries. In 1893 the Balgay estate proposed laying out some new streets in the area between the proposed extension to the Esplanade above Willis Braes, south of the Perth Road (roughly where the traffic roundabout is now) and north of the railway line. Burnaby Street to run between Esplanade Road and Eildon Street parallel to Perth Road. It forms the entrance to the Botanic Gardens. Eildon Street to run from Perth Road to Caledonian Railway at the east end of the unfeued ground. Eildon Hills - a trio of conical hills above Melrose in the Borders. Sir Walter Scott chose it as his favourite view (Celtic Place Names of Scotland by WJ Watson) William Taylor and James Paton , Manufacturer, George Thomson , Merchant, the Rev. MacVicar , Thomas Miller , Bewer and his family, James Small , Merchant, Peter Pennycook , William Ritchie, Merchant and Manufacturer, all gave their names to Lanes, Wynds or Streets. Speed's Lane was named after George Speid, gardener and dairy-man. It was renamed Union Place on 20 July 1896. Sim's Alley which ran from the Perth Road to Blackness Road on east side of Faringtonhall was possibly called after Thomas Sim who rented Fleukar Craig and Lady Park immediately to the westward of Logie House. Sim's Alley described as a private avenue belonging to the Laird of Balgay, leading from the Perth Road to his Mansion House and Home Farm steading and until 1870s had a lodge and gate at the foot of it. Its gradients were ill-suited for vehicles and practically it is only used by pedestrians. No objections made to the public using it as a communication between Blackness Road and the Perth Road. (Works Committee meeting 21 February 2874) Renamed Westgrove Avenue in 1909 Mr and Mrs Francis Molison presented an Institution for the Blind to Dundee. It was opened on 11 July 1867 at Dallfield. The Institution later moved to larger premises at 59 Magdalen Green. Molison Street off Mains Loan is named after Francis Molison. He was a merchant and vice-consul for Spain. He married Eliza Baxter, sister of Sir David Baxter. Their daughter was Lady Ogilvy Dalgleish . He lived at Errol Park and Mayfield Bellefield Avenue name suggested by J & J Ogilvie and adopted 18 May 1894 St Peter's Street named after St Peter's Free Church built in 1836 Registration Districts - Dundee was divided into four Registration Districts, Lochee being the fifth. St Peter's, St Mary's, St Clement's and St Andrew's. Bailie Ritchie observed that St John's and St David's were ignored altogether, and that St Peter's was no parish at all. The Clerk did not see why they should call the Registration Districts by Saint's names. Mr Stewart stated that this proposal may create jealousy and suspicion among the saints. Mr Mackay - Let the saints fight it out then! (Dundee Advertiser 21 June 1867) Roseangle In the 1780s there is a gardener residing at Rose Angle, which is the name of an area of land, not a street. In 1824, David Martin was residing at "Rose Angle". David Martin (1777-1863) came to Dundee in 1791 and became apprentice to Mr Jobson. He started David Martin & Co and was also a partner of the London Shipping Co., which owned the ill-fated "Forfarshire" of Grace Darling fame. He was a member of Dundee Town Council. He gained a silver medal from the Horticultural Society of London in 1832 for a new seedling Running Rose, a double purple variety of R.arvensis. He is mentioned in a book "The Manual of Roses" published in 1845. "Several of the prettiest varieties have been raised from seed by Mr Martin of Rose Angle, Dundee." I would just like to finish with: Servitude Road , Seabraes (opposite Airlie Place) 1882 In a feu contract of 1882, the road is described "....a private road leading from Perth Road eastward along the southern boundary of the property which is the same road noted in the proceeding Titles over which the servitude exists....." The widening of Perth Road - parties having a right of servitude might be supplied with keys and allowed to use the road as at present....(Works Committee meeting 17 December 1900). .

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