About Dundee Heritage Trust

Formed in 1986, Dundee Heritage Trust is a registered charity dedicated to the guardianship, preservation and portrayal of Dundee’s heritage in ways that educate, inspire and enlighten current and future generations.

The Trust sprang from a small, dedicated band of local people who were concerned that, unless action was taken, important aspects of the city’s history would be lost forever. Trustees are drawn from a diverse range of parts of the community and business world who are interested in Dundee and Tayside.

DHT has responsibility for Discovery Point, home of RRS Discovery, and Verdant Works, one of the nation’s most important textile and social history museums. Both sites are VisitScotland 5-star rated attractions.

RRS Discovery history

Discovery, the historic ship that led Captain Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton on their famed trip to the Antarctic, was made in Dundee, a city more used to constructing strong whaling ships. It was only built to last about ten years when it was launched in 1901. It was the first ship built specifically for scientific research into Antarctica. The special design features of the ship allowed it to not only survive in the Antarctic waters, but also carry out research. Some of this research is still used and relevant today as the world becomes more and more aware of environmental issues. Now Discovery stands on the city’s waterfront offering not only a tour of the ship but the Scott of the Antarctic story with a unique Dundee twist.

RRS Discovery timeline 1901: Discovery is launched. 1902: Discovery arrives at winter quarters in Antarctica. 1904: Released from the Antarctic ice. 1923-27: Becomes scientific research ship once more and goes on to explore Antarctic waters. 1979: Acquired by The Maritime Trust. 1986: Returned to Dundee. 1993: Takes up permanent berth at Discovery Point, Dundee. 2016: A rigging conservation project lasts nine months and costs £350,000. Of that, £40,000 is raised through public crowdfunding. 2018: 25-year celebration of Discovery’s opening as a museum in Dundee.

Verdant Works history

Verdant Works is a world class visitor attraction which tells the story of Dundee’s industrial textile heritage in the atmospheric setting of a beautifully refurbished Mill building. A visit there provides not only a snapshot of mill life but immerses you in the social history of Dundee – a city which, at its peak, employed 50,000 people in the jute industry.

The city of Dundee was built around the jute industry the city’s population tripled to over 150,000 in a space of 30 years - One third of the city’s population was employed in the mills - The workers were predominantly women and children - Dundee created the first ‘house-husbands’ - The city exported jute products worldwide and became the jute capital of the world

Verdant Works timeline

1790: Linen and flax mills begin production in the Blackness area of Dundee. 1833: Built for merchant and flax spinner David Lindsay, Verdant Works begins textile.

1864: Verdant Works employs 500 people, which places it 16th out of 61 steam-powered textile mills and factories in the city. 1889: Verdant’s time as a true textile works is over and the name disappears from the list of mills and factories in the Dundee Directory. 1893: Verdant Works has new owners. Alexander Thomson and Sons use the site to recycle jute waste into flock for stuffing mattresses and furniture, cure rabbits for the fur trade and deal in scrap metals. 1950: Jute processing in Dundee is in decline as production moves to India. Only 39 jute firms are left out of a total of 150 at the industry’s peak – heralding ‘The Silence of the Looms’ 1996: Verdant Works opens to the public as a museum. 2016: The High Mill is officially opened as Verdant Works celebrates 20 years as a museum. 2017: The Great Tapestry of Scotland Part II is shown in the High Mill at Verdant Works. September 2018: The touring Brick City exhibition – featuring LEGO structures of some of the world’s most famous landmarks – opens at Verdant Works.

RRS Discovery and V&A Dundee – FAQs

What connects RRS Discovery to Dundee?

The ship was built in Dundee, whose shipyards were renowned for building whaling ships robust enough to withstand ice. So for a ship that was about to face the extremities of the Antarctic, it was the obvious place to start its journey.

When did Discovery return to Dundee?

The ship was returned to Dundee amidst much fanfare in 1986, after being used for decades as a training ship for Sea Scouts and the Royal Navy Reserve.

Your slogan is ‘Made in Dundee, Designed for Adventure.’ What’s the idea behind that?

Discovery was built here by the city’s own people, and therefore it was right that it returned here to be permanently docked at the waterfront.

We know this is a visitor attraction which is regarded fondly by Dundonians. It’s a chronicle of the city’s part in a major step in history – Captain Scott’s Antarctic voyage – and through our price points and community work we’ve always emphasised that we’re ‘for the people’.

What do you think of your new neighbour, V&A Dundee?

We’re incredibly excited to have V&A Dundee next door. The building and theme are in stark contrast to our historic look, but we think that’s what makes it work so well. Plus, there’s no better view of the new building than from Discovery Point!

How do you see such a historic attraction fitting in with Dundee in its new chapter as design capital and tourist hub?

Our focal point – the ship - may be from another century, but Discovery Point is extremely cutting edge. We’ve had a huge revamp of our exhibits and galleries to include interactive, multi-media, digital displays – the tune of £350,000. Discovery Point is a meeting place too, popular for conferences and events. We envisage more demand for our spaces as traffic to the city increases.

It’s important to understand the city’s past in order for it to look to the future. Both Verdant Works and RRS Discovery represent key industries in Dundee’s development as an energetic and globally important city. They detail Dundee’s history of engineering, design, trade, science and, of course, entrepreneurship. That’s significant as it enters its new chapter.

Tell us about your ‘sister’ venue, Verdant Works.

For a long time, Dundee was a one-industry city, with 50,000 people employed in more than 100 mills. A little more than a mile from Discovery Point, we run Verdant Works – a former jute mill turned social history and textile museum. It celebrates the jute industry but also the people of Dundee who were at its core.

What does Dundee Heritage Trust do?

Our purpose is the guardianship, preservation and portrayal of Dundee’s heritage for the education, inspiration and enlightenment of current and future generations. That’s a bit of a mouthful, so let’s just say we’re custodians of Dundee’s heritage for today’s and future generations.

Is Dundee Heritage Trust linked to the City Council?

No, Dundee Heritage Trust and its venues are independent of Dundee City Council.

How can people get involved in Dundee Heritage Trust?

Sponsorship is an obvious route for a business. We also rely on fundraising activities and volunteers. If you have a passion for Dundee’s heritage and history, get in touch be emailing [email protected]

For press information contact Kim Adamson, Sales and Marketing Manager, on 01382 309060 or [email protected]