Month: August 2024

Thursday 17 April 2025, 7.00 pm

Talk by Bruce Keith

This talk, by our regular and fast-paced AGM speaker Bruce Keith, is based on his third book and takes a subterranean odyssey exploring the natural and man-made heritage under our feet. From natural caves to hollow mountains used to generate hydro-electric power, from ancient civilisations to underground bunkers to railway tunnels, from water supplies to the sewers which take away our wastes and much else asides; all are revealed when we take a look below. And Dundee and her hinterland has much to offer and amaze.

The talk will take place as usual in Dundee Art Society Roseangle Gallery, but it will be preceded by the Trust’s AGM at 7.00 pm (19:00) and will start at the later time of 7.30 pm (19:30).  Guests and non-members are welcome and there will be the opportunity to chat over a glass of wine afterwards, kindly supplied by McNicoll & Cairnie, Wine Merchants.

Thursday 21 November 2024, 7.00 pm

Talk by Mark Watson of Historic Environment Scotland

(Joint event with Dundee Historic Environment Trust)

Reduce, re-use, recycle: a green city must use well the assets it has before building anew. How Dundee has adapted to changing economics and through good planning (yes, by Dundee City Council), much of its best historic architecture gives new vitality to the City of Design. Some buildings you’d scarcely notice, or wouldn’t miss until they are gone, and others are startlingly transformed. How that happened will be revealed in this illustrated talk.

A Dundonian, Mark Watson had the unique opportunity to negotiate and approve changes to the historic environment of Dundee over 14 years, added to four years listing buildings, for what is now Historic Environment Scotland (Industrial Heritage team, External Relations and Partnerships Directorate). He now works on industrial and engineering heritage in Scotland. The talk will cover those and other building types. He worked on managing change to historic buildings and areas across Scotland and is convenor of the Scotland branch of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation (IHBC). He wrote the nomination for New Lanark’s inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List and parts of that for the Forth Bridge. He researches textile history, industrial architecture and engineering heritage.

This talk will be the first of new series organised by Dundee Civic Trust jointly with Dundee Historic Environment Trust.

The talk will take place in the Dundee Art Society Roseangle Gallery, starting at 7.00pm (19:00).  As always, non-members and guests will be very welcome and there will be the opportunity afterwards to chat over a glass of wine, kindly supplied by McNicoll & Cairnie, Wine Merchants.

Thursday 17 October 2024, 7.00 pm

Talk by Dr Jan Merchant

The Big Back Garden project is led by the University of Dundee’s Archive Services and explores the history of Baxter Park and its use. Central to the project were local communities who contributed their time, ideas and their memories of the Park.

This evening’s talk, by Dr Jan Merchant, Senior Archivist, University of Dundee Archive Services, will offer a brief history of the Park, describe the project and discuss the role of green spaces in our lives.

The talk will take place in the Dundee Art Society Roseangle Gallery, starting at 7.00pm (19:00). As always, non-members and guests will be very welcome and there will be the opportunity afterwards to chat over a glass of wine, kindly supplied by McNicoll & Cairnie, Wine Merchants.

Thursday 19 September 2024, 7.00 pm

Talk by Willie Watt

(Joint event with Dundee Institute of Architects)

Our Dundee Civic Trust winter evening talks restart on Thursday 19 September when Willie Watt, BSc(Hons) DIP ARCH, PPRIAS, RIBA, will expand upon Nicoll Russell Studios’ work outside Dundee.

The architectural practice of Nicoll Russell Studios will be well known to many members of Dundee Civic Trust for its broad range of work in Dundee including the ‘A Listed’ Dundee Rep, the city centre’s bus stops, Seabraes Bridge, Waters Edge, Dundee Station, The Space at Dundee and Angus College, Dundee Sheriff Court, Whitetops and Grianan alongside many less obvious buildings, houses, restaurants, cafes, bars and night clubs.

Dundee is the home of the practice but to achieve growth it has always been outward looking, winning and completing a range of projects across the UK which will form the basis of this talk.

Willie Watt became a partner at Nicoll Russell Studios in 2006 having joined the practice as an associate in 1999, and is a Past President of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, an accredited conservation architect, an avid keeper of sketchbooks as well as a qualified mountain bike coach and leader.

This talk is the first of new series organised by Dundee Civic Trust jointly with Dundee Institute of Architects.

The talk will take place in the Dundee Art Society Roseangle Gallery, starting at 7.00 pm (19:00).  As always, non-members and guests will be very welcome and there will be the opportunity afterwards to chat over a glass of wine, kindly supplied by McNicoll & Cairnie, Wine Merchants.