The Buildings at Risk Register (BARR) for Scotland was set up by the Scottish Civic Trust in 1990 to raise awareness of listed buildings or buildings in conservation areas that were empty and falling into disrepair. The Register passed into the custodianship of Historic Environment Scotland in 2015, ultimately recording around forty properties of concern in Dundee.
In September 2024, following a detailed consultancy report, HES announced that management of the BARR would be paused to allow its future form to be reviewed. You can read the full details here, while the Register may still be viewed here.
Despite the current absence of an active national database, Dundee Civic Trust shall continue to draw attention to those buildings in the city seen to be ‘at risk’. They may be of historical significance, exemplify a particular architectural style or tradition, reflect shared memories or offer exciting and sustainable redevelopment opportunities. Collectively, they make an important contribution to Dundee’s urban landscape, helping to shape its unique identity. It is essential, therefore, that they are maintained well and brought into positive use.
The Trust works to raise the profile of such buildings and supports appropriate regeneration proposals.
Examples
Robertson’s Whisky Bond, 38-40 Seagate (Category B listed; Conservation Area)
Dominatin
g the north-western elevation of the Seagate, Robertson’s Bond was designed by the Dundee architect David William Baxter whilst working for Alexander Johnston. It was built in 1897 in the Jacobethan style as a whisky manufacturing plant or bond for John Robertson & Co, proprietors of the famous ‘Yellow Label’ brand.
A four storey, basement and attic structure with a red ashlar-fronted facade and slate roof, it is nearly symmetrical except for the pend on the left side. The entrance bays feature arched entrances, one with heavy consoles, strapwork and urn decoration.
The upper floors feature three light mullioned and transomed windows, framed by slim ogee-capped turrets which cant out from the first floor.
Notable features include the the cill courses on the first and third floors, a main corbelled cornice and a crenellated parapet with shaped and crow stepped gable, oculi and ball finials.
John Robertson & Son was established in 1827 and in 1896 was incorporated as a limited company, acquiring both the existing business as wine and spirit merchants in Seagate and Candle Lane and ground at Coleburn, Elgin, for a distillery from William Brown Robertson, also a wine and spirit merchant in Dundee.
In 1906 the Candle Lane Bond was badly affected by the huge fire at the nearby Watson’s Bond.
The Coleburn Distillery was subsequently built and operated until 1915, when it was sold to the Clynelish Distilling Co. In 1966 the company changed its name to William Sanderson & Son Ltd and still operates today.
After its whisky bond days, from 1980 the Seagate building was the home of Dundee Printmakers’ Workshop until it moved to DCA in 1999.
The ground floor and basement are currently operating commercially, but the four floors above have been the subject of a number of schemes. It was recently up for auction late last year, with planning permission for conversion into 27 flats including Listed Building Consent and building warrant in place.
Broughty Ferry Station (Category A listed; Conservation Area)
Broughty Ferry is loosely described as the oldest operational railway station in Scotland, which is fundamentally true. Although Monifieth and Carnoustie stations also date from the opening of the Dundee & Arbroath Railway in 1838, they later underwent considerable alterations not applied at Broughty Ferry, where the original station buildings are still an integral part of the layout.
These buildings have, however, been largely unused since the station became unstaffed in 1985. At that time British Rail intended to send in the bulldozers; but this was thwarted when the complex received Category B listed status (upgraded to Category A in 1991). By the mid-1990s the station saw few train services and had fallen into a state of vandalised dereliction.
Under its station regeneration programme, privatised Railtrack undertook a restoration project around 2000. The redundant signal box and covered footbridge were taken down and the station was broadly returned to its original appearance from 1838. Following the collapse of Railtrack two years later, that company’s successor Network Rail obtained consent to make further alterations, enclosing part of the Up platform under the canopy (to provide a business space) and building a rather curious replica of the old signal box on the opposite side from its original position.
The Civic Trust awarded a Commendation in 2014 for this work. Ten years later, we are dismayed to note that the station complex remains unoccupied. It is being marketed for tenancy under the ScotRail Station Spaces initiative, but the sign on Gray Street advertising this fact has been destroyed by vandalism and not replaced. Meanwhile the signs of neglect are there, with vegetation beginning to sprout and faulty roof drainage causing rainwater to discharge down the walls.
The train service to Broughty Ferry has now been revitalised. Surely, with a little commitment from the rail authorities, a new use can be found for this property.
East Graving Dock Pump House (Category B listed)
This single storey, five bay gabled pump house sits alongside the 500 foot long East Graving Dock.
Built in 1869 as th
e port expanded eastwards, it was designed by harbour engineer David Cunningham, with Charles Ower (Senior) as consulting engineer.
It features a central arched doorway and end gables with skewputts and ball finials. The slate roof has large skylights and two conical-capped ventilators to the east over the basement pumps.
The pumps were originally steam powered, probably by vertical marine engines. The west end of the pump house probably housed the boilers. The chimney and two 5-ton cranes have been demolished.
It is currently owned by Forth Ports, but no maintenance appears to have taken place in recent years.
The East Graving Dock has been identified as the location for the refurbished HMS ‘Unicorn’, although there is no information about the role of the pump house in the proposed development.
Rescued
The Seamen’s Chapel, Candle Lane (Category B listed; Conservation Area)
We are pleased to see the Seamen’s Chapel removed from the Buildings at Risk Register with its conversion (as of 2021) into two 2-bedroom flats.
The chapel, which adjoins the former Sailors’ Home at the corner of Dock Street and Candle Lane, is one of only two such buildings remaining in the UK (the other is in Swansea).
However, it is regrettable that more of the interior—notably the panelled upper gallery—could not be saved after the years of dereliction.