Dundee
 Castles |
By the time the Roman legions eventually occupied this part of Scotland in the 1st century AD, Dundee already had an established settlement on its site. Traces of these early Celtic inhabitants are still in evidence, most especially the pre-Roman hill-fort standing on Dundee Law, a 571ft volcanic crag on whose lower slope part of the city is built. Regrettably, there are few ancient buildings remaining to us in the city, because of the bitterly contested Anglo-Scottish wars during the 300 years from the 14th century. Dundee was fought over time and time again, as a consequence of which few buildings survived for long.
Dundee has been a Royal Burgh since 1190, and has been the scene of several battles for Scottish independence. In fact, the city was seized and sacked by the English in the 14th, 16th and 17th centuries.
Dundee in the 12th century had both a castle and a monastery, both of which have long disappeared. Tradition has it that William Wallace, the great Scottish nationalist, was educated at the monastery school. In 1288, he began a lifetime of struggle against the English when he killed the son of the English Constable of Dundee. A wall plaque in Castlehill, indicating the former site of the castle, commemorates Wallace and his deeds; he was eventually hung, drawn and quartered by the English in 1305 at the age of 33. The land once occupied by the monastery is called The Howff, or meeting-place, because the powerful trade guilds met there. Mary, Queen of Scots gave the site to Dundee for use as a cemetery, and monuments therein date from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries
Early buildings that have survived, or partially survived the ravages of time, include the fine 15th century Old Steeple of St Mary, all that remains to us of a once great medieval church. In its time it was repeatedly sacked by the English and almost totally destroyed by fire in 1841; it is now a museum of church and local history. Cowgate Port, or Wishart Arch, is the only surviving gate of the old town walls. Dudhope Castle is a 13th century relic, built originally for the Scrymageur family, hereditary Constables of Dundee. Rebuilt in the 16th century, the house and office of Constable passed to John Graham of Claverhouse, the 'Bonnie Dundee' of Scot's ballads, who brutally suppressed the Covenanters - Scottish Presbyterians.
Dundee University, founded in 1881, was affiliated to St Andrew's University in 1897, but is now independent. The City Museum and Art Gallery (McManus Galleries) contains the oldest known astrolabe, an instrument used in navigation, dating from 1555; paintings in the Gallery include Dutch, French, Italian and British works. The Barrack Street Shipping and Industrial Museum illustrates the commercial and maritime life of the city through the centuries. In Caird Park, ruins are all that remains of the 16th century Mains of Fintry Castle, once the seat of the powerful Graham family. William McGonagall, 1830-1902, self-styled poet and tragedian, was according to 'Punch' magazine the "greatest Bad Verse Writer of his age". He worked in Dundee as a weaver, and many of his poems were inspired by local landmarks.
A little to the north of Dundee lies Glamis Castle, childhood home of the Queen Mother, and birthplace of Princess Margaret in 1930. The 14th century castle, rebuilt mainly in late 17th century French chateau style, is reputedly the most haunted stately home in Britain. Duncan's Hall may be the setting for Shakespeare's 'Macbeth', the 'Thane of Glammis'. In 1715, the Old Pretender, son of James VII of Scotland (James II of England) lodged at the castle. Glammis houses fine collections of tapestries, paintings, furniture and weapons, while outside, the parkland and formal gardens were laid out by Capability Brown. There is a 21ft high sundial with 84 dials in the garden. Visitors can enjoy the most beautiful views from the castle battlements across the Vale of Strathmore.