Lochee

For the coaster, see MV Lochee.
Lochee
Lochee
 Lochee shown within the City of Dundee
Population 5,218 
OS grid referenceNO378317
Council areaCity of Dundee
Lieutenancy areaDundee
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town DUNDEE
Postcode district DD2
Dialling code 01382
Police Scottish
Fire Scottish
Ambulance Scottish
EU Parliament Scotland
UK ParliamentDundee West
Scottish ParliamentDundee City West
List of places
UK
Scotland

Coordinates: 56°28′24″N 3°00′41″W / 56.473299°N 3.011276°W / 56.473299; -3.011276

Lochee High Street

Lochee is an area in the west of Dundee, Scotland. Until the 19th century, it was a separate town, but was eventually surrounded by the expanding Dundee. It is notable for being home to Camperdown Works, which was the largest jute production site in the world.

History

Cox's stack

'Lochee' originally referred to the area in which weavers' cottages were situated at the burn which flowed through Balgay Lochee; thus, they were at the eye of the loch or Loch E'e, which eventually became Lochee. It is believed this site is close to where Myrekirk stands today.[1] Indeed, John Ainslie's map of 1794 makes reference to 'Locheye' on the north and south banks of the burn.[2] However, G. Taylor and A. Skinner's 'Survey and maps of the roads of North Britain or Scotland' in 1776 makes reference to 'Lochee'.[3]

When the loch was drained by the Duncans in the 15th century they offered crofting tenancies along the burn. One of the tenancies went to a Dutchman, James Cox and his family. After a change of name and with a reputation for quality linen, the Cox family eventually set up as linen merchants in 1700.

By 1760 the firm had 300 weavers and after using steam power and moving into the jute industry the family built Camperdown Works in 1864, said to be the largest factory in the world, with over 5,000 employees. Cox’s Stack, the 86 m (282 ft) high campanile-style factory chimney designed by local architect James MacLaren, survives.[4] Lochee became a company town with 2 railway stations, police force, fire service, schools, swimming pool, casino, library, washhouse and several churches.

Lochee is well known for being the home of Dundee's biggest ever gang, 'The Lochee Fleet' who were notorious in Dundee's gang culture throughout the 70's and 90's.

Immigration

Many immigrants were attracted to the area by the prospect of employment in the city's jute mills. By 1855, there were 14,000 Irish immigrants in Dundee,[5] most of whom stayed in Lochee, or 'Little Tipperary' as it would come to be known.[6] In 1904, the Lochee Harp football club was formed by Lochee Irishmen as a means of recreation for the poor immigrants; the club still plays to this day.[6]

Lochee is still regarded as Dundee's Irish 'quarter'.[7]

Notable Lochee residents

Demographics

Lochee | Scotland

References

  1. ↑ "Letters". Evening Telegraph. 2008-03-24. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  2. ↑ "View: Map of the County of Forfar or Shire of Angus. - Maps of Scotland, 1560-1928 - National Library of Scotland". Nls.uk. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  3. ↑ "View: The Road from Dundee to Cupar and Dunkeld; the Roa... - Taylor and Skinner's Survey, 1776 - National Library of Scotland". Nls.uk. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  4. ↑ "Dundee, Methven Street, Camperdown Works, Cox's Stack". ScotlandsPlaces. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  5. ↑ "Legacies - Immigration and Emigration - Scotland - Perth and Tayside - Little Tipperary: The Irish in Lochee - Article Page 1". BBC. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  6. 1 2 "Legacies - Immigration and Emigration - Scotland - Perth and Tayside - Little Tipperary: The Irish in Lochee - Article Page 2". BBC. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  7. ↑ "Legacies - Immigration and Emigration - Scotland - Perth and Tayside - Little Tipperary: The Irish in Lochee - Article Page 3". BBC. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  8. ↑ http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Dundee/article/22343/i-took-his-no-9-shirt-at-st-columba-s-george-galloway-and-billy-boyle-trade-pot-shots-in-lochee-slum-row.html
  9. ↑ "Omleiding". Theviewareonfire.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  10. ↑ "Lochee Community Profile". 20schemes. 20schemes. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
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