Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

William M Wilson, Dundee, 1937-38; further range at rear early 1950s. Rare survival of little-altered Art Deco style 2-storey, 7-bay, rectangular-plan office block fronting more utilitarian 1950s block, built for McGregor and Balfour Limited, timber merchant. Horizontal design emphasised with base, cill, lintel and blocking courses punctuating contrasting green tile, harl and concrete banding; cantilevered canopy over entrance; metal/Crittal windows; good interior scheme retained. 2-storey, rectangular-plan, linking store and office at rear with full-height bowed SW angle, glass brick openings at ground floor and ribbon window-effect at 1st floor. Rear block of harl with banded 1st floor cill course and blocking course.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION:

OFFICE BLOCK: symmetrical principal SE elevation incorporating terrazzo steps up to canopied centre doorway with flanking bowed windows, tile-banded doorpiece and deep-set, horizontally-panelled 2-leaf timber door. Large tripartite stair window to NE.

REAR BLOCK: 4 glass brick openings to ground at NW and bowed angle at right.

Multi-pane tripartite glazing patterns, with wide centre tripartites to SE; 4 bowed horizontal panes to windows flanking entrance; decorative 12-pane glazing pattern to fixed timber stair window. Modern windows to 1st floor rear block. Cast iron downpipes with decorative rainwater hoppers.

INTERIOR: good decorative scheme in place. Much high quality timberwork and panelling (see Notes) to 2 ground floor front rooms and 1st floor (right). Dark wood panelling to entrance foyer and ground floor passages retained beneath modern wall covering. Plain moulded plasterwork cornices. Each principal ground floor office with squared panelling incorporating desk and shelving, rustic brick fireplace. Dog-leg staircase with brass handrails. Large 1st floor board room with smart period detail incorporating vertical panelling of ripple plane tree crowned by dogtooth cornice at picture rail height, timber fire surround and overmantel, light fittings (see Notes), clock and radiator housing. Strong rooms at each floor with makers plate 'RELIANCE/ DOOR' 'John Tann's Newgate St London'. Rear block incorporates large, plainer spaces.

Statement of Special Interest

The former North Tay Centre is a rare example of a well-detailed 1930s office block which is exceptional not only for the survival of its little-altered high quality interior reflecting the period style, but also for the retention of the original glazing. The offices were built alongside The North Tay Works (of which a single long range appears to survive immediately to the southwest) which had been an important supplier of shuttles, bobbins and spools to Dundee's jute and mill industries since the mid to later years of the 19th century. Dundee, or 'Juteopolis', 'was the world's major producer first of coarse flax and then of jute' (Watson, p9). Dundee's production of jute was declining by the 1920s but finally ceased in the 1980s. McGregor and Balfour's continued success relied heavily on the export market. Dundee architect William Wilson is known for his ice rink and industrial designs, although few examples of his work now survive. His Dundee Ice Rink of 1937 which McKean describes as 'carefully Art Deco and, thereby, old-fashioned' was demolished circa 2000.

The North Tay Works, sited to the rear of contemporary council housing, was built for McGregor and Balfour Ltd, timber merchants and mill furnishers. Using home grown timber the company manufactured bobbins, shuttles and spools for the jute and textile industries. The former factory is a long rectangular building located immediately to the SW of the office block and store. A further building (no longer extant) sited to the N, an ex-RAF Blister hangar, was used for packing. During construction work was halted as the discovery of bones led to the understanding that this was consecrated ground. However, subsequent research found that on the contrary, the site was used for interring victims of hangings. McGregor and Balfour had an office in Calcutta and after partition the closure of local jute mills resulted in 90% of their output being exported to India.

The recently refurbished interior retains much of the fine detailing, including the board room lights and dark wood panelling at the entrance now concealed by lighter coloured wall coverings. The building was purchased during the 1980s and rented out to a local building contractor who moved out in 2008. It is owned by DIA (Dundee Industrial Association), a not-for-profit venture which rents out small office units in a number of buildings in Dundee.

Mr James Crichton, who provided much of the above information, began work at McGregor and Balfour's as an office boy at the age of 14, and retired as Works Director with just a brief period in the RAF during WWII.

References

Bibliography

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.