Dundee - A Timeline

1010
Malcolm II gathered his forces in Dundee prior to victory over the Danes at Barrie.
1071
Malcolm Ceannmor built a palace in Dundee for his Queen Margaret.

1106
King Edgar died in Dundee.
1190
St Mary's Church was founded by David, Earl of Huntingdon, brother of William the Lion. Nothing survives of the original building.
1191
Dundee was created a royal burgh under a charter of King William.

1200s
Dunhope Castle was built for the Scrymageur family, hereditary Constables of Dundee.
1260 (c)
A Greyfriars' monastery was founded in Dundee by Devorgilla, mother of King John Baliol.
1288
William Wallace, who had been educated at the monastery school, killed the son of

the English Constable of Dundee.
1291
Edward I's forces took possession of Dundee Castle, sacked and burned the town and slew many of the inhabitants.
1296
Edward I visited Dundee in person.

1303
Dundee was once again sacked by English forces under Edward I.
1309
A national ecclesiastical council met at the Greyfriars Abbey in Dundee to recognise Robert Bruce as King of Scotland.
1312
Dundee Castle was rebuilt and garrisoned by the English. It was subsequently

taken by the Scots under Prince Edward, brother of Robert Bruce, and then retaken by the English in the same year.
1313
Dundee Castle was once again captured by Prince Edward.
1327
Dundee was granted a new charter by Robert the Bruce. This replaced the original charter of 1191

which had been later revoked by Edward I.
1385
Richard II's English forces attacked and burned Dundee.
1392
A Redfriars' monastery was founded by Sir James Lindsay of Crawford, in South Tay Street.

15th c
Wool was woven and dyed in Dundee.
1500s
The population of Dundee was around 7,000 in the early part of the century.
1500s
The wool industry in Dundee flourished and large amounts were exported.
1528
King James V and his Queen paid a six-day visit to Dundee.
1544

Dundee was struck by an outbreak of the plague.
1545
A wall was built around Dundee during a period of Anglo-Scottish conflict (1544-51) known as the Rough Wooing.
1547
Dundee was badly damaged by an English naval bombardment in July.
1550
Mains Castle was built by Sir

David Graham.
1586
The Old Town's Cross was originally erected in the Seagate. It was later moved to the High Street.
1607-08
There was a severe outbreak of plague.
1645
Dundee was besieged by the royalist Marquess of Montrose during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.
1650

The population stood at around 11,000.
1651
During the Third English Civil War, Dundee was sacked by parliamentary forces under General Monck. Many of the town's inhabitants were slain.
1657
Monck ordered the demolition of the town walls.
1658
A storm damaged the harbour.

17thC
In the latter part of the century the wool industry declined.
1700s
Dundee started producing linen and had an important thread making and leather industry. There was also a whaling industry and became known for making marmalade by the end of the century.
1734

The Town House was completed. Standing on the site of the former church of St Clement, the building contained the Guild Hall, a Court Room, offices and a prison.
1745-46

An army of 600 men under Sir James Kinloch took possession of Dundee for Prince Charles Edward Stuart,

between September 7th 1745 and January 14th 1746.
1772
St Andrews Church, in King Street, was built. It was paid for by the nine trades guild of Dundee.
1777
The Old Town Cross was moved from the High Street.
1797
Marmalade was allegedly invented in Dundee by Janet Keiller.

However, earlier recipes certainly exist.
1798
An infirmary was opened in King Street. It was later converted into a school.
1800s
Shipbuilding became a major industry in Dundee.
1801
The population of Dundee according to the census was 26,084.
1820
The Royal Lunatic Asylum

was built in Dundee.
1825
Dundee's first wet dock, King William IV dock, was built.
1826
Gas lighting was introduced into Dundee.
1828
Union Street was laid out following the clearance of many old and dilapidated houses.
1830
The Dundee Temperance Society was established.
1833

Dundee High School was built in Reform Street.
1834
Earl Grey Dock was built.
1836
An Eye Institution was founded to treat those suffering from eye diseases.
1836
The Dundee Chamber of Commerce was formed. It was incorporated in 1864.
1837
A prison was built in West Bell

Street.
1838
Broughty Ferry railway station was opened on the Dundee and Arbroath Railway.
1841
The population of Dundee according to the census was 63,732.
1843
The Custom House, in Dock Street, was built.
1844
Queen Victoria visited Dundee in September.
1845
A water company

was formed to provide Dundee with piped water.
1845

The Western Cemetery, in Perth Road, was opened.
1848

A Home for Fallen Women was established in Dundee. Its purpose was to assist females who had strayed from a virtuous path.
1848
Dundee's first public baths were opened.

1852-54
A new infirmary was built which could accommodate 220 patients.
1853
The Royal Arch, Dock Street, was erected to commemorate the landing of Queen Victoria at Dundee in 1844.
1853-55
St Paul's Cathedral in Dundee was built. It was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott.

1853-56
The Royal Exchange, in Panmure Street, was built.
1856
Dundee Poorhouse was built with accommodation for 300 inmates.
1856-58
The Kinnaird Hall, public meeting hall in Bank Street, was built.
1861
The population of Dundee according to the census was 90,426.

1862
The Eastern Necropolis cemetery, Arbroath Road, was opened.
1864
Albert Square was laid out on an area which had been cleared of slums.
1864-65
The Court House buildings, in West Bell Street, were constructed.
1865
Camperdown Dock was built.
1865
An Institution for the

Blind was established in Dundee.
1869

A Free Public Library was opened in July. Dundee was only the second town in Scotland to do this.
1869 (c)
Bank Street, named after the Bank of Scotland which had a branch situated there, was opened.
1870
A Deaf and Dumb Institution was

opened in Lochee Road.
1870s
A network of sewers was created in Dundee.
1871
The population of Dundee according to the census was 120,547.
1871
Balgay Hill, to the west of the town, was acquired for use as a public park. It was opened by the Earl of Dalhousie in September.

1873
The new Town Hall was built.
1874
Dundee Swimming Club and Humane Society was founded.
1875
Victoria Dock was built.
1876
Horse drawn trams were introduced in Dundee.
1876
A cattle market, and slaughterhouses, were opened next to the East Dock Street railway station.
1879

The first Tay rail bridge, built by Thomas Bouch, was opened. It was the longest railway bridge in the world at the time.
1879

The Tay rail bridge collapsed on December 28th, less than a year after being opened, as a full passenger train was crossing. There were no

survivors, the event becoming known as The Tay Bridge Disaster.
1880

The Burns statue, by Sir John Steell, was unveiled in October in Albert Square.
1881

The population of Dundee according to the census was 140,054.
1881
Dundee University was founded. It was originally

affiliated to St Andrew's University.
1882
Rebuilding of the Tay Bridge was begun, to replace the original which collapsed in 1879.
1884
A steam boat passenger service was established between Dundee and Antwerp. There were already regular services to Leith, Newcastle, Hull,

London, Liverpool, and Rotterdam.
1885
Harris Academy was founded.
1887
The present Tay Rail Bridge was completed. It is the longest rail bridge in Britain at 2 miles 73 yards long.
1888
Morgan Academy was established. The building had formerly been the Morgan hospital.
1891

The first public baths in Dundee opened.
1891
The population of Dundee according to the census was 155,675.
1892
A whaling expedition from Dundee discovered and named Dundee Island in the Antarctic.
1893
Dundee Football Club was founded.
1900

Construction of the RRS Discovery, the Antarctic research ship used by Robert Falcon Scott, was begun by the Dundee Shipbuilders Company.