Mill of the Month: Dudhope Works
This mill’s chimney is the oldest of its kind in Dundee!
Founded in 1837, Dudhope Works became one of the most significant manufacturing hubs in Dundee. It was operated by William Fergusson & Sons Ltd, one of Dundee’s leading jute firms.
For more than a century, it was known for producing high-quality jute products. In this blog, we’ll share stories from within and around the mill, bringing life to a towering chimney that has become part of the everyday fabric of Dundee.
One of the most striking features of Dudhope Works is its towering 150-foot chimney, the oldest free-standing chimney in Dundee. Built in the same year as the mill, the chimney still stands today – watching over the city’s Dudhope area for 188 years.
As demand for jute soared, the mill expanded. A turreted block was added, giving the site a fortress-like appearance, while a factory extension was constructed in 1950 as part of post-war modernisation efforts. Another distinctive architectural feature was its two-storey design, complete with a mansard roof and oval windows, which set it apart from other mills in Dundee.
Dudhope Works was closely linked to Dudhope Tannery, which supplied the leather straps and belts necessary for keeping the mill’s looms operational. Before the advent of synthetic materials, these belts were essential for transmitting power from the steam engines to the machinery; such were the connections between industries in Dundee.
Like many industrial sites, Dudhope Works experienced its share of accidents and unrest.
On 14 May 1888, a mechanic named Alexander Henderson suffered a severe injury when his leg became caught in an elevator, leading to a compound fracture. Just a year later, on 23 May 1889, a fire broke out at Dudhope Works, causing significant damage to the mill. These incidents reflected the hazardous conditions that workers faced daily in the bustle of the city’s ever-expanding textile industry.
In March 1894, the mill was at the centre of a major strike, with workers refusing to return to their posts. The dispute was widely reported in newspapers, with employees holding lively meetings to continue their fight for better working conditions.
At its peak, Dudhope Works operated 154 looms, powered by a 250-horsepower steam engine installed in 1899. This engine also drove a Lowdon Generator, enabling the mill to use electric lighting, extending working hours and improving productivity. Inside, the noise was deafening; the pounding of the looms and the constant roar of the steam engines meant that workers had to communicate using hand signals.
This 1946 brochure created by William Fergussons & Sons offers a glimpse into the works and its people; documenting not only the machinery and production processes, but the working conditions and social lives of the employees, the majority of whom were women.
In 1966, the Carmichael steam engine at Dudhope Works was shut off, marking the end of steam power in Dundee’s textile mills and symbolising the broader decline of the industry.
Today, the former Dudhope Works site has found new uses. Some buildings are now utilised for storage, while others have been repurposed by organisations like Tayside Re-Users, a charity dedicated to recycling and sustainability.
Dudhope Works stands as a significant landmark in Dundee’s industrial history, embodying the rise and fall of the jute industry that once flourished in the region. Its impressive architecture, historical innovations in textile manufacturing, and the community of workers that it supported all contribute to its legacy.
Its storied past – from accidents, to hazards, to the strength of striking workers – is a reminder of the mill’s impact on the local economy and its role in shaping the social fabric of Dundee.
We’ll end this blog post with a game of hide & seek. Can you spot the wooden desk calendar in this ca. 1946 view of an office in Dudhope Works?
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