Mill of the Month: Eagle Mills
Nestled just off Victoria Road, close to Dundee’s city centre, Eagle Mill is one of the city’s most iconic remnants of its illustrious jute industry.
Constructed in 1864, this striking building originally served as the pattern shop for the Dens Works Foundry, where machinery vital to Dundee’s jute mills was assembled. Throughout its long history, Eagle Mill has become synonymous with the industrial heritage that shaped Dundee’s identity, both locally and internationally. In this blog, we’ll look more at the history of this pillar of Dundee’s jute story.
The architecture of Eagle Mill is a proud reflection of its industrial past. The original two-storey and attic building, comprising 15 bays, features a distinctive mansard roof that adds to its imposing stature.
In 1924, the mill was taken over by Low and Bonar Ltd who sought to extend the old mill and drew up an extension in February 1929, with architect Richard Gibson designing the extension. Jute mills were not usually designed by architects, instead local engineers who understood the requirements of the Jute Barons usually designed them.
This extension was the only mill to be built during the interwar period, and at the time, was considered advanced due to the building’s subtle Art Deco features—such as recessed window panels and stepped pediments—reflect the style’s influence on industrial design during that period.
These additions, incorporating steel and concrete framing, symbolised the blend of tradition and modernity that characterised the era between the world wars.
The steel-framed, north-lit sheds constructed in 1930 also reflect the evolving nature of industrial architecture, as functionality took precedence in the post-war world.
For more than a century, Eagle Mill played a pivotal role in Dundee’s industrial life. From its beginnings as a hub for machinery production to its later years as a bustling jute spinning plant, it remained a symbol of the city’s industrial might.
The mill traded until 1978, at which point it, like many other industrial sites in Dundee, closed its doors as the city’s textile trade declined.
Today, Eagle Mill stands as a proud reminder of Dundee’s rich industrial heritage. Its bold and enduring architecture tells the story of the city’s rise as a global leader in jute production. Though the ornate eagle sculpture, clock, and urn finials that once crowned the building are long gone, Eagle Mill still commands attention as a local landmark.
Eagle Mill remains an icon to the resilience and innovation that defined Dundee’s industrial era.
It is a building that speaks of both tradition and transformation, and its legacy continues to inspire those who seek to celebrate the city’s rich history while looking towards the future.
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