Lochee
Encyclopedia
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.
'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. Indeed, John Ainslie's map of 1794 makes reference to 'Locheye' on the north and south banks of the burn. However, G. Taylor and A. Skinner's 'Survey and maps of the roads of North Britain or Scotland' in 1776 makes reference to 'Lochee'.
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 The 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. Lochee became a company town
with 2 railway stations, police force, fire service, schools, swimming pool, casino, library, washhouse and several churches.
immigrants who started to arrive in Dundee
, and Lochee in particular, around 1825. 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, most of whom stayed in Lochee, or 'Little Tipperary' as it would come to be known. 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.
Lochee is still regarded as Dundee's Irish 'quarter' and contains many Celtic supporters who remain fiercely proud of their Irish and Catholic heritage.
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. 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
When the loch was drained by the Duncans in the 15th century they offered crofting
Crofting
Crofting is a form of land tenure and small-scale food production unique to the Scottish Highlands, the Islands of Scotland, and formerly on the Isle of Man....
tenancies along the burn. One of the tenancies went to a Dutchman, James Cox
James Cox
James Cox may refer to:* James Cox , United States Representative from New Jersey, 1809–1810* James Cox , , starting quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes football team, 2005–2006* J. B...
and his family. After a change of name and with a reputation for quality linen
Linen
Linen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant, Linum usitatissimum. Linen is labor-intensive to manufacture, but when it is made into garments, it is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather....
, 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
Jute
Jute is a long, soft, shiny vegetable fibre that can be spun into coarse, strong threads. It is produced from plants in the genus Corchorus, which has been classified in the family Tiliaceae, or more recently in Malvaceae....
industry the family built The Camperdown Works in 1864, said to be the largest factory
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
in the world, with over 5,000 employees. Cox’s Stack, the 86 m (282 ft) high campanile
Campanile
Campanile is an Italian word meaning "bell tower" . The term applies to bell towers which are either part of a larger building or free-standing, although in American English, the latter meaning has become prevalent.The most famous campanile is probably the Leaning Tower of Pisa...
-style factory chimney designed by local architect James MacLaren, survives. Lochee became a company town
Company town
A company town is a town or city in which much or all real estate, buildings , utilities, hospitals, small businesses such as grocery stores and gas stations, and other necessities or luxuries of life within its borders are owned by a single company...
with 2 railway stations, police force, fire service, schools, swimming pool, casino, library, washhouse and several churches.
Immigration
The area was home to many IrishIrish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
immigrants who started to arrive in Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
, and Lochee in particular, around 1825. 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, most of whom stayed in Lochee, or 'Little Tipperary' as it would come to be known. 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.
Lochee is still regarded as Dundee's Irish 'quarter' and contains many Celtic supporters who remain fiercely proud of their Irish and Catholic heritage.
Notable Lochee residents
- Lewis ToshneyLewis ToshneyLewis Toshney is a Scottish footballer who plays for Scottish Premier League club Celtic.-Career:Toshney made his debut for Celtic on 1 February 2011, coming on as a substitute for Scott Brown in 3-0 league win over Aberdeen....
, Celtic first team player - The ViewThe View (band)The View are a Scottish indie rock band. They incorporate various styles such as punk, pop, alternative rock, pop punk, powerpop, folk, and acoustic in their music....
, Indie rock band - George BarnesGeorge Nicoll BarnesGeorge Nicoll Barnes CH PC was a Scottish politician and a leader of the Labour Party.Barnes was born in Lochee, Dundee, the second of five sons of James Barnes, a skilled engineer and mill manager from Yorkshire, and his wife, Catherine Adam Langlands...
, Politician - William CooperWilliam Cooper-Business:*William Cooper , founder of Cooper Brothers*William Cooper , Canadian businessman*William E. Cooper , prominent businessman in Dallas, Texas-Government:...
, Ship Captain, Politician (Prince Edward's Island) - James CoxJames CoxJames Cox may refer to:* James Cox , United States Representative from New Jersey, 1809–1810* James Cox , , starting quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes football team, 2005–2006* J. B...
, Jute Manufacturer - George Cox, Jute Manufacturer
- James CrabbJames CrabbJames Crabb, is a classical accordion player.Scottish born James Crabb is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading ambassadors of the classical accordion. He studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen with classical accordion pioneer Mogens Ellegaard and was awarded the Carl...
, Classical Musician - John DuncanJohnny Duncan (footballer)John 'Johnny' Duncan was a Scottish football player and manager, who is most notable for his time at Leicester City.He captained the club to its greatest ever league finishes of 3rd and 2nd place in the First Division in 1927-28 and 1928-29 respectively...
, Footballer - Robert Fleming, Banker
- George GallowayGeorge GallowayGeorge Galloway is a British politician, author, journalist and broadcaster who was a Member of Parliament from 1987 to 2010. He was formerly an MP for the Labour Party, first for Glasgow Hillhead and later for Glasgow Kelvin, before his expulsion from the party in October 2003, the same year...
, Politician - Michael MarraMichael MarraMichael Marra is a Scottish musician from Dundee.Jenny Marra, the Labour MSP, is his niece.-History:Michael Marra was brought up in the Lochee district of Dundee. His first public performance was at an NCR Christmas party in the 1950s...
, Musician - Frank GilfeatherFrank GilfeatherFrank Gilfeather is a senior Scottish journalist and broadcaster.Gilfeather, a former Scottish amateur boxing champion from Dundee, moved to Aberdeen in April 1969 and began work on the Press & Journal and the Evening Express as a general news reporter...
, Journalist, Broadcaster and Author