The following is a collection of extracts of Dundee Crime Statistics from the Dundee criminal returns of 1898 to 1902 inclusive, read, in part, by us on one of our forays in the archives. A very informative and insightful glimpse into the lives and crimes of this era, it’s also hard sometimes to see where […]
In Dundee, body snatchers, graverobbers, or “Resurrection Men” turned over a considerable amount of business. When Cholera struck in 1832, the memories of Burke and Hare’s atrocities were still very much at the forefront of people’s minds. Even though Burke had been executed in 1829 (whilst Hare spent the rest of his years in relative […]
Now, you might be thinking, what has Mary Slessor got to do with Dark Dundee? Sure, she’s from Dundee, but as a missionary, she is hailed as somewhat of a heroine. Of course she is, and we’re not denying that…but what’s truly dark about Mary Slessor are the things she witnessed during her lifetime. Her father, […]
Bonnie Dundee, or John Graham of Claverhouse, 1st Viscount Dundee (c. 21 July 1648 – 27 July 1689), known as the 7th Laird of Claverhouse until raised to the viscountcy in 1688, was a Scottish soldier and nobleman, Tory and an Episcopalian. Claverhouse was responsible for policing southwest Scotland during and after the religious unrest […]
Booksworld.com recently reported the release of “The Common Book of Witchcraft and Wicca. What’s all the fuss about, you ask? Isn’t it just someone trying to sell a book? No, apparently it’s not – the book is available completely free, under a creative commons license, which allows anyone to freely share and republish its contents […]
This rare video, with commentary by Chic Mitchell of Lochee gives a brilliant insight into the work of Dundee jute stowers. Believed to be the only colour video of it’s kind, the footage is about 10 minutes long and was filmed in the 1980’s. If you haven’t seen this before, you need to watch it. […]
Up wi the bonnets of Bonnie Dundee! We’re sure many of you are familiar with the old song “Bonnie Dundee”, written by Sir Walter Scott over 100 years after the death of John Graham of Claverhouse, but did you know the original poem was heavily edited for the song, to the exclusion of several verses? […]
In the early hours of 8th December 1959, the Mona Lifeboat was launched to assist the North Carr Lightship, adrift in St Andrews Bay. Much like this week, the weather conditions were exceptionally severe with strong winds and the Mona was the only boat in the area able to launch. The last radio message from the […]
It is the party season, and while family gatherings can be joyous occasions, sometimes we don’t get on with our family. Things can quickly take a turn for the worse when alcohol is involved, and on this day in 1974 Daniel Flanagan was sentenced for the culpable homicide of his brother, and assault for stabbing […]
Found this video online from The Courier’s YouTube channel of the moment the roof collapsed under the weight of the snow at RG Consort, a garage in Dundee, on this day in 2010. Disaster! It was also this day in 2010 when the snow caused my holiday to be cancelled before it had begun – […]