Davina Brown and the vitriol attack, 5th December 1924 Davina Brown was in her mid-twenties, slogging away in the jute mills like so many other young women in the 1920s when she met Thomas Crombie. He owned his own cooping business, ooh fancy, cooping is making barrels and casks, but hey, he owned his own […]
The electrifying air in Perth Circuit Court crackled with anticipation as Alexander Hutchison stood in the dock, the accused murderer of his wife, Christina. It was a high-stakes trial that gripped the entire city. The first witness, their neighbour James McKenzie, took the stand, revealing a chilling tale. He recounted how his young sons had […]
Are you ready to explore the darker side of Dundee’s history while strolling through the vibrant streets of the West End? Join us for an unforgettable journey as we delve into the intriguing stories and hidden secrets of this captivating city. Our Dundee Summer Walking Tours offer a storytelling experience, showcasing the darker aspects of […]
The murder of Margaret Cairns is a story we told on our Halloween Takeover of Verdant Works, back in 2016. This tragedy happened in Playfair’s Entry, an old street off Hawkhill in the west end of Dundee which is long gone. It seemed everyone had a different version of events, and in the end, there […]
This is the continuation of the Murder Trial of John Jenkins for the murder of Mary Conn in West Port, in Dundee’s West End. Read the first part here. Dundee Courier, Friday 13th January 1893 MURDER TRIAL IN DUNDEE. THE WEST PORT TRAGEDY. TWELVE YEARS’ PENAL SERVITUDE. The trial of John Jenkins, labourer, on a […]
These extracts from the Dundee Courier tell the tale of a horrid murder in West Port, in Dundee’s West End, in 1892. Dundee Courier, Monday 14th November 1892 HORRIBLE MURDER IN DUNDEE. A WOMAN KILLED. HER ASSAILANT IN CUSTODY. SCENE OF THE ATROCITY. INTERVIEWS WITH NEIGHBOURS. PRISONER’S ANTECEDENTS. For a considerable time, Dundee has been […]
This short tale from the Dundee Courier is about a typical Dundee criminal incident- involving drink, and theiving. In fact, the victim was so drunk he didn’t even realise he’d been robbed at first! Dundee Courier, Sat 5th October 1878 Nymphs Fighting Over the Spoil. Jane Brown and Catherine Chalmers or Morrison were placed at […]
This is part 2 of our series of the ghostly tour of Dundee and the surrounding areas. Read part one here… The thing about these ‘ghost’ sightings and all the reports of them, was that it got everyone in an excited state. There wasn’t much in the way of entertainment, and a ghost story was […]
Hawkhill, Dundee, 17th August 1833 Janet Kelley lived with her husband, Enos, in a flat in the Hawkhill area of Dundee. On the evening of 17th August 1833, Enos staggered home particularly drunk, turning up at his neighbour’s house to ask for some tobacco. Turning him away, the neighbour, Mrs Kay, could hear him entering […]
London was the worst affected by the Blitz, and ports in places such as Glasgow came under heavy bombing. But Dundee was not to be spared, and on 5th November 1940, 8 bombs were dropped in Dundee.