Scotland > 1868, 1878 - Slater's (late Pigot & Co.'s) Royal national commercial directory and topography of Scotland > 1861

Forfarshire
DUNDEE, &c.
plater's
exchange am) public hall. It is in the anglo-Italian
.style of architect ore, ami its exterior is plain, bat bold
and massive in detail The piincipal entrance is from
Bank-street. Above the entrance lobbies, and pro-
jecting into the ball, is a gallery capable of accommo-
dating about 200 people, seated comfortably. On the
right and left of the entrances are small retiring
rooms, used as committee- rooms. The gallery is
entered by projecting passages in the inside of the
hall, from plats un the stair, which also lead to retiring
rooms on a level with the galleiy — one on the east and
another on the west side. The hall itself is a spacious
apartment, 130 by 60 feet and 42 feet 6 inches high,
and capable of accommodating about 2,500 people,
seated comfortably, so that in an emergency about
3,000 people might be accommodated within its walls.
The platform runs from east to west along the south
end of the hall, and access to it is had from the
committee-rooms in the front or north end of the
building, by an under corridor running alongthe whole
letieth of the hall and a narrow staircase at. the east
side of the platform. The side walls are 27 feet high
and 3 feet thick at the pilasters, and recessed between
the roof girders, which gives a pleasing effect in the
interior by breaking up the line of wall. The roof is
supported bv terJ malleable iron girders, T shaped, and
springing off stone corbels, placed 12 feet high, and
projecting into the wall. The girders are semi-circle
i> n the inside, with circular spandrils fitting into the
sloping sides of the roof. The iron is ca-ed with
wood, with plaster mouldings round the spandnl
openings, which, with the other panelling and orna-
ments, have a beautiful effect. The hall is beautifully
lighted entirely from the roof. During the day the
light is ample, and the arrangement for lighting the
in green and maroon. The frieze is panelled with
maroon ground, on which are the following mottoes—
'Live and let live,' &c, &c. The borders round these
panels are relieved with maroon ornaments, inlaid.
The egg in the cornice being painted blue, harmonizes
beautifully with the other parts. The lower recesses
are painted in grey colour. The three centre spaees on.
the west side contain the arms of Lady Montague,
Viscount Duncan, and the Earl of Strathmore; and in
the centre spaces, on the east side, are those of the
Earl of Airlie, Lord Grey, and Lord Whaincliffe, which
have the proper supporters and shields emblazoned.
The other spaces are filled in with bronze brackets for
busts of eminent men ; those of Washington, Earl
Grey, and Wellington are already set up. These bi ackets
are all bronzed, and fitted up in such a way as to
conceal the ventilation apparatus, and once filled with
busts, will be a good feature in the room. Under the
corbels of the roof girders are shields with the arms
of noblemen and gentlemen who have given donations
to the ball, all emblazoned in tine heraldic style. The
panels in the roof are painted in grey colours, relieved
by ornaments in green and maroon. The styles are
paintt d drab, relieved with centre ornaments in green.
The plaster ornaments, which show beautiful relief,
are all painted in vellum colours. The lower part of
the hall, which is lined with wood, is stained dark,
and gives a base to the whole. The front of the
gallery is painted in oak, and relieved with bronze
mouldings, with a clock in the centre, supplied by
Mi. Raitrey, Nethergate, and surrounded with a
festoon in bronze. The modelling of the arms and the
other plaster ornaments are well executed, and reflect
great credit to Mr. Miller, the modeller. Looking up
Ca-tle-street,tiie elegant edifice called the 'Seminaries,'
hall with gas has abiilliant and pleasing effect — the with its chaste Doric portico, forms a graceful term!
gas light proceeding from clusters of jtt burners in iiating object, This tasteful structure was completed
enamelled cones in the roof. The ventilation by the in 1834, at a cost of £10,000. It comprehends the
aid of these lights, and hy admitting the fresh air from I burgh grammar school, and an academy, patronised by
small openings on the side walls, is considered to be the corporation, de-igned to impart a liberal education
most efficient. For the purpose of a corn-exchange
the hall is in every way suitable. It is fitted up with
a series of stalls for the corn merchants — seven on
each side— which aie so constructed that they fold in
close to the wall, so as not in a\:y way to interfere with
the hall for public meetings or entertainments. The
seats required when the hall is n»ed for public meet-
ings can be removed beneath, in a very short time,
the pupils, including instructions in literatuie,
science, and the ancient and modern languages. In
add'tion to the above, there are numerous public
schools, and many private educational establishments.
The principal church of Dundee rears its huge and
lofty tower westward of High-street. The church oE
which this tower is the remnant was destroyed by fire
some yeas ago, but was rebuilt; and its dimensions
so as to adopt it to its main purpose of a com are so capacious as-to comprehend four distinct paro-
exchange. The decoiations are completed in a manner dual churches within its v\ alls. At the foot of the
highly credhable to Mr. Crace, of London, to whom it j church tower, on its western side, is placed the ancient
was entrusted, and to his able manager, Mr. Alison, market cross, removed from rjiah-stieet. It is a
under whose superintendence the whole has been carved pillar, supporting an unicorn, which holds an
carried out in a style which has given full effect to the | aunoiial shield netween its knees. The places of
elegant design or" Mr. Edward, architect ofthe hnrldin
The following brief description will give some idea ot
the nature and extent of the decorations. The girder-,
which are the main features ot the halt, are painted in
bronze, and have a beautiful effect. Over the orchestra
or platform, in the centre of the cove at the south end
of the hall, are placed the royal arms, \u which the
hip in Dundee, ot all de;i"i!Hnaiions, number
58— f>r particulars ot these see t lie end nit Ire ' Directoiy*
of this town — everal are highly ornamental stiue-
tures. Adjoining the fine chinch of St. Andrew is a
meeting-i 0'ise for the 'Glas.-ites' — a section ofthe
rdigious world founded by Mr. John Glass, who, it
appears, was made a freeman of Dundee hy the town
Scotch charact' r df the arms are strictly adheied to. j ccuucil in 175S. Ik'si e> the burial-grounds attached
The panels surrounding tiie same arc paintt d gtey, jto several of ihe religions edifices, tlieie are three
filled in with arab sqUe'ornanient, containing embl
of music and of commerce. The styles are dark vellum,
relieved with drab ornament. The rece-sed space
between the cove is inlaid with ornament in green and
maroon, with the motto, 'The earth is the Lord's, and
the fullness thereof,' painted in vtlluni colour on a
maroon ground. At the lower end- of 'he outer circh
are the arms of Lords Kinnaiidand Pan mn re, and on
the north side, similarly situated, aie those of the
Marquis of Breadalban'e and the Karl of Sonthest— all
having their proper supporters and emblazoned shields
in true heraldic character. The oblong panels above
are filled in with arabesque ornament. The interme-
diate circles are rilled in with musical devices on »
maroon ground. The styles are painted dark vellum,
relieved with inlaid ornamental wreaths in daik drab.
On the top of the circle south end is the rose, thistle,
and shamrock, and on the north end the Scotcu thistle,
all in high relief, and are painted in their natural
colours, surrounded with emblems of ' Plenty,' in ba
relief and bronzed. The side walls are green, with
dark vellum pilaster's, relieved with inlaid ornaments j the amelioration of human suffering and misery,
620 vo
extensive cemeteries, the inspection of which cannot
fail to interest a stianger. The most recent, which is
situated to the West of the Perth r ia ', has a beautiful
site, and is gracefully planted with shinbs and flowers -
On passing through the arch over \\hich the railway
iuc ined p.ane of the Dundee aid Newtvle line is
carried, yon arrive at the entrance of Dudhope Castle,
now converted into a barrack, but originally the seat
of the Scryingeoni- family, standard-bearers to the
Scottish kings, one of whom, alter the Restoration,
was elevated to the peerage, by the title of Karl of
Dundee. This mansion subsequently became the pro-
perty of the reckless peisecutor of the Presbyterians,
Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount of Dundee. From
the approach to this ancient mansion is a fine view of
the new gaol, the plan of which admits of the classi-
fication of offenders. Adjoining the banack is the
public bleaching green ,
The new Royal I nfibiir<i» r , erected in 1853, near to
the military barrrcks, Dudhope, furnishes an attractive
evidence of the benevolent efforts of the wealthy for
Ihe