Here's a couple of rare colour photos of Wellington Towers caught during and after construction.
The top one was taken in the 60's from Cotton Road near the junction of Ann Street (going off to the left) and Hillbank Road (straight on).
The second image from the early 70's is taken from virtually the same spot and shows the work on the multi complete, with an additional block added to the Hillbank Road section.
Photos from Gordon C.
That's Ann Street School behind the railings on the left - went there for a year or so before we flitted to St. Marys. I was only five and hated every minute.
ReplyDeleteIt's always interesting seeing construction of the multis. Those multis will soon be reduced to dust by 31st July 2011 which is only under 4 weeks.
ReplyDeleteI'm just back from taking a last look at those multis before they come down. Stripped back to empty shells, they look like the ruins of Detroit.
ReplyDeleteI was up at the multis yesterday taking pics with my digital camera. I could make out the old wallpaper, old light shade, living room, kitchen and stairs that lead to the bedrooms. It was quite emotional to look at.
ReplyDeleteYes i must admit that i get quite upset when i see another one of my Multis being destroyed especially the Hilltown ones as i worked for years on all 10 as an old fashioned Multi storey Caretaker.Many memories of Maxi Towers and although at times they could be quite "demanding" it was quite good working there until the really bad tenants moved in then came security, fencing and cameras!The view from the roofs of these blocks is breathtaking!!!!What a waste!
ReplyDeleteI have, overthe years, lived in 2 of those multis. I lve out of town now, but will be back to see them coem down. I think I will find it a bit emotional!
ReplyDeleteThese photos are fantastic! We were one of first families to move into Wellington Tower, the one in the scene, in 1968. I was 6 years old. I also went to Ann Street, having moved from Hawkhill.
ReplyDeleteThese pics are a treasure! Thank you.
I also was one of the first families in Wellington tower, 17D and went to Ann street school. What was your address in the tower?
DeleteSad to see these multis coming down, lived in 13e Jamaica Towers from new build till January 1971 when left Dundee to join the RAF.
ReplyDeleteMany of my mates stayed in those multis, we all went to the Grey Lodge for snooker, table tennis,camping trips etc, also played in the parkie in the middle where the attendent on a good day would make and give out pankakes we jam on, skinned many a knee playing futba on the blaize pitches or fev a sides inside our ladies primary in the winter. yeah the ended up sh**e due to the tennants that were eventually lumped into them who cared not a jot, i remember carpets on landings, plants on corridor window ledges, furst futtin' for oorz :) some good times. was looking at an not too old pic of Dundee yesterday and realised that the landscape from Fife had and is still changing rapidly .
ReplyDeleteYou are right Boab. I remember great school holidays playing at Grey Lodge and at the park in the middle too. The multis in those days had a very good sense of community and loads of good people had real pride in the place they lived in.
ReplyDeleteSJ
Did that middle parkie not have some of the first street graffitti on the walls ? also, Bob Marley and a jungle scene are springing to mind :-)
ReplyDeletethere was an adventure playpark between wellington and jamica towers that art college students on placement built it involved loads of big logs bolted together and they handed out paint and brushes to the kids and let us decorate the inside of the park walls, art rules ya bass ; )
ReplyDeleteCheers for that Bear , i thought i had imagined it, but i remember the log climbing thingy's too, and defo remember very colourful art work on the perimeter walls. I think i'm getting mixed up with the jungle theme, i'm told that was 2 "Murials" (meh mum) that were on the gable ends of 2 tenements facing Tannadice st, probably , court st/wolsley st or clepington st :)
ReplyDeleteI remember as local kids we were "enlisted" to help with the build of that park.....there was also an old disused railwagon container or some such used as a piece to be "decorated" too...
ReplyDeleteSome great photos here Retro. Well done to those folk sending them in. I want to ask, don't know if anyone here can answer but here goes. Why do the Alexander Street multis have to come down anyway? Couldn't they have been refurbished and sold to first time buyers or something?
ReplyDeletePure cost i think as they were fully occupied.Must be stuff like lift replacement,concrete repairs and the fact that in the end there was about twenty caretakers looking after them compared to when they were opened when there was only two who lived on site!
ReplyDeleteGreat Photos,i remember going to Ann Street School before it closed and moved to Rosebank,also on a grim note remember an old boy who jumped out of the top of Wellington towers and made a right mess at the bottom,but generally at that time in the 70`s was when you could walk into these multis and smell the cleanliness,carpets,plants...people who looked after their space,be sad to see these big landmarks go an i`m gonna try an get down and see this! Thanks for the photo,its really nice to see old pics of where you grew up and as it was to as it is now!!
ReplyDeletePrior to the opening of Wellington Tower, does anyone remember the terrible accident in April 1968 when a basket of workmen crashed to the ground killing the occupants? I was passing by at the time on my way to see my wife who was delivering our firstborn in Maryfield Hospital, never forget it.
ReplyDeleteCut from "BOB MACKAY'S - WESTPORT - 1960'S"
ReplyDelete20 July 2011 16:11
The Historian said...
Why are we sitting back and allowing the demolition of the Alexander St multi's? Could they have not been sold off to private developers for first time buyers? Just like what seems to have happened to similar blocks in London and Manchester? Also, I don't know about fellow posters but I am sure going to miss those buildings being on the skyline. I feel it's always given Dundee an inner city edge. It's going to look very 'small town' in a few weeks. Refurbishing them wand filling them up with first time buyers etc could kick start rebirth of the Hilltown with new shops on the Hull etc.
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21 July 2011 00:30
Brian Wilson said...
Hi Historian. You typed, "Could they have not been sold off to private developers for first time buyers?" Don't know if you know but there was a fairly vigorous campaign, led by the remaining residents, to save the Derby Street multis from demolition but "private developers" baulked at the cost of bringing them up to modern standards, "estimated at between £8 and £14 million". I believe the council were ready to transfer ownership for a nominal sum but nobody bit. See "Hilltown blocks could yet be saved" at:- http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/output/2010/04/02/story14814179t0.shtm and "Plans to demolish multis to go ahead" at:- http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/output/2010/05/27/story15130804t0.shtm The Derby Street multis, I think, would have been a better bet for upgrade, etc, than the Alexander Street ones, as Butterburn and Bucklemaker Courts have never had the stigma that the other ones have had in recent years, which now appears to affect the Dallfield multis.
I agree, Dundee will no longer look a city when these blocks go-The skyline that ive always known will change forever(for better or worse we shall see)Please remember it was not the buildings that were to blame for all the ills that have resulted in their demolition.
ReplyDeletei lived in maxwelltown from opening what a great place. was very sad to see them come down on sunday a well still got the memories. well done safedem great job amazing
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