Stobswell
| Stobswell | |
  Stobswell Stobswell shown within the City of Dundee | |
| OS grid reference | NO408313 |
|---|---|
| Council area | City of Dundee |
| Lieutenancy area | Dundee |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DUNDEE |
| Postcode district | DD4 |
| Dialling code | 01382 |
| Police | Scottish |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | Dundee East |
| Scottish Parliament | Dundee City East |
History
The area developed around a well which serviced the nearby farmhouses of Janefield and Maryfield. The name Stob derives from the Scots word for a post indicating to travellers that it was one mile (1.6 km) to Dundee. Housing was developed in the area by the city's "jute barons" in the 19th century to accommodate workers in the textile mills in the area and the city. In 1856, the East Dundee Poorhouse was built on a two acre (8,000 m²) site in the area. After the inception of the National Health Service, the poorhouse was renamed The Rowans and later became a hospital and care-home for the elderly. The building now known as Morgan Academy opened in 1868 as Morgan Hospital, a charitable institution providing accommodation and education for "sons of tradesmen and persons of the working class whose parents stand in the need of assistance". The present Stobswell Church (itself a union of four local churches) was built in 1874. It is the local Church of Scotland parish church.
In Maryfield in the later part of the 19th century, Chalmers Street was home to several families of notorious tinkies. The Constables, the Broons (thought to be the inspiration for the Sunday Post favourites), the Starks and the Cooks. The youngest son of the Cook family (Richard Cook) was also considered by many residents to be the real Oor Wullie, which he was also known as (origin unknown). Many Maryfield landmarks are also recorded in these comics.
The children of Chalmers Street also excelled in sports, with the Chalmers Street Cricket Club, which remained unbeaten for 17 years until they lost the cricket bat.
A young street gang called The Teefs also operated (probably) from Chalmers Street. They often stole electric street cars and busses from the Maryfield Tram Depot. Road Maintenance vehicles and machinery from the adjacent municipal road works yard and a Tunnock's snowball from Craigelee Tennis Club are also thought to have been taken by The Teefs.
Education
Schools in the area are Morgan Academy Secondary School, Glebelands Primary School and Clepington Primary School. The Melrose Campus of Dundee College is also located in the area.
Sports and recreation
The area is home to the Dundee International Sports Centre (D.I.S.C.), which staged the European Hockey Championships in 1998. The local Rugby club is Stobswell R.F.C. and play at the McTaggart Sports Centre, Old Glamis Road.
Notable residents
- In the summer of 1812, Mary Shelley lived in the area with William Baxter, an acquaintance of her family. She developed a friendship with Baxter's two daughters Christina and Isabel. The dunes, beach, and barren hills near Dundee inspired Mary, and she would describe this scenery in her novella Mathilda (written in 1819-1820).
"Mary Shelley did not spend time with the William (Edward) Baxter cited here as he was not born until 1825. The William Baxter she visited may have been his grandfather and father of Edward Baxter who was the father of William Edward Baxter (1825-1890)."
- Doug Cowie Scotish International football player. Dundee F.C. and Scotland
- Former Leeds United and Scotland football player, Peter Lorimer scored 176 goals in one season for Stobswell School.
- Billy Mackenzie singer with The Associates
- Glebe Street, home of the fictional comic family, The Broons used to run parallel to Baffin Street beside Glebelands Primary School. It is now demolished and the school playground now occupies the site.
External links
- Stobswell.org.uk – Stobswell Forum's website
| ||||||||