1851 Block. Detail of walltie. Digital image of AN 4339

Description 1851 Block. Detail of walltie. Digital image of AN 4339

Date 22/4/1980

Catalogue Number SC 787437

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of AN 4339

Scope and Content Detail of wall-tie at Upper Dens Works, Princes Street, Dundee This cast-iron wall-tie is found on the 1850 extension to the Upper Dens Mill, the first part of which was built in 1833. Many of the textile mills in Dundee, mainly from 1828 onwards, used cast iron in their construction because it was a fireproof material, and the textiles being produced were highly flammable. Wrought-iron rods went through the beams in the building and the rods were anchored to the walls with tie-plates. During the 19th century Dundee became very industrialised, producing textiles which were exported worldwide. Everyday life was affected by this in Dundee, as it was mainly the women who were employed for low wages in the mills and factories. A high proportion of them continued to work after marriage as it was much more difficult for men to get work. The founder of the company, William Baxter (1766-1854), opened his first mill for spinning flax in 1822 in Lower Dens, Dundee. During the 19th century the company added other buildings to the complex, becoming the biggest manufacturers of linen in the world around 1840. They maintained this position for another 50 years. Due to the demise of the textile trade in Dundee many of the buildings were demolished in the 1980s. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/787437

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap