Dundee, High Street, Town House

Photographic survey by the Ministry of Works prior to demolition.

NO 403 302 In January 1995 the Trust undertook a watching brief to monitor groundworks for environmental improvements on the N and S sides of High Street, Dundee. These areas had been stripped to a depth of c0.40m in preparation for new surfaces and several tree pits, up to 2m in depth, had been excavated.

Archaeological deposits and features were recorded in groundworks for resurfacing and excavations for tree planters. Unstratified animal bone, mainly from groundworks for services in front of the city square, was also recovered. Of particular interest was the discovery of the foundation remains of the 1731 Adam's townhouse.

Sponsor: Scottish Enterprise Tayside

Report Summarised below.

During the period 20th-27th January 1995 the Trust undertook an archaeological watching brief to monitor groundworks for environmental improvements on the north and south sides of High Street, Dundee. These areas had been stripped to a depth of about 0.40m in preparation for new surfaces.

Previous observations on the environmental improvements in South High Street and Commercial Street/Murraygate had revealed medieval pottery, bone, former road surfaces and building remains…

Archaeological information in the form of deposits and features were recorded in groundworks for resurfacing and excavations for tree planters. Unstratified animal bone, mainly from groundworks for services in front of the city square were also recovered.

Of particular interest was the discovery of foundation remains for the 1731 Adam's townhouse.

The environmental works along the High Street have involved a substantial amount of below ground work which has both revealed and disturbed important archaeological levels below the High Street and the pavement. The watching brief has proved very helpful in verifying the degree and extent of archaeological survival.

It was ascertained that survival appears best on the south side of the High Street, and although severely truncated by services it was still possible to find remains of archaeological deposits; this seems particularly true further out into the High Street, where deposits may have been protected by the High Street surface, the deposits recorded in areas B and D tentatively indicate that the High Street was at one time much narrower than it is today. In area C, the foundations for the famous pillars were revealed showing that major building remains can exist in good order at a relatively shallow level below present surfaces. On the north side of the High Street at Boot's Corner in areas G, K and F, remains show that late 19th century development has swept away any medieval deposits and that this development in turn was cleared for the Overgate Centre.

Information from SUAT, 1995