Dundee, 21, 23, 25 Union Street

NO 4024 3006 A watching brief of the demolition of a 19th-century building between January and March 2004 revealed two main phases: the original build and major alterations. The date of build was c 1828, but when the major changes occurred is not known exactly: based on the design of the plasterwork decoration, it seems that this may have been in the mid- to late 19th century. Test pits in the basement revealed no underlying archaeological deposits.

Archive to be deposited in the NMRS.

Sponsor: S L Developments Ltd.

R Cachart 2004

A watching brief by SUAT Ltd on the demolition of this listed building, built around 1828, revealed two phases of construction. In the later 19th century the roof space was altered to create more living space on the top floor and a new common stair was inserted, rising from the stair frontage to access the earlier stair tower at the rear. Monitoring of engineers' test pits in the basement revealed that the building had been cut back into the natural slope and that there were no underlying archaeological deposits.

The B Listed building demolished at 21-25 Union Street was built in c 1828. At the time of demolition the building comprised four floors and cellarage with retail on the ground floor and eight flats (two on each floor) on the upper floors. The flats (No 23) had their own access from the frontage, with stairs leading up to the first floor which accessed the original stair tower at the rear of the building. The two retail units (Nos 21 and 25) on the ground floor were accessed separately by entrances on either side of the doorway to the flats. Latterly the retail units had actually been interconnected. The top floor had dormer frontage windows and a wooden extension on either side of the stair tower.

The watching brief revealed two main phases: Phase I the original build and Phase II, major alterations. The date of build was c 1828 but when the major changes occurred in not exactly known. Based on the design of the plasterwork decoration, it seems that Phase II may have occurred in the mid to late 19th century. It was surprising to see how much of the second phase fabric had actually survived, indicating that there had been no subsequent major alterations to the living accomodation up to the time of demolition. The engineers' test pits in the basement revealed that the building had been cut back into the natural slope and that there were no underlying archaeological deposits at the site of the pits.

Information from SUAT

Scottish Urban Archaeological Trust. 2004. 21-25 Union Street, Dundee; Archaeological Watching Brief.