Historic house at city park could be turned into restaurant or museum

A building which has been closed for ten years at Dundee’s Camperdown Park could be open to the public again soon.

Camperdown House is synonymous with one of the world's most historically important naval battles and now the city council have plans to inject new life into the home, in memory of one of the country's most heroic seamen.

The 19th century was once the estate of Admiral Adam Duncan. In October 1797 the Dundonian's brilliant battle tactics and extraordinary bravery led to victory over the Dutch.

Now after lying empty for ten years, the council are planning to transform the building.

Dundee City Council leader Ken Guild said: "I would like to see widespread public use, an exhibition centre and restaurant would be a very interesting use of it and I think a very popular one. There's also been a suggestion that it might be used as a boutique hotel, again that is something which we'd look at and see what the demand was for that."

Friends of Camperdown House are backing the propsals. But they say honouring Admiral Duncan's achievements must be central to any plan.

Captain James Crawford, Friends of Camperdown House said: "The house was built in honour of Admiral Duncan therefore a maritime museum is what we would like. I think also it would be a good idea to have some sort of restaurant in the house because it's a beautiful house.

"I think the most important thing is to honour and remember Duncan as a hero and I think that would attract people to this place. It's a beautiful park and a beautiful building but I think heroes are in some way more important than houses and beautiful parks. He was born in Dundee and he went to Dundee High School, which was then Dundee Grammar School and he lived here so he's Dundee's hero and we have got to remember that."

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