Project uncovers history of Dundee's Wellgate shopping centre

Locals are being encouraged to share their stories of the area for a heritage project.

For 50 years, the Wellgate Centre has been at the heart of Dundee.

But before it became a destination for retail therapy, the shopping centre was a warren of homes and businesses.

Among those who lived and worked there were Adam Piggot’s family, who ran a butchers shop for 74 years.

After researching his family history, Adam wanted to find out more about his roots.

He told STV News: “I may have been to the shop my family owned there, but I can’t remember that but I do remember it through family stories, about my great-grandparents who ran the shop and my great uncle Ned who I did know.

“It would be great to hear if folk have got stories of my family, but it’s more to do with the street.

Locals urged to share stories of the area (Dundee City Library)

“Having found out things about my family through stories and a wee bit of research, it did occur to me there might be other stories out there as well.

“I think pulling them together is what we really want that what will make it really valuable.”

Adam teamed up with Dundee Central Library to uncover the stories beneath the Wellgate.

Erin Farley from the library said the area’s importance dates back further than Adam’s family shop to the medieval times.

During the medieval period, it was the centre for settlers due to its local water source.

She told STV News: “One of the most important things in this area was the well, which the Wellgate gets it’s name.

“This was situated by what is still called the Ladywell Tavern on Victoria road.

“In the 19th century, when Victoria Road was developed, there was rebuilding of some of the houses in this part of the city as well. It’s kept the same line since the medieval times and the Wellgate does that as well.”

More information about the project can be found here.

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