Lochee

Lochee is an area of Dundee, Scotland. The area has a population of approximately 10,000. Until the 19th century, it was a separate town which developed in the 18th century with handloom weaving and in the 19th century as a centre of textile industries, such as spinning, bleaching, dyeing and linen manufacture. By the 20th century, the area had been surrounded by Dundee, due to the expansion of the city. The name 'Lochee' means 'eye of the loch', referring to the town's location on the banks of Loch Balgay which was drained in the 16th century by the Duncans, (the ancestors of Adam Duncan) for farmland. Sandstone from the quarry in Lochee was used in the construction of Dundee Harbour.

The current councillors for the area are Bob Duncan (SNP), John Letford (Labour), Alan Ross (SNP) and Tom Ferguson (Labour).

History

The first record of the hamlet of Lochee dates back to the 12th century when Alexander I of Scotland gifted Liff's parish lands to Scone Abbey. When the loch was drained by the Duncans in the 15th Century they offered crofting tenancies along the Burn. One of the tenancies went to a Dutchman, James Cox and his family. After a change of name and with a reputation for quality linen, the Cox family eventually set up as linen merchants in 1700.

By 1760 the firm had 300 weavers and after using steam power and moving into the jute industry the family built The Camperdown Works in 1864, said to be the largest factory in the world, with over 5,000 employees. Cox’s Stack, the 86m (282ft) high campanile-style factory chimney designed by local architect James MacLaren, survives. Lochee became a company town with 2 railway stations, police force, fire service, schools, swimming pool, casino, library, washhouse and several churches.

Immigration

The area was home to many Irish immigrants who started to arrive in Dundee, and Lochee in particular, around 1825. Many immigrants were attracted to the area by the prospect of employment in the city's jute mills.

Notable Lochee residents

*The View, popular indie rock band
*George Barnes, Politician
*William Cooper, Naval Captain, Politician (Prince Edward's Island)
*James Cox, Jute Manufacturer
*George Cox, Jute Manufacturer
*James Crabb, Classical Musician
*John Duncan, Football
*Robert Fleming, Banker
*George Galloway, Politician
*Michael Marra, Musician
*Andrew Ferguson, Rock guitarist