Community Information
Past
The first record of the hamlet of Lochee dates back to the 12th century when Lochee got its name from a small loch that once existed in the area. Although the loch was drained many centuries ago, a village grew up around the point where a small stream emerged from the loch to flow down to the River Tay. The village was known as Loch E’e, meaning the eye of the loch,
In the late 1700s, Lochee grew quickly, as more and more weavers came to live and work there. Many handloom weavers came to live in the area because the stream provided the large amounts of water necessary for the production of flax. The other reason Lochee started to grow was that there were several quarries which supplied the stone used to build the harbour in Dundee.
During the 1800s, probably the biggest single reason for the expansion of Lochee was the growth of the Cox Empire. Starting as weavers in the 1700s, by 1811, they employed around forty people. Many Irish immigrants started to arrive in Lochee, around 1825, attracted to the area by the prospect of employment in the jute mill. By 1845 the workforce stood at nearly three thousand. On the completion of Camperdown Works in the 1860s, the number of Cox employees stood at more than five thousand.
In 1865, Cox’s Stack was built in the style of an Italian campanile. It was 86m high and built with 1,000,000 bricks. Standing at 86 metres, the chimney was designed to take the smoke from fifty eight furnaces away from the Cox family homes in Clement Park, Beechwood and Foggeylea. Lochee continued to grow and by 1951 the population stood at 21,967. There were two railway stations, a police force and fire service. Schools were built, as well as a swimming pool, library, washhouse and several churches.
Present
Once a vibrant area, with a huge variety of shops, slowly and surely the High Street went into decline. With the recent demise of Tesco and Woolworths, many residents feared the worst. In August 2009, the Scottish government announced that there were allocating £2 million in a bid to reverse years of decay in one of the poorest areas of Dundee.
Future
Residents and politicians believe that the investment by the Scottish Government will trigger the regeneration of Lochee. Substantial changes have been planned in an effort to improve the appearance and security of the area. It is hoped that the regeneration will attract more businesses which will, in turn, support those already here. Above all, it is hoped that the famous community spirit will come back Lochee.
