RECLAIMED stone from a historic jute mill in Dundee is to find a new purpose by helping point future University of Dundee students in the right direction.
Wallace Craigie Works spinning mill was built in 1836 and played a key role in helping Dundee earn its “Juteopolis” title.
The mill was run for more than a century by family firm William Halley and Sons Ltd, but was locally known as Halley’s mill.
The site was used by the firm until its closure in 2004 when it fell into a state of disrepair.
There were plans to convert the Category B listed building into flats, although it was abruptly demolished in 2018.
Now, the University of Dundee plans to pay tribute to the historic mill by incorporating reclaimed stone from the site within a new signage structure on its city campus.
Director of estates and campus services at the University Rose Jenkins said: “Wallace Craigie Works is the first local heritage site chosen to be honoured in this project.
“The mill was an iconic piece of Dundee’s jute legacy and by using stone from the building we will give tribute to its past while creating an expression for the new.”
The Estates team are currently in the process of reinventing the university’s current wayfinding signage on campus.
Reclaimed stone is set to make up the structural body of the signs before being wrapped with recyclable aluminium panels and screen-printed graphics.
Jenkins added: “The new sign structures will allow for storytelling through recycling and the preservation of local heritage, providing a modern connection with the past.
“Many Dundonians will know of Wallace Craigie Works, its history and Dundee’s jute legacy, but few of our students will.
“This historic site will now live on, and younger generations from across the world will be informed of its historic importance.
“We want to do the same for other sites and encourage anyone with suggestions of local heritage buildings currently being, or due to be demolished to get in touch.”
Anyone with an idea is encouraged to email property assets and space coordinator Caitlin Stevenson on cstevenson001@dundee.ac.uk.
