Wallace Craigie Works, Dundee - May 2012

[Scattergun]

Earlier this month I paid a visit in glorious sunshine to the old Wallace Craigie Works building in Dundee with baronvon. We'd actually been on route to a different site and happened to pass this old girl whilst travelling through town. The old textile mill, which began as a jute mill was built between 1834-36 and was the last functioning textile works in the city of Dundee to be owned by the original firm having been occupied by William Halley & Sons Ltd since its construction. It has since become one of the city's most recognizable landmarks.

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Built by a partnership of William Halley, Robert Brough and James Gilroy, (all local manufacturers), and having substantial extensions added following major fires in 1945 and ’57 respectively, the mill saw its peak during the American Civil War in the 1860′s when a shortage in cotton lead to a boom in the jute industry.

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Due to the production boom Wallace Craigie Works had doubled in size by 1865. William Halley's sons became partners in the firm at this time, and the firm became 'William Halley & Sons'. Halley died in 1874, his elder son retired and George Halley took over as sole proprietor.

The mill carried on under the William Halley name and was listed Grade B in May 1987, going on to become one of the longest running of Dundee's industrial firms.

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The William Halley firm moved to new (smaller) premises in Wester Gourdie in 2004, signalling the end for Wallace Craigie Works after 168 years of production. However plans are currently under way to safeguard a future for the former mill by converting the interior into apartments.

Although long since emptied of machinery and valuables the buildings in pretty good condition overall and an impressive size. With reinforced concrete floors throughout it's possible to make it all the way to the roof which, on a day like we had, provides a spectacular view of the city waterfront and river Tay. Lots of colourful shots too thanks to the extensive graf that plasters the walls. Wallace Craigie Works may now be just a big old empty warehouse but it stands as a monument to Scotlands rapidly disappearing industrial heritage.

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Hope you enjoy!

[Clough]

Looks empty but quite photographic, some lovely shots boyo

[birdinanaviary]

Yeh good shots that's staircase is awesome

[GeoVDUB]

Very nice stuff, you certainly know how to use that camera. Look forward to seeing more reports.

[Scattergun]

Cheers for the comments guys. Found the place totally by accident. Looked about for info on it and found a brief explore from around 2007 but otherwise nothing. It is pretty much empty but the size of the place made it a fun explore. Internet's been down recently but I should have some more reports up an comin. Stay chooned..

[ROYALBOB]

Sweet shots, nice one

[wolfism]

Nice selection of shots, it's worth getting in here early in the morning in summer as you can get slanting sunshine on the upper floors, quite "picturesque"…

[yorkietommo]

Cool stuffs. Likin the stairs.

[boxerheaven]

very colourful pics nice :)

[Mish]

I'v always wanted to do this one- never got round to it though

[Scattergun]

I'v always wanted to do this one- never got round to it though

It's quite a cool place. Again pretty empty inside but the graf makes for some good shots. If you're nearby and have a bit of time to kill it doesn't take long to get round the place. Could do it over a lunch hour to be honest.

I'm back in the Dundee area in a couple of weeks wolfism so provided the weathers good I'll maybe stop by there again, cheers for the tip. Thanx everyone else for the comments too :)