Basic Site Details

Name: Caird Hall
City or county: Dundee
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status: A listed
Grid ref:
Notes: Cost: £100,000. Perspective c.1923 formerly in Frank Thomson's office, apparently by him.

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
 NameCurrent name?Notes
Item 1 of 1City Hall  

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 1Hall  

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:
 AddressMain entrance?Notes
Item 1 of 435, Castle StreetYesEast wing extension
Item 2 of 411-13, City SquareYes 
Item 3 of 420-24, Crichton StreetYes 
Item 4 of 4107, Shore TerraceYes 

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 1019141922Build/construction 
Item 2 of 10October 1923 OpenedCaird Hall officially opened by the Prince of Wales
Item 3 of 10c. 1923  Unexecuted classical scheme for flanking buildings - circumstances of preparation unclear
Item 4 of 101924 Plans approvedDesigns for commercial ranges to east and west of hall submitted to Burnet for approval by James Thomson.
Item 5 of 1019311932AdditionEast wing extension
Item 6 of 101933 OpenedWest range opened
Item 7 of 1029 April 1966 ProposedReconstruction plans to reduce hall in size for concerts and to construct a new theatre for £200,000 - £250,000
Item 8 of 10February 1967 Scheme acceptedBurgh Council has approved plans to reconstruct Caird Hall to a modern theatre and concert hall at a cost of £700,000/£800,000.
Item 9 of 101981 RehabilitationMajor refurbishment including installation of new flooring and seating
Item 10 of 101991 RestorationOrgan restored by its original builders, and a £750,000 five-year rolling programme of improvements to halls undertaken

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
 NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 12William Scott MortonArchitectD  Interior work
Item 2 of 12Dundee Burgh Engineer's Office/Dundee City Engineer's OfficeArchitectural practiceA19141922James Thomson responsible, assisted by Vernon Constable
Item 3 of 12James ThomsonArchitectA19141922As Dundee City Architect
Item 4 of 12Vernon ConstableArchitectA19141922Assisted James Thomson, City Architect/Engineer
Item 5 of 12William FraserArchitect 1919  
Item 6 of 12Frank Drummond ThomsonArchitect c. 1923 Unexecuted classical scheme for flanking buildings - circumstances of preparation unclear
Item 7 of 12(Sir) John James BurnetArchitectG1924 Designs for commercial ranges to east and west of hall submitted to Burnet for approval by James Thomson.
Item 8 of 12Dundee City Architect's DepartmentArchitectural practiceB19311932South half of East wing extension - for Council Offices.
Item 9 of 12James McLellan BrownArchitectB19311932South half of East wing extension - for Council Offices.
Item 10 of 12Dundee City Architect's DepartmentArchitectural practiceC19311933West range - built as City Chambers
Item 11 of 12James McLellan BrownArchitectC19311933West extension - built as City Chambers
Item 12 of 12Mr. John Whyckham  29 April 1966 Engaged by the Corporation to supervise the reconstruction

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:
 NameNotes
Item 1 of 1Caird, JamesIndustrialist who donated a large sum towards the development of Dundee City centre

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 6City of Dundee District Council, Planning Dept1992A guide to the City Chambers   
Item 2 of 6Gifford, John2012The Buildings of Scotland: Angus and Dundee Yalep103, 104
Item 3 of 6Miskell, Louise, Whatley, Christopher A and Harris, Bob2000Victorian Dundee: image and realities TuckwellPlate 38 shows image of portico and city square as first proposed (location of original not specified)
Item 4 of 6Peter, Bruce1999Scotland's Splendid Theatres: Architecture and Social History from the Reformation to the Present Day Edinburgh: Polygon (an imprint of Edinburgh University Press Ltd)pp198-202
Item 5 of 6RCAHMS1992Dundee on Record RCAHMSView of Strathmartine's Lodging and Caird Hall from the north (c.1930) p52
Item 6 of 6www.theatrestrust.org.uk/ www.theatrestrust.org.uk/ - Theatres Database of the Theatres Trust  www.theatrestrust.org.uk/resources/theatres/show/2349-king-s-dundee

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4BuilderLate 1923CXXV pp682, 684 (plans, illustrations)
Item 2 of 4Building17 February 1967  p166
Item 3 of 4Dundee Courier and Advertiser24 October 1998  'Hall of distinction'
Item 4 of 4RIBA Journal6 December 1930 London: Royal Institute of British ArchitectsObituary of Constable

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 2Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register25258 
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers James Thomson: L v21 no1626 & F no1602 (microfilm reel 14)