Skip to Main Content
Dictionary of Scottish Architects (1660 - 1980)
Home
Contact
Architects
Buildings
Practices
Search
Admin Login
Buildings
Building (Filter)
Building Search
Clear Selection
Basic Site Details
Name
Caird Hall
Town, District or Village
Parish
City or County
Dundee
Status
A listed
Country
Scotland
Grid Ref
Grid Ref N
Grid Ref E
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:
Alt classic
Name
Current Name
Notes
City Hall
No
row(s) 1 - 1 of 1
Building Type Classification
The building is classified under the following categories:
Class classic
Classification
Original Classification
Notes
Hall
Not Known
row(s) 1 - 1 of 1
Street Addresses
The following street addresses are associated with this building:
Str Add classic
Address
Current Address
Notes
11-13 City Square
Yes
20-24 Crichton Street
Yes
107 Shore Terrace
Yes
35 Castle Street
Yes
East wing extension
row(s) 1 - 4 of 4
Events
The following date-based events are associated with this building:
event classic
Event Type
From
To
Notes
Build/construction
1914
1922
Opened
1923/10
Caird Hall officially opened by the Prince of Wales
1923c
Unexecuted classical scheme for flanking buildings - circumstances of preparation unclear
Plans approved
1924
Designs for commercial ranges to east and west of hall submitted to Burnet for approval by James Thomson.
Addition
1931
1932
East wing extension
Opened
1933
West range opened
Proposed
1966/04/29
Reconstruction plans to reduce hall in size for concerts and to construct a new theatre for £200,000 - £250,000
Scheme accepted
1967/02
Burgh Council has approved plans to reconstruct Caird Hall to a modern theatre and concert hall at a cost of £700,000/£800,000.
Rehabilitation
1981
Major refurbishment including installation of new flooring and seating
Restoration
1991
Organ restored by its original builders, and a £750,000 five-year rolling programme of improvements to halls undertaken
row(s) 1 - 10 of 10
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.
design classic
Person
Partnership Group
Role
From
To
Notes
Dundee Burgh Engineer's Office/Dundee City Engineer's Office
A
1914
1922
James Thomson responsible, assisted by Vernon Constable
James Thomson
A
1914
1922
As Dundee City Architect
Vernon Constable
A
1914
1922
Assisted James Thomson, City Architect/Engineer
William Fraser
1919
Frank Drummond Thomson
1923c
Unexecuted classical scheme for flanking buildings - circumstances of preparation unclear
(Sir) John James Burnet
G
Architect
1924
Designs for commercial ranges to east and west of hall submitted to Burnet for approval by James Thomson.
Dundee City Architect's Department
B
1931
1932
South half of East wing extension - for Council Offices.
Dundee City Architect's Department
C
Architectural Department (New Towns etc)
1931
1933
West range - built as City Chambers
James McLellan Brown
B
1931
1932
South half of East wing extension - for Council Offices.
James McLellan Brown
C
Architect
1931
1933
West extension - built as City Chambers
Mr. John Whyckham
1966/04/29
Engaged by the Corporation to supervise the reconstruction
William Scott Morton
D
Decorator
Interior work
row(s) 1 - 12 of 12
Clients
The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:
client classic
Name
Notes
Caird, James
Industrialist who donated a large sum towards the development of Dundee City centre
row(s) 1 - 1 of 1
Related Buildings, Structures and Designs
References
Bibliographic References
The following books contain references to this building:
bio ref classic
Author
Year
Title
Part
Publisher
Notes
City of Dundee District Council, Planning Dept
1992
A guide to the City Chambers
Gifford, John
2012
The Buildings of Scotland: Angus and Dundee
Yale
p103, 104
Miskell, Louise, Whatley, Christopher A and Harris, Bob
2000
Victorian Dundee: image and realities
Tuckwell
Plate 38 shows image of portico and city square as first proposed (location of original not specified)
Peter, Bruce
1999
Scotland'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
RCAHMS
1992
Dundee on Record
RCAHMS
View of Strathmartine's Lodging and Caird Hall from the north (c.1930) p52
www.theatrestrust.org.uk/
www.theatrestrust.org.uk/ - Theatres Database of the Theatres Trust
www.theatrestrust.org.uk/resources/theatres/show/2349-king-s-dundee
row(s) 1 - 6 of 6
Periodical References
The following periodicals contain references to this building:
period ref classic
Periodical Name
Date
Edition
Publisher
Notes
Builder
1923L
CXXV
pp682, 684 (plans, illustrations)
Building
1967/02/17
p166
Dundee Courier and Advertiser
1998/10/24
'Hall of distinction'
RIBA Journal
1930/12/06
*
London: Royal Institute of British Architects
Obituary of Constable
row(s) 1 - 4 of 4
Archive References
The following archives hold material relating to this building:
arc ref classic
Source
Name
Cat Number
Item Name
Notes
RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum
RIBA Nomination Papers
James Thomson: L v21 no1626 & F no1602 (microfilm reel 14)
Historic Environment Scotland
Listed Buildings Register
25258
row(s) 1 - 2 of 2