These are 8 interesting stories behind Dundee street names

Picture: Google

Dundee’s street names tell stories of industry, history, and remarkable individuals who shaped the city. Here are eight intriguing stories behind some of them.

Dura Street

Dura Street takes its name from Dura Works, a jute mill built in 1836. The word ‘Dura’ comes from the Celtic ‘dubron,’ meaning water, a term found in many place names across the British Isles. Nearby Kemback Street also has Gaelic roots, originally called ‘Kenebach,’ meaning ‘at the little headland.’ These names reflect Dundee’s deep linguistic and industrial heritage.

Raglan Street

Named after Lord Raglan (1788–1855), this street honours a military leader who served under Wellington during the Peninsular Campaign and later commanded British forces in the Crimean War. His leadership at battles such as Alma, Balaclava, and Inkerman made him a national figure. Many Dundonians fought in the Crimean War, making his name a fitting tribute to their sacrifices.

Baffin Street

A nod to Dundee’s maritime history, Baffin Street is named after Baffin Bay in the Arctic, a key whaling region. Dundee’s whaling industry relied heavily on Arctic expeditions, with ships venturing into these freezing waters to hunt whales for oil and other products. Nearby Baltic Street reflects the city’s trade links with the Baltic region, where flax and hemp were imported for the linen industry.

Clepington Road

Clepington Road originally led to two estates—Easter Clepington and Wester Clepington. The area was once known as ‘Clephane-toun,’ as it belonged to the Clephanes of Carslogie in Fife. Later, part of the route was renamed Provost Road in memory of Patrick Hunter Thoms, a Dundee Provost from the Clepington family, ensuring the area’s historical connections remain recognised.

Peep o’ Day Lane

This lane gets its unusual name from Peep o’ Day Mansion, once home to Walter Ogilvy of Clova, who later became the 6th Earl of Airlie. Ogilvy was the younger brother of Lord Ogilvy, a Jacobite leader who fought at Culloden. The mansion was likely named for its eastern-facing position, where the sunrise would be visible. Though the house was demolished for Dundee Gas Works, its name lives on in the lane. With Eden Project set to be built on the street, it’s name is about to get that bit more notable.

Butterburn

At the top of Hilltown, Butterburn was originally a stream known as ‘Bitterburn.’ One tale suggests that during a plague, healthy townspeople passed butter across the burn to those in quarantine, leading to the name change. While this story is likely more legend than fact, it highlights Dundee’s folklore and the way history blends with myth in street names.

Arthurstone Terrace

Arthurstone Terrace commemorates Peter Carmichael of Arthurstone (1809–1891), a key figure in Dundee’s textile industry. He rose from Superintendent of Dens Mill to senior partner in Baxter Brothers & Co., one of the city’s largest textile firms. In 1869, he acquired the Arthurstone estate, where he lived until his death, leaving a lasting mark on Dundee’s industrial and residential landscape.

Sugarhouse Wynd

This narrow lane preserves the memory of Dundee’s long-lost sugar-refining industry. Established around 1770, the Dundee Sugar Refinery was managed by Mr Wiedemann, a Dutchman who later became the grandfather of poet Robert Browning.

Though the refinery eventually closed due to competition from Greenock, the name Sugarhouse Wynd remains, a reminder of the city’s once-thriving trade in sugar.

---

These street names are more than just markers—they’re windows into Dundee’s past, each revealing a story of industry, heritage, and historical figures who shaped the city.

Sources and further reading

Leisure and Culture Dundee – Streetwise