Dundee City Chambers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dundee City Chambers |
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Dundee City Chambers
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| Location | Dundee |
| Built | 1933 |
| Architect | James McLellan Brown and Sir John James Burnet |
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Listed Building – Category B
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| Designated | 30 March 1994 |
| Reference no. | LB25262 |
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The Dundee City Chambers is an important building in Dundee, Scotland. It's located in City Square and serves as the main office for the Dundee City Council. This building is considered a special historic place, known as a Category B listed building. It's where important decisions about the city are made.
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Why a New City Chambers Was Built
For a long time, Dundee had an old town house on the High Street. It was built in 1734. But as Dundee grew, the city council needed a bigger and more modern place to work. The old building was too small for all the important tasks the council had to do. So, the city leaders decided to build a brand new, larger building. The old town house was carefully taken down to make space for the new City Chambers.
Designing and Opening the Building
The new Dundee City Chambers was designed by the city's architect, James McLellan Brown. He used ideas from famous architect Sir John James Burnet. The building was finished in 1933. A special event was held on November 30, 1933, when Prince George officially opened it.
The building has a grand design with many windows facing City Square. The middle part has arches on the ground floor and a stone balcony above. Inside, the most important room is the council chamber. This is where the city council members meet to discuss and vote on city matters.
Special Features Inside
The council chamber has beautiful stained glass windows. These windows were made by Alex Russell from the Dundee College of Art. They show important moments from Dundee's history, like:
- The City's Coat of Arms.
- William Wallace attacking Dundee Castle in 1297.
- Robert the Bruce giving a special paper (a charter) to Dundee in 1327.
- Mary, Queen of Scots visiting Dundee in 1561.
- Bonnie Dundee on his way to the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689.
The council chamber also has chandeliers. These fancy lights were made using glass from the original chandeliers in the old town house. This connects the new building to Dundee's past.
The City Chambers Through the Years
The City Chambers has always been the main office for Dundee's local government.
- It was first the headquarters for Dundee Corporation.
- In 1975, it became the main office for Dundee District Council.
- Since 1996, it has been the headquarters for the Dundee City Council.
A special memorial was placed in the building to remember soldiers from the 51st (Highland) Division. These soldiers from the local area bravely fought and died in the First and Second World Wars.
In July 2016, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh visited Dundee. They waved to the crowds from the balcony of the City Chambers, a memorable moment for the city.
See also
