Gardyne's Land, Dundee facts for kids
Gardyne's Land is a group of five very old buildings located on the High Street in Dundee, Scotland. These buildings are special because they are the oldest homes still standing in the city!
What is Gardyne's Land?
Gardyne's Land is made up of five different buildings, each with its own history:
- A merchant's house built around 1560. It has three floors and is shaped like the letter 'L'.
- Some smaller homes, or "lodgings," from about 1640.
- A large apartment building, called a tenement, from around 1790.
- A billiard hall (a place for playing pool) built around 1820.
- A shop from the Victorian era, built around 1845.
All five of these buildings are known as "Category A listed buildings." This means they are very important to Scotland's history and are protected by law to make sure they are preserved for the future.
Saving Gardyne's Land
In 1995, a group called the Tayside Building Preservation Trust became interested in Gardyne's Land. They wanted to save these historic buildings from falling apart.
Between 1997 and 2000, the Trust bought the buildings. They also worked hard to raise money for their repair. The first steps to fix the buildings, like making them waterproof, started in 2000.
From 2000 to 2003, a team of experts planned to turn the old buildings into a hostel, which is a type of affordable hotel. In April 2005, the project was handed over to the Dundee City Council to continue the work.
Awards for Restoration
The amazing work done to restore Gardyne's Land has won several awards! These include honors from:
- The Dundee Civic Trust
- The Dundee Institute of Architects
- The Royal Town Planning Institute
- A Scottish award for quality in planning and renewal
These awards show how important and well-done the restoration of Gardyne's Land has been.
