The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Monck’s House
Innes Duffus has sent some information about the Duchess of Monmouth’s/ Monck’s House. “Formed at the north west corner of the Fleuchargait or Merketgait, now the Nethergate and the south east corner of Argyllisgait or “I took this photograph of my granddaughter Charlotte, 10 years ago at Rosehill on the outskirts of Luthermuir,” says Janette Anderson. “There was a slight breeze when I set her in amongst the flowers. She looked up at me and said: ‘Look Granny, the daffies are dancing”. Overgait, it was owned by the wealthy merchant Rollock family,” he says.
“When Cromwell’s troops were about to enter Edinburgh, wealthy families brought their goods to Dundee as a secure walled burgh. One of them was the Buccleuch family.
“Their daughter, later the Duchess of Monmouth, was born there on February 11, 1651. The family left Dundee only a few weeks before Monck invaded the town. On the day of her marriage King Charles had created her husband Duke of Buccleuch, Erle of Dalkeith and Lord Scotte. He had been given the surname Crofts at his birth, later changed to Fitzroy and, of course, Monmouth and Scott.
“He was the son of Charles II by Lucy Walters and was born at Rotterdam in 1649. He had to assume the name of Scott on his marriage. He claimed the crown on the death of his father and raised war against his uncle, James II. He was executed on July 16, 1685.
“On August 26, 1651 Monck enclosed and lay siege to Dundee. Despite the stories of the behaviour of his troops Monck severely punished – by court martial – any found guilty. Records show that he was particular about the behaviour of his men. He took over the Rollock House and lay there for a time as a sick man before leaving the burgh. The house was known as Monck’s House from then until it was demolished by Dundee City Council to make way for the Overgate Centre.
“One interesting fact is that the material at the back of each step in the tower was made of glass. To this day people believe that this one house should have been saved as an important part of British history.”