Story behind wynd

“The recent article about the art works in the old Dundee closes brings to mind the story of how Couttie’s Wynd got its name,” says Innes Duffus.

“Until Victorian times the name of streets, wynds and closes changed, reflecting who owned the principal almost overcome, When the King said ‘Feight on, Cowtie, the Face of a King is terrible.’ (Coutie never knew before who this Royal traveller was). The villans hearing this understood the meaning of these words, fled off with the greatest precipetation, fearing they would all be taken, and so left the King &Coutie to gather for which it is said the King so rewarded Coutie’s Noble Action with a Complement of the place he lived in giving him the Wynd which is to this day called Cowtie’s Wynd from him.’ As in all the best stories the King’s retinue arrives shortly after the event.

“It is a good story, and I love the part about the dog, but, nonetheless, Couttie’s Wynd had retained the name to this day.”

house. It was originally known as Spalding’s Wynd after the family who had lived there for generations. Spalding was a personal attendant to King Robert the Bruce and his son came to Dundee in 1342. In an extract from the First History

of Dundee 1775 we read: ‘However, King James V (1513 -1542), father of Mary Queen of Scots, in order to meet his people, was in the habit of travelling alone in disguise with his followers some way behind. He would call himself The Goodman (tenant of Balandreich so that people would not realise who he was.

‘One day coming across the munth, he met with a Dundee flesher named Couttie, who would have been driving cattle he had bought to the flesh shambles for slaughter,

“As they walked along chatting together they were set upon by a band of robbers.

‘But though the King and Coutie fought long and defended themselves most manfully, they both being very able men, especially the King, who it is reported was a match for any two men if not more, And Coutie having a Dog with him which did more than both, and all growing feint by reason of the Many Villans they had to encounter were