Flax barons’ mansions

“Further to the recent article about the jute fleet, “emails Bradley Borland of Kinfauns, “initially flax started the textile trade in Dundee, with companies such as Baxter Brothers who started as flax spinners, and latterly jute spinners and weavers. Flax barons built mansions in West Ferry and Perth Road, Dundee, and began the prosperity of the city prior to jute.

“Dundee was instrumental in the search for top-quality flax, and many merchants exploited the trade of flax from Russia starting up export from Kostroma region , not far from Moscow. This flax was top quality and shipments were made from the ports of Archangel, and St Petersburg, who both issued seals of quality inspection which were attached to the bales at these ports.

“This, alongside timber from the Baltic regions, added to Dundee’s prosperity, creating the base for further expansion into textiles with jute. After the Russian Revolution, top-quality flax exports from Russia virtually ceased. The drive was on to find an alternative source – and it came from the British Empire, namely India.

“This fibre was well suited to the requirements of the textile trade, and was treated with whale oil as Dundee was a large port in the whaling industry.

“Many of the new jute barons built houses in and around Dundee, augmenting those built by the flax barons some years earlier. The whole story is fascinating to explore, being Dundee’s heritage.”