The three closes

“The 200th anniversary supplement of The Courier was most enjoyable,” writes Keith Walker. “What an achievement it is for a business to be so successful for so long.

“I am including my image of Key’s Close (see picture on right) where The Courier was first published. The black and white image comes from the Local History library in the Wellgate which holds the most amazing information on old Dundee.

“I’ve placed Key’s Close back on its original site near the bus lanes of Whitehall Street. Behind the buildings on the right was Whitehall Close and behind the beautiful current frontage to the left was Scott’s Close. All three closes led to the old harbour.

“Key’s Close was established about 1450 and by 1500 it was called Will Schippert’s Close and it was associated with the baker trade.

“By 1804, William Key, cabinet maker and Deacon of the wright trade, had acquired quite a few of the old buildings and he established a Wrights’ Hall.

“Printer Thomas Colville used Key’s old house as a printing works for The Courier in 1816.

“The couple standing in the photograph outside The Courier building are not waiting for a newspaper but are hoping to gain access to the tavern underneath The Courier works.

“It would seem that the newspaper then moved to the building which is in the foreground of the photograph in 1858 until 1861 when it joined with the Argus and moved to the New Inn Entry premises.”

“I found this bottle top, above, in the garden and hadn’t realised that the DPM (Dundee Pasteurised Milk) produced more than just milk products,” emails Stewart McLeish. “Does anyone know what else the DPM sold?”