Dundee street names

Tayport reader Reg Mulheron has been in touch about the recent “change of street name” situation in Dundee. “This is nothing new,” he comments. “A few years ago I gave a talk to the Probus Club about street names in Dundee. It was a mammoth task once I discovered that there are over 2,000 of them!

“The council are not keen to reinstate Russell Street because of connotations with the Irish famine. Years ago, Nelson Street was earmarked to be called Parnell Street after Sir Henry Parnell, who was MP for the city from 1837 until he was raised to the House of Lords with the title Baron Congleton in 1841.

“The street was under construction when Sir Henry, who had suffered from a long period of ill-health, died after committing suicide. Due to the mores of the time, it was decided that the street would be renamed afer Admiral Lord Nelson and so became Nelson Street. Another street was called after the Duke of Wellington – Wellington Street.

“The area belonged to a farming family and many of the streets in that area were named after family members eg Alexander Street and Ann Street.

“As a footnote, the talk I gave, over the festive season, took me so long that I became known as ‘the man who burnt the mince pies’, as all the preparations for the after-talk festive refreshments were completely thrown by the length of my talk!”

If you have a story for Craigie email: craigie@thecourier.co.uk