Jute firm rose from the ashes

Today’s main picture takes us back over 150 years to an important period in Dundee’s industrial history.

Kindly supplied by Dundee University’s archive services, the image on the right shows the office staff who were employed by the city’s Thomson, Shepherd and Co Ltd at the textiles firm’s Seafield Works, and comes from an extensive photographic collection covering the company’s 19th Century development.

The university’s archives assistant Kenneth Baxter informs Craigie that the venture’s plant was based at Taylor’s Lane, off Perth Road, and that it became strongly established as a well-known Dundee firm of jute spinners and carpet manufacturers.

He writes: “The firm evolved from a company founded in 1848 by David Thomson, who in 1852 was awarded the first patent to be granted in Dundee for a jute product.

“After David Thomson’s death in 1858 his younger brother and partner John took control of the business. In 1862 over 2,000 workers were employed at Seafield Works when serious financial problems caused the failure of Thomson’s business, leading to the running down of the works and many workers losing their jobs.

“As a result, many who had suddenly lost their income fell into extreme poverty, with press reports of the time recording several harrowing stories of the dire circumstances

some families faced. Thankfully, the shutdown was short-lived and John Thomson entered into a partnership with the Wakefield firm of Shepherd and Briggs to form a new company, Messrs Thomson, Shepherd and Briggs, to restart production at Seafield.

“In October 1870 the works were the scene

of a major fire which was estimated to have caused £50,000 of damage – the equivalent of several million pounds today.

“However, again the firm was able to recover from this setback.”

Mr Baxter says the amalgamated enterprise went on to enjoy a lengthy existence following the relaunch and the recovery from the devastating blaze, with production continuing throughout the next 100-plus years.

He concludes: “Thomson, Shepherd and Co Ltd had ceased jute spinning in 1976 and soon afterwards had been taken over by Arthur Sanderson and Sons. Carpet production continued to be successful, but the decision was taken to cease operations at Seafield Works, largely as it was deemed unsuitable to be adapted for modern production methods.

“Seafield Works finally closed in 1986.”

Thanks to Dundee University’s archive services for supplying this picture of workers at the Thomson, Shepherd and Co jute company’s Seafield Works, in the city’s Taylor’s Lane, taken some time in the 1850s or 1860s. Read more about the firm on the left.

The madcap antics of comic strip favourites will feature in a free talk by DC Thomson archivist David Powell at Dundee Art Society’s Roseangle premises tonight at 7pm.