Youth hostel for Gardyne's land

One of Dundee's oldest buildings, hidden away behind High Street shops is being converted into a 90 bed modern youth hostel by the Tayside Buildings Preservation Trust led by Neil Grieve of the School of Town and Regional Planning.

Gardyne's land is the least well-known of five Dundee landmarks from the medieval period and the only example of a late medieval residential building still standing in the city. The Steeple, the Howff, the Wishart Arch and Dudhope Castle have for years been recognised as nationally important buildings and restored and preserved accordingly. Gardyne's land was most recently used as a DSS hostel and has been lying derelict since the late seventies.

It is situated behind Timpson's shoe shop on the High Street and comprises three buildings dating back to 1520 which meet to form a tiny courtyard in the middle. The first recorded owner was John Gardyne, a well respected mariner and merchant from whom the buildings took their name. Dwelling has been the main purpose of Gardyne's land for nearly five centuries and some of the inhabitants' names and trades are painted on the doors.

Restoring Gardyne's land to a facility housing a youth hostel will cost approximately £3 million. £200,000 has just been spent on urgent repairs and the Tayside Buildings Preservation Trust is hoping to attract investment from local businesses and enterprise.

Next Page
Return to June 2001 Contact