Heathfield House, 58 West Road

This house was built by William Just for Margaret MacKay or Mackie in the mid-1820s. This was always called Mackie House or Mackie Place until the 1950s or 1960s when it became Heathfield House. Margaret Mackie appears to have been one of the many Newport spinsters making a living from renting out her property.

There was a great tradition here in Newport of property rental. Particularly in the first half of the 19th century, and especially after the introduction of the fine new steam ferry service in 1823, it was popular among Dundee industrialists and businessmen to rent property here for the summer months. The family could enjoy the fine fresh air of Newport and of course the sea bathing, while husband/father could travel daily to Dundee by ferry for business.