Dunvarlich, 25 Riverside Road

Dunvarlich was built in the early 1890s for William Melville, a draper in Dundee. According to the Dundee directory he was a draper, silk mercer, tailor, dressmaker, mantlemaker, shirtmaker and milliner, with several shops, so not just any draper! Between the two wars the house was occupied by William Hood, a member of the coal merchant Hood family, of Smith, Hood, and Company Ltd.

Dunvarlich during World War II

Norwegian Connection

During World War II the house became unoccupied and it was taken over by the government as accommodation for Norwegian officers. During World War II Norwegian forces were based at Woodhaven after the 333 squadron of the Royal Norwegian Air Force was formed there in 1942.  Woodhaven was chosen as the squadron’s base because of its relatively isolated location which offered the secrecy needed for its missions.

King Haakon’s Visit

The king’s arrival at Woodhaven

On 7^th May 1942, King Haakon VII of Norway, in exile in London during the war, made a morale-boosting visit to the Norwegian forces in Woodhaven. The house on Riverside Road would provide accommodation for the royal visitor.

Some of the Norwegian servicemen painted a sea motif for him on the walls of a bedroom en-suite, perhaps to remind him of home. The painting is still there today, and the current owners are hopeful that it can be preserved. They kindly allowed us to use their photographs of the motif.

Thanks to Sharon Adamson for photographs.