Hillpark Terrace and Hill Crescent

The rows of houses making up Hillpark Terrace and Hill Crescent are the finest examples of what might be called the sun-houses in Wormit. They were built by Dundee builder Alexander Stewart. After the opening of the second railway bridge in 1887 Alexander Stewart played a major role in Wormit’s development in the 1890s.

He built Hillpark Terrace and Hill Crescent, as well as many other properties in Naughton Road, Birkhill Avenue and Mount Stewart Road. His Tayside Electric Company offered electricity to all his properties, and to others on request. Sun rays painted on the front of his houses were a symbol showing they were using this new form of power. Possibly the smaller sun symbol on other houses on Riverside Road and on Netherlea also advertised the use of electricity.

Power was generated by a windmill located on Wormit hill, with a coal-powered steam engine to supplement this when the wind was low. As well as electric lighting for home-owners, basic street lighting was also provided. The generator on the hill was replaced in 1905 by a coal-gas engine down on the main road and this was capable of providing power for cooking as well as lighting. One pricing tariff allowed consumers to pay 10 shillings a quarter and use as much electricity as they liked!

The early use of electricity in Alexander Stewart’s houses has led to the claim that Wormit was the first village in Scotland to have a domestic electricity supply.

Thanks to William Owen for his research.