The Tower, 1 Northview Terrace

The Tower dates from around 1895 and is to the design of Thomas Cappon. Like many of the neighbouring houses, the house was built by Alexander Stewart. The first occupant was James Duncan, a Dundee general merchant. It was owned briefly in the 1930s by Smith Hood the coal company.

From the 1940s until the 1980s the house was occupied by Gavin L Wilson, a draper in Dundee.

This is a rather modest description for a member  of the very well-known Dundee family who owned G L Wilson’s massive department store on the corner of Murraygate and Commercial Street, fondly remembered as GL’s. Gavin Wilson was a grand-son of the first Gavin Wilson who established the store.

Gavin Wilson built a model railway over several years. It’s understood that the railway ran on a track in his sitting-room and became locally renowned! Our newscutting shows Gavin surrounded by his rather extensive rail layout.

The house contains fine architectural features, including the beautiful stained glass vestibule.

There is more stained glass in the stair window and ornate plasterwork in the sitting room.

The Edwardian grotto

At the entrance to the Tower grounds is the Tower Lodge. From 1900 until the 1950s this housed the gardener. There has clearly been a strong tradition of gardening here, with more ground being acquired from 1910 onwards, and extensive greenhouses built. The garden was probably twice the size it is now. The current owners were told that at one time seven gardeners worked here.

Although the area of ground has been reduced in size again, it is still extensive. It’s interesting to note that the present occupants of the Tower continue that gardening tradition, opening their beautiful garden to the public on certain days under Scotland’s Garden Scheme. One of the highlights of a visit is to see the original Edwardian stone grotto with waterfall pool.

Thanks to Peter and Angela Davey for information and photographs.