Blubbertown’s whaling heritage

On yesterday afternoon’s BBC Radio 4 “Making History” program, Professor David Munro MBE explained why Dundee was once known as “Blubbertown”. He noted how little evidence of Dundee's whaling heritage could be seen today by comparing an 1890’s town plan, drawn by John Bartholomew, with the present cityscape.

Extract of the Dundee plan from the 1895 Royal Scottish Geographical Society’s Atlas of Scotland, designed and prepared by J. G. Bartholomew. Showing E Whale Lane and W Whale Lane (mentioned in the broadcast) to the north of Victoria Dock.



Extract from the Dundee town plan in the 2009 Collins Britain, Big Road Atlas.

The Dundee Whaling Industry by the University of Dundee Museum Services.

Plan of Dundee, from the 1895 Royal Scottish Geographical Society’s Atlas of Scotland, designed and prepared by J. G. Bartholomew.