ANDREW BATCHELOR: Reflecting on a remarkable chapter at Dundee Museum of Transport as Market Mews prepares to close
It’s a strange feeling knowing that a place you’ve grown so familiar with is about to close its doors for the final time.
When I joined Dundee Museum of Transport as Marketing Manager in June 2025, I knew I was stepping into an exciting period for the museum.
Plans were already progressing for its move to the historic Maryfield Tram Depot, and there was a real sense of anticipation about what the future could hold.
What I perhaps didn’t anticipate was just how much I would come to enjoy being part of the team, or how quickly Market Mews would begin to feel like somewhere I’d worked for years.
Now, as the museum prepares to leave its home of 12 years, I’ve found myself reflecting on everything we’ve achieved and what lies ahead.
More than just a museum
One of the things I’ve learned during my time at Dundee Museum of Transport is just how much work goes on behind the scenes.
When visitors walk through the doors, they see historic buses, cars, trams, fascinating objects and exhibitions that tell the story of Dundee’s transport heritage.
What they might not always see is the extraordinary dedication of the people who make it all possible.
The staff and volunteers put an incredible amount of time, effort and passion into preserving the collection, researching its history, maintaining vehicles and creating experiences for visitors.
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work alongside them.
Their knowledge, enthusiasm and commitment are among the things that make Dundee Museum of Transport so special.
And it’s been a genuine privilege to help tell their stories.
Looking back on what we’ve achieved
From a professional perspective, I’m particularly proud of the progress we’ve made with the museum’s digital presence.
During my time as Marketing Manager, I’ve helped deliver back-to-back best years on record for the museum’s social media performance.
For me, that’s been about much more than numbers.
It’s about making sure more people discover the museum, learn about its collection and understand the important role it plays in preserving Dundee’s history.
I’ve also had the opportunity to help promote some of the most exciting exhibitions the museum has delivered, including Oor Trams: Dundee’s Tram Era Remembered.
That exhibition has been particularly special, especially with the 70th anniversary of Dundee’s last trams falling in October 2026, just as the museum prepares to leave Market Mews.
I’ve loved being able to share these stories and bring them to new audiences.
Another highlight has been developing the partnership between Dundee Museum of Transport and Dundee Culture.
Having spent years building Dundee Culture into a platform dedicated to showcasing the city, it’s been fantastic to use that experience and reach to help raise awareness of the museum.
Bringing the two together has created opportunities to introduce more people to the collection, exhibitions and exciting developments at Maryfield.
I’m proud of the contribution I’ve made, but none of these achievements happen in isolation. They’re the result of having a fantastic team, wonderful stories to tell and a shared belief in what the museum can become.
Saying goodbye to Market Mews
There’s no denying that leaving Market Mews is emotional.
For 12 years, it has been the museum’s home. Thousands of people have visited, memories have been shared and countless hours of work have gone into transforming the space into somewhere that celebrates Dundee’s transport heritage.
For many of the volunteers who have been involved much longer than I have, the significance of this moment will be even greater.
And while my own time at Market Mews has been relatively short, I’m grateful to have experienced this chapter before it comes to an end.
But I think it’s important to emphasise something.
This is not the end of Dundee Museum of Transport. Far from it.
It’s the beginning of what could be the most exciting period in its history.
The future is Maryfield
The first time I started learning more about the plans for Maryfield Tram Depot, I was struck by the sheer scale of the ambition.
We’re talking about transforming a historic building that opened in 1901 into a permanent home for Dundee Museum of Transport.
A building that once played an important role in keeping Dundee moving will be given an entirely new purpose, welcoming visitors to explore the city’s transport history.
There’s something incredibly fitting about that.
Seventy years after the city’s last trams departed Maryfield, Dundee’s only surviving horse-drawn tram is set to find a home there.
History really is coming full circle.
And having seen the ambition behind the project, I genuinely believe the new museum is going to blow people away.
There will be opportunities to tell stories in new ways, showcase more of the collection and welcome audiences who might never have visited Market Mews.
It could become one of Dundee’s most exciting visitor attractions.
Of course, none of this will happen overnight.
There’s an enormous amount of work ahead, from relocating thousands of objects to supporting the museum through its transition and preparing Maryfield for opening.
It’s going to take determination, creativity, teamwork and continued public support.
But I’m genuinely excited about being part of that process.
For the first time in its 125 year history, Maryfield Tram Depot will be open to the public - that is huge!
One chapter ends, another begins
As I reflect on my first and last days at Market Mews, I’m filled with gratitude.
Gratitude for the opportunity I’ve been given, for the people I’ve worked alongside, for everything we’ve achieved and for the trust placed in me to help communicate the museum’s story.
I’m also incredibly excited about what’s next.
There’s still so much I want to achieve as Marketing Manager, and the prospect of helping launch the museum into its new home at Maryfield is something I’m really looking forward to.
I can’t wait to see how the museum develops, how its audiences grow and how we can continue finding new ways to share Dundee’s remarkable transport heritage.
Most of all, I can’t wait for the day when we finally open the doors at Maryfield and welcome people inside.
Market Mews has given Dundee Museum of Transport 12 wonderful years.
Now it’s time to build on that legacy.
Thank you, Market Mews. Thank you to the incredible team. And here’s to the next chapter.
Next stop: Maryfield!
