Dundee City Square’s old “canopy” becomes the talk of the town as mysterious structure debated

A single photo of a long-vanished structure in Dundee’s City Square has opened the floodgates to memories, myths and some wonderfully imaginative theories from Dundonians of all ages.

What started as a nostalgic post quickly turned into a full-blown debate about what the structure was actually used for and what lay beneath the city centre.

The image shows the distinctive semi-circular canopy that once stood in front of Caird Hall, a feature many remember but few could confidently explain. Suggestions came thick and fast, with childhood imaginations running wild once again. For some, it was surely the entrance to an underground tunnel network, perhaps even leading to the Law or beyond. Others were convinced it must have been toilets, while a few recalled being told it led somewhere far more secret.

As the comments grew, a clearer picture began to emerge. Several contributors explained that the structure was actually the pedestrian entrance to an underground car park beneath City Square, used by council staff and officials, with vehicles entering from Crichton Street. The canopy marked the top of a staircase leading up from the car park, not unlike similar city centre designs from the same era.

That did not stop the stories, though. Many admitted they spent years believing it was a public toilet entrance, while others remembered it being used during events, charity fundraisers and even film productions. One commenter recalled equipment being plugged in inside the doorway for a radio fundraiser, while another noted it once doubled as Lenin’s tomb in a BBC drama during the early 1980s.

There was also lively discussion about nearby underground routes, including stairways to the old arcade and tunnels leading towards Castle Street. Some memories blurred together, mixing childhood mischief, half-remembered adventures and the simple fact that the city centre once had far more hidden layers than it does today.

In the end, the debate became less about being right and more about shared memory. The comments section turned into a living archive, full of personal stories, gentle disagreements and humour. It was a reminder that Dundee’s streets are not just bricks and paving, but places shaped by imagination, routine and the stories people carry with them.

Sometimes all it takes is a single photo to remind us how a city lives in the minds of those who grew up in it.