This Dundee building has stood for centuries – and its biggest transformation is now underway

St David’s Halls is one of the oldest buildings in Dundee (Picture: St David’s Restoration / Facebook)

I like to think I know just about everything there is to know about Dundee. From the newest restaurant, café and shop openings to the quirks of our history, I’ve usually got it covered.

So imagine my surprise – and slight embarrassment – when I recently stumbled on a project that had completely passed me by.

In fact, it took one of Dundee Culture’s most loyal followers, a Mason no less, to clue me in. And what a secret it turned out to be.

Hidden behind the Nethergate, St David’s Halls looks like just another old stone building.

The St David’s Hall site, pictured in 2016 before work commenced (Picture: Douglas Nelson / Geograph)

But inside, a team of volunteers have been quietly working for years on something very ambitious.

The building, which dates back to the 1600s with even older underground vaults beneath, is being slowly restored with the hope of transforming it into a space that serves both history and community.

It is hoped that the building will be used as a tourism site, veteran’s support centre, a cafe and accommodation in years to come (Picture: St David’s Restoration / Facebook)

The vision is a big one – a veteran’s support centre, a historic tourism site, a public café, and even budget accommodation for visitors.

It It’s the sort of project that feels like it should already be a headline-grabber, yet it has been unfolding quietly in the background thanks to private funding, volunteer labour, and a lot of determination.

Already, around £400,000 has gone into bringing the halls back from the brink. Staircases have been repaired, roof work has been tackled, and centuries-old stone walls have been restored.

The work has been going on since 2020. (Picture: St David’s Restoration / Facebook)

The progress is there to see, though still mostly out of public view, and it hints at what could one day be a truly special Dundee landmark.

The next steps are even bolder. Plans are in motion to restore the original roofline, open up long-hidden vaults, reconnect the building with its stone staircase, and give the first-floor bar a Victorian-style veranda.

The walled garden, parts of which date to the 14th century, is also set to be made wheelchair accessible. None of this is guaranteed – but the ideas are there, and the momentum is building.

Dundonian Williamina Fleming, who discovered the Horsehead Nebula, was born at the St David’s complex

What’s more, the halls stand within the grounds where Williamina Fleming – the Dundee-born housemaid who went on to become one of Harvard’s most important astronomers – first entered the world.

For me, what makes St David’s so fascinating is that it’s a project brimming with possibility. It may still be under the radar, and the outcome isn’t set in stone, but the groundwork is being laid for something very special.

Dundee has no shortage of heritage, but this feels like one of those hidden gems that, if given the chance, could shine brightly in the years to come.

Find more about the St David’s Restoration project over on their Facebook page here.