General > About the Vine

About the Vine

Our Wonderful Location in the Historic Vine Building

We are very fortunate that our business is based in The Library of the historic Vine pavilion in Dundee, the City of Discovery. This is the Vine's story......

You can now book the Vine's historic drawing room for meetings and small conferences  (capacity board room style 20, theatre style 40) for just £100 - includes tea/coffee - buffets to order or arrange your own catering. Phone Pete on 01382 641999 for more information or to book.

History
A listed building of historical significance,the Vine is a substantial single storey, neo-Greek pavilion set on a plinth within spacious gardens overlooking the river Tay in Dundee, which was built in 1836 for George Duncan, Liberal MP.  The architect is unknown but the similarities with Thomas Hamilton’s Arthur Lodge, Edinburgh have been noted by architectural historians Professor David Walker and Charles Mackean. The similarities include the neo-Greek style, the top lit hall, the decoration and the split level arrangement of accommodation.

The house has two principal facades. The south front is of five bays centred on the window of the library from which access can be gained to the garden. The house is entered on the east elevation which is of three bays. A vestibule with niches at the corners and a fine Minton tiled floor leads into the hall. The hall is divided by columns into two areas. The first provides access to the drawing room to the south, with its original plasterwork and fireplace, and the original dining room to the north. The latter has been subdivided and has lost its fireplace.

The inner part of the hall is lit by the cupola and has paired columns at each corner. This whole hall is exuberantly decorated. Much of the original decoration survives but there may have been some extra decoration added at the end of the 19th century. The inner hall has doors to the library which retains its magnificent fireplace and plasterwork. The north door in the hall opposite the library is a dummy or fake door. The west door on axis with the front door gives access to the stair hall. The stair retains its very fine cast iron balustrade. To the front is the original principal bedroom and dressing room. A tight ladder stair leads from the stair hall to a floored attic. The main stair rises a half flight to a dressing room, bathroom and two bedrooms, one of which lies behind the inner hall and the blind door. The staircase descends to the service accommodation and cellars. The original kitchen is located in the northwest corner of the house. Some of the original urns from the gardens are stored in the basement.

Information from RCAHMS (STG), 2010