In July 1906, the city of Dundee was the site of a large fire caused by the ignition of a

bonded warehouse A bonded warehouse, or bond, is a building or other secured area in which dutiable goods may be stored, manipulated, or undergo manufacturing operations without payment of duty. It may be managed by the state or by private enterprise. In the ...

. The fire, which burned for 12 hours, has been described as the most destructive fire in the history of Dundee. The fire was described by an eyewitness as sending "rivers of burning

whisky Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Various grains (which may be malted) are used for different varieties, including barley, corn, rye, and wheat. Whisky is typically aged in wooden ca ...

" through the city.

Background

James Watson and Co. were wholesale whisky merchants whose premises occupied a large site in Dundee on the corner of Trades Lane and Seagate. In 1906 about 300 people were employed by the firm. Watson and Co. were based at 97 Seagate with Customs Bond No. 4 next door at 99 Seagate.

The Fire

An employee of James Watson & Co. was passing the building on the evening of 19 July 1906 when he noticed smoke emerging from its roof. The building was soon ablaze and large vats of whisky caught fire and exploded, leading to flaming alcohol raining down on surrounding streets and buildings. The fire quickly spread to other buildings. The premises of another whisky merchant in nearby Candle Lane were also destroyed. So bad was the inferno that firefighters had to be called from

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of t ...

to help fight it. The fire attracted thousands of spectators who gathered to watch the blaze and the sight of 'rivers of blue-flamed whiskey flowing into street drains'.

Aftermath

At the time of the fire it was estimated that £450,000 worth of damage had been caused. The following year's Dundee Directory reported that the fire had 'desolated a large portion of the neighbourhood' around Seagate, Trades Lane and Candle Lane, and that as a result a large area for building operations had opened up. New bonds designed by David Baxter were built on the site in 1907 and are now listed buildings. Whisky blending at Watson's Bond ceased in 1981 and the bonds closed in 1987.

References

Fires in Scotland History of Dundee 1906 in Scotland Urban fires in the United Kingdom 20th century in Dundee July 1906 events 1906 fires in the United Kingdom {{disaster-stub