Forfar Road, Morgan Academy, Main Block and Janitor'S House, With Terrace, Boundary Walls and Gatepiers

John Dick Peddie and Charles Kinnear, 1863-8, altered 1889 and enlarged 1913-15 by James H Langlands. School in manner of Flemish Gothic cloth hall commanding a triangular site. 2-storey symmetrical towered and gabled front; simpler 3-storey rear added 1913-15, coursed rubble with ashlar dressings, buttressed and 1st floor cill course.

S ELEVATION: central advanced 120 foot tower approached by steps with quatrefoil pierced balusters. Depressed-arched nook-shafted entrance under ogee hoodmould between angle buttresses. 1st floor mullioned and transomed window with traceried mouchettes over and spiral nookshafts at angles. Corbelled out angle turrets at 3rd stage linked by machicolated balcony over triple-light window and clock. Steep slate roof with 2-tier richly carved ashlar dormer, louvred traceried lantern with swept roof and lucarnes to each face. Conical fish-scale slate roof with weather vane to each turret. Flanking bays have oriels and crow-stepped gables. Cross windows with finialed dormer heads at 1st. Ends advanced, 3-light at ground, 2-light at 1st with traceried heads, crow-stepped gables topped by tall circular chimney stack.

SIDE ELEVATIONS: in similar style but asymmetrical at W with 3-storey French-roofed stair block. 3 1st floor pointed arched traceried window to former chapel at E elevation. Stair blocks with very tall windows and swept pavilion roofs added no N of each elevation, 1913-15, adjoining ends of classrooms with 2-tier attic and M-gable. Tall stacks.ventilator ducts.

N ELEVATION: symmetrical 3-storey, windows arranged 1-2-1 with gablet dormerheads to bipartites. Mullioned half-height mazzanine windows at crow-stepped ends. Advanced single storey toilet blocks demolished 1992. Art nouveau stamen type wrought-iron railings to ventilator intake. Slate roofs with wrought-iron brattishing (missing from E ridge, S front) and elaborate finials. Tall shafted stacks. Louvred fleche ventilators with lead facetted swept roofs and ornate finials. Flat roof to S of rear addition ("for geographical and scientific observations") with stamen-type railings. Top-hopper windows, vertical astragals removed from 1860s block. Original glazing pattern, mainley 8-pane top hoppers, to N elevation.

INTERIOR: corridors to courtyard elevations with timber partitions to classrooms in 1860s part, plastered walls to 1913 part. Mezzanine balconies now blocked. False ceiling in staff room, former chapel, obscures timber arched-braced roof. Gothic detailed war memorial in vestibule, Thomas and Wilkie, architects. Courtyard roofed to form hall in 1889 with graceful arched steel lattice roof, platform fitted 1913-15. Cantled bay from S block.

JANITOR'S HOUSE: 1863-6, raised from 1 to 2-storey in 1915. Rubble-built 3-bay, centre pointed arched hoodmoulded door, flanking bipartites with gablet dormerheads. Crowstepped gables and end stacks. Slate roof. TERRACE to front with quatrefoil pierced balustrades.

Low boundary wall. 4 square ashlar gatepiers, gates missing, to Stobswell gusset. Similar gatepiers at each end of terrace. Railings missing except at N part of Pitkerro Road, where the are Gothic cast and wrought iron

Originally the Morgan Hospital, founded by John Morgan of Balgay House, 1760-1850. Money made in India was to go towards the foundation of an institution modelled on Heriot's Hospital, Edinburgh. Completed after a legal wrangle and opened in February 1868. Reopened 1889 under the Dundee School Board as the Morgan Academy.

Large N extension 1991-92 by Tayside Regional Council Architects Department.

What is a listed building?

Designation is the legal recognition of some of Scotland’s most important historic sites and places. Historic Environment Scotland (HES) designates scheduled monuments, listed buildings, historic battlefields, and gardens and designed landscapes.

HES makes recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

HES list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published inDesignation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019) - external link.

About listed building records

Listed building records, like this one, provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

Legal requirements

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only.

HES does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed.

Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While HES is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word ’excluding’ and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word ’excluding’, but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Planning and consents

Listed building consentis required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Further information

Searchtrove.scot for information on scheduling andother designationsor visitHistoric Environment Scotland - external link.

You can also contact us on 0131 668 8914 ordesignations@hes.scot - external link