As the 132nd anniversary of the Tay Bridge Disaster in 1879 approaches, a Dundee businessman is appealing for someone to build a new one.
Not another massive steel bridge to cross the silvery Tay but a scale model to complete the refurbishment of one of Dundee’s oldest traditional pubs.
The Taybridge Bar on Perth Road is nearing the end of a lengthy renovation project, which will see it completely transformed but with all of its historic features retained or, in some cases, recreated.
Dundee businessman Jimmy Marr is behind the new look and said the bar will open early next month after three years of strict negotiations with planners anxious not to lose the traditional pub feel.
He is looking for a local artist or model maker to build a scale model of the Tay Rail Bridge which will become the focal point of the bar.
”I’ve had a bit of a problem finding someone to take it on,” Jimmy said. ”I even asked the art college if anybody would be interested but I haven’t heard a thing back.
”We’ve created a big space for it above the bar and it would be a major showpiece. It will be there for as long as the bar is, so I would think somebody would be keen to have their work so prominently displayed on a permanent basis.
”Hopefully somebody will be happy to take it on for me.”
Jimmy said the refurbishment has uncovered a few forgotten gems which have been covered up through previous renovations.
”We took down the cupboard and display cabinet and found a beautiful fireplace, which we’ve renovated and when we removed the Artex ceiling in the lounge we found the original cornice, so we’ve kept that and added to it to recreate the old ceiling above the bar.”