Scrawny Old Man

By richtoller

Morgan Academy

It may look like a castle or palace, or a least a posh private school, but it's just the Morgan, an ordinary school, seen through the trees in Baxter Park.
I realise I might get shot by a Morgan fan for calling it an ordinary school (but that's what it is), so here's some history (thanks, Wikipedia):

It was designed in 1862 by the Edinburgh architects John Dick Peddie and Charles Kinnear, opening in 1868 as the Morgan Hospital, a charitable institution providing accommodation and education for "sons of tradesmen and persons of the working class generally whose parents stand in the need of assistance". The building is similar in design to Fettes College in Edinburgh. The architecture is designated as a Category 'A' listing by Historic Scotland.
Its benefactor was John Morgan, the son of a Dundee maltman, who emigrated to India at the age of 20 where, with his brother, he became a wealthy indigo farmer. Upon his death in 1850 he bequeathed much of his fortune to establish a residential institution. The hospital closed in 1888 and was bought by the members of the Dundee Burgh School Board, who re-opened it as a school.

Fast forward to 21 March 2001. We saw a column of smoke and flames somewhere over the hill towards town from our house. Wondered what it was - till Debi phoned from Edinburgh and said 'Did you know the Morgan's on fire?' The building was largely destroyed by the fire but was rebuilt behind the original facade and reopened in 2004.

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