Visit Dundee’s Overgate Centre in the 1970s and shop in Littlewoods and C&A.
A second phase included a twin-level shopping area and rooftop parking, followed by a final phase that included an eight-story office building, which was finished just in time for Princess Margaret’s official opening in 1970.
This retro photo gallery shows huge chains and smaller retailers, providing a taste of life at the Overgate Centre in the 1970s, before it lost its charm. How many of these recognisable places do you recall?
Overgate Police Station
The Overgate Police Station opened in 1970. Officers have handled a variety of responsibilities over the years, ranging from lost and found things to shoplifting investigations. This police presence lasted until 1995.
C&A
March 1970, looking from C&A to High Street through the new Overgate. It featured the “Man at C&A” line and a variety of “action suits” for women. It was previously difficult to envision the High Street without C&A.
Van Allan
In April 1970, a window display was installed at the new Van Allan store in the Overgate.
Van Allan carried the “latest clothes for all ages,” including “with it” youthful gowns. “Coats, children’s wear, and separates” were displayed on the first floor, while the upper floor was devoted to “dresses, trouser suits, and other goods”.
Bellmans
Bellmans launched its newest Dundee location at the Overgate in May 1970. It was described as “the wool shop that’s full of surprises” featuring “knitwear, fashions, children’s wear, and hosiery” alongside “knitting yarns and leaflets”. There were 27 different colour shades in knitwear.
Sheila McGregor
Sheila McGregor, a Dundee shorthand typist, was in the Overgate in February 1971. She was modelling new ‘hot pants’ from C&A.
Women’s fashion in the 1970s got much more daring. Birrell’s shoe shop’s shopfront and signs can be seen in the background.
Boots
People walked outside Boots, C&A, and Littlewoods in May 1971.
The Evening Telegraph bill header said, “Illegal migrant apprehended after landing.” The pedestrian zone has changed very little.
Patterson’s
A full-blooming floral display at the Overgate in May 1971.
Patterson’s shoe shop can be seen among the shopfronts. They had branches around the city, including Lochee and Broughty Ferry.
New Overgate
The upper floor of the shopping mall in June 1971. It was a continuation of the arcade that had been constructed in Phase 1.
The mall’s brutalist architectural design swiftly became out of fashion.
Littlewoods
Littlewoods employees mopping up after a flood in the store in June 1971.
Later that year, the store underwent a major change, moving its selling section to the first floor and substantially increasing the size of its restaurant. It was one of the city’s most warmly remembered shops.
Student protest
Protesting students march by Littlewoods in December 1971. They were taking part in a nationwide “action day” to protest the government’s plans to change the way student unions are funded.
Overgate Centre’s lower deck
Shoppers browse through the Overgate complex in March 1972.
Ross’s Carpet Shop is on the left. The billboard advertises Golden Virginia tobacco.
Great sale
Crowds jostling for bargains at the C&A “great sale” in June 1973.
The £1 rack was extremely popular. C&A shuttered all of its UK locations in June 2000.
Mr Beaujangles
Mr Beaujangles’ store launched in November 1973. Mr Beaujangles followed the trends in London and targeted the 16 to 25 age bracket, with Radio 1 DJ Stuart Henry performing the opening ceremony. Check out the size of those collars.
January shoppers
Bargain hunters out in force outside Boots at the Overgate in January 1974.
Boots was the first store in the city to install an escalator.
The shop is still there.
Crawford’s bakery
Cup final cakes in Crawfords window in the Overgate in April 1974.
“United for the cup” was the message.
Unfortunately, United were defeated 3-0 by Celtic in the Scottish Cup final.
Heatwave
“Taps aff” in August 1976.
People were sunbathing outside the Overgate during a heatwave.
The country enjoyed – and endured – an incredible 15 consecutive days of temperatures breaking the 30C barrier.
Boy Meets Girl
Boy Meets Girl was Dundee’s first unisex boutique.
Men’s and women’s clothing stood side by side in the window display in June 1977.
The boutique also had the best shopfront logo in town.
Birrell’s
The shop front of Birrell’s in November 1977.
The ladies’ self-service and children’s department was on the lower level with the men’s department and ladies’ high-fashion boutique on the floor above.
“Scotland’s finest shoe store” was its tagline.
It had a large logo on the side of the Overgate building.
Radio Forth
In April 1978, Radio Forth held a roadshow outside the Overgate.
During April, its Saturday request programme went live from a variety of places.
The LP was stored in a wooden Schweppes box. Can you identify the DJ?
Lottery
In July 1978, Ladbrokes opened a “instant lottery centre” at the Overgate Centre.
A 25p “Cashcade” ticket could be worth up to £1,000 in prize money. “Many good causes” were the beneficiaries of the “Cashcade” lotteries.
Walkway
In October 1979, the Overgate Centre looked towards the Angus Hotel. Its era as Dundee’s sole shopping destination was drawing to a close.
The competition heated up with the introduction of the Wellgate Centre in 1978, and just a month later, the Keiller Centre opened its doors, promising to have everything “under one roof”.
The brutalist style of the Overgate Centre was razed in 1998 and replaced by a two-deck shopping mall that still thrives in 2025. This is the final photograph in our gallery.
Did they trigger any memories for you? Let us know.
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