The House on Strathern Road: Dundee Mansion turned premium flexible workspace
Northwood House 1880 Broughty Ferry
A merchant's mansion, a century of other lives, and a new chapter as a place to work.
Northwood House was built at the height of Broughty Ferry's Victorian boom, when Dundee's jute trade had made a small number of families extraordinarily wealthy and they spent that wealth on the hill above the Tay. The Dundee and Arbroath Railway had opened in 1838, drawing the city's merchants and industrialists east to build grand villas along the coast, and the town earned the nickname of the richest square mile in Europe. Northwood was one of those villas: designed by the architect George Shaw Aitken and built between 1880 and 1882 for its first owner, R. Mudie.
Aitken was a significant figure in his own right. He was one of the founders of the Edinburgh Architectural Association, designed Queen Street Church in Broughty Ferry and reconstructed Dundee's Bank of Scotland. At Northwood he produced a two-storey villa with a tower on an irregular plan, built in snecked rubble with pale ashlar dressings, mullioned and transomed windows, open-work parapets and a south-facing portico. A substantial western extension by Robert Gibson followed in 1911, and the house, together with its conservatory, gatepiers, boundary wall, lamp standard and terrace wall, was Category B listed in 1991.
The house didn't stay with one family. Over the decades it was owned by members of the Stephen shipbuilding family and by the Thomson family behind DC Thomson, publishers of The Courier. Those three names, Mudie, Stephen and Thomson, are now the names of Northwood's three meeting rooms. More than forty years ago the house was acquired by Servite Housing Association, later renamed Caledonia, which built flats in part of the grounds and used the mansion as its headquarters until, with more staff working from home and rising energy costs after the pandemic, it moved out.
That's when Scott and Brenda Ettershank found it. A Tayside couple with a long-standing passion for old buildings, they were looking for a commercial property investment when the house came to market, and made an opportunistic bid that, while not the highest, wasn't contingent on planning or other conditions. Their plan was to turn the 16,000 square feet across three floors into around thirty serviced offices while keeping the character that made the house worth saving in the first place: the engraved wood-panelled walls, the large bay windows, the fireplaces, the marble Doric columns, and the tripartite stained glass window that lights the main staircase.
The work begins on the enormous project.
Keeping that character has meant investing in what you can't see as much as what you can. A new heating system was the first priority, at a cost of around £200,000, before any office could be let. Where modern additions were needed, for connectivity, heating and accessibility, they've been made carefully, so the house works as an office without looking like one.
Uncovered during the renovation were some unique finds from vintage wallpaper (framed and preserved), wood carvings , to a decommissioned cast iron Victorian cooking range. Some finds have been repurposed including a stunning marble sinks.
The local Dundee economic impact
Throughout the project the couple engaged with a number of local trades companies , professionals and service providers, from painters , joiners and electricians, ensuring the local business community benefited from the space before it was even open. As the building leases up this will continue , through cleaning and maintenance contracts and even a potential onsite community role.
History remimagined, workspace redefined.
The result is office space in Broughty Ferry that has no equivalent in Dundee. Private offices in rooms with proportions no developer would build today, from two-person studies to the nine-person Drawing Room. Ten dedicated coworking desks in the Morning Room, the brightest room in the house, looking out over the gardens. Three meeting rooms carrying the names of the families who lived here. A Grand Hall for arrivals and a tower room with views over the Tay. And, after nearly a century and a half, a building that has found a use worthy of it.
Why Broughty Ferry Needs quality flexible workspace.
Broughty Ferry and Monifieth have evolved into some of the most desirable places to live and work in the Dundee area. While traditional business centres focused on volume, low-cost accommodation and generic office space, the modern workforce increasingly seeks inspiring environments that reflect the character and quality of the communities they serve.
A Strong Local Economy Supports Premium Workspace
The east Dundee corridor, including Broughty Ferry and Monifieth, benefits from a diverse and resilient economy. The area is home to professional service firms, independent consultants, financial advisers, legal professionals, creative businesses, healthcare practitioners and growing numbers of remote workers whose clients may be located across Scotland and the UK.
Many of these businesses no longer require large corporate headquarters. Instead, they need flexible, professional space that allows them to meet clients, collaborate with colleagues and project a high-quality image without the commitment of a long-term conventional lease.
A character workspace provides businesses with the prestige and professionalism they need whilst maintaining flexibility as they grow and evolve.
Demand From Small Professional Service Companies
Small professional firms typically depend on trust, reputation and client experience. An independent accountant, solicitor, wealth manager or business consultant often wins work based on relationships and credibility.
Meeting clients in a distinctive, beautifully restored building creates a far stronger impression than inviting them to a generic serviced office with white walls and fluorescent lighting.
These businesses want:
Professional private offices
High-quality meeting rooms
Flexible lease terms
Prestigious business addresses
Space that reflects their brand values
For many professional firms, environment matters because it directly influences client perception.
Creative Businesses Value Authenticity
Creative agencies, designers, marketers, architects, photographers and digital specialists are increasingly choosing locations outside city centre office blocks.
Creative professionals tend to be attracted to environments with character, heritage and individuality. They often see their workspace as an extension of their brand.
A restored building with original features, natural light, high ceilings and unique spaces offers a more inspiring setting than a standard business park office.
Creative businesses are not looking for corporate uniformity. They are looking for places that encourage creativity, collaboration and innovation.
Therapists and Wellness Professionals Need a Different Environment
The demand for therapy and wellbeing services in Dundee continues to grow, particularly in residential communities like Broughty Ferry
Counsellors, psychotherapists, coaches, complementary therapists and wellbeing practitioners often find traditional business centres unsuitable. Clients seeking support typically prefer calm, welcoming and comfortable surroundings rather than corporate office environments.
A character building like Northwood House can offer:
Quiet private therapy rooms, with thick walls
Comfortable waiting areas
Secure access evenings and weekends
A relaxed and welcoming atmosphere
A setting that supports wellbeing and trust
For many practitioners, the environment is an essential part of the client experience.
Supporting Local Community and Independent Business
Broughty Ferry has long been known for its strong independent business community and distinctive identity. Residents actively support local retailers, cafés, restaurants and professional services.
A high-quality flexible workspace strengthens this ecosystem by providing a home for local entrepreneurs and small businesses who want to work within the community they serve.
Rather than commuting into Dundee city centre or operating from isolated business parks, professionals can establish themselves closer to their clients, suppliers and networks.
This creates:
More daytime footfall for local businesses
Greater collaboration between local companies
Increased support for independent enterprises
Stronger community connections
A character workspace becomes more than an office building. It becomes a hub for local economic activity.
The Rise of Hybrid Working
Many professionals now split their time between home, client locations and the office. However, for remote workers and freelancers in Broughty Ferry working entirely from home can be isolating and may not provide the professional environment needed for meetings and focused work.
The solution is not necessarily a full-time office lease. Instead, businesses increasingly seek:
Flexible memberships
Dedicated Desk Space
Meeting room access
Coworking options
Small private offices
This shift creates strong demand for high-quality flexible workspace in residential and suburban locations such as Broughty Ferry and Monifieth.
People Want to Work Somewhere They Enjoy Spending Time
Perhaps the biggest change is that people no longer view the workplace simply as somewhere to sit at a desk.
When professionals have a choice between working from home and travelling to an office, the office must offer something worth leaving home for.
Character, heritage, hospitality, community and wellbeing have become important differentiators.
Businesses increasingly want:
Beautiful surroundings
Natural light
Comfortable communal areas
Opportunities to network
A sense of belonging
Spaces that feel welcoming and authentic
A soulless modern office block cannot easily provide these qualities.
Book a coworking or office space tour of Northwood House 1880
Northwood House 1880 is now open. Private offices, dedicated desks, day passes and meeting rooms are all available, and the best way to understand the house is to see it. Book a viewing and we'll show you round.
