A Visit to Northwood House: A Broughty Ferry Landmark turned Flexible Workspace

A Visit to Northwood House: Rediscovering a Broughty Ferry Landmark

Northwood House in Broughty Ferry , Dundee is one of those rare buildings that stops you in your tracks the moment you step inside. I’ve managed several listed buildings during my career in commercial property, from a whisky bond turned coworking space to boutique townhouses in Edinburgh’s New Town and West End, but Northwood House is in a league of its own. It is a Category B listed mansion built in 1880, packed with period details and architectural character that has survived every chapter of its long life.

The house was originally known as Corona House and built for the Mudie family. Over the decades it passed through the hands of Stephens, the shipbuilding family, and later DC Thomson, one of Scotland’s most recognisable publishing names. Each owner left their mark, but the most significant changes came in 1911 when William Thomson commissioned a large western extension. This addition included a billiard room and a striking entrance porch, along with the bowed doors that now lead into the inner hall. These features give the building a sense of grandeur that feels both historic and welcoming.

Northwood House eventually became the administrative centre for Servite Housing Association, who still own the property today. For many years it served a purely functional purpose, but the building’s potential was always waiting to be rediscovered. That rediscovery is now well underway thanks to local couple Brenda and Scott Ettershank, who purchased the property and are breathing new life into it.

I visited Northwood House recently to see the transformation for myself. As someone who has spent years working with heritage buildings, I thought I knew what to expect. I was wrong. The house is breathtaking. Every corridor reveals another detail that reminds you of its past as a grand family home. Stained glass windows catch the light in unexpected ways. Wood carvings appear in corners where you least expect them. The foyer is dominated by a fireplace that looks as though it has warmed generations of families and visitors. Even after all my experience, I found myself stopping repeatedly just to take in the craftsmanship.

One of the most surprising discoveries was a chapel hidden in the rafters. In all my years of working with listed buildings, I have never come across anything quite like it. It is a reminder that these old houses often contain stories and spaces that don’t appear in any official listing or architectural record. Northwood House is full of these moments.

The building also retains traces of everyday domestic life from its time as a family home. In one room you can still find vintage children’s wallpaper, faded but full of charm. In another stands an imposing stove that would not look out of place in a period drama. It is easy to imagine the house bustling with activity, from formal gatherings in the billiard room to family dinners prepared on that enormous oven.

Brenda and Scott’s vision for Northwood House respects this heritage while giving the building a new purpose. Their plan is to create a premium, community‑focused flexible workspace for charities, small businesses and growing organisations in Broughty Ferry, Monifieth and the wider Dundee area. It is an ambitious project, but one that feels perfectly suited to the building’s scale and character.

The workspace will offer private office suites for teams of two to twenty people, along with coworking areas and meeting and event spaces. The aim is to provide a professional environment with the warmth and individuality that only a historic building can offer. They also plan to develop a self‑contained studio space and restore the conservatory area, which has huge potential as a light‑filled breakout or event zone.

What impressed me most is how carefully they are balancing modern functionality with the preservation of period features. Too often historic buildings are stripped back in the name of practicality, losing the very qualities that make them special. At Northwood House, the opposite is happening. The past is being celebrated and woven into the future of the space. The result will be a workplace unlike anything else in Dundee.

The opening is planned for late August or early September. Coworking memberships will start from around one hundred pounds per month plus VAT, with private offices available from two hundred and fifty pounds per desk per month. These prices make the space accessible to a wide range of organisations while still reflecting the premium nature of the building and the services on offer.

Northwood House is more than a renovation project. It is a restoration of identity. Buildings like this are part of the cultural fabric of their communities. They hold memories, stories and architectural details that cannot be replicated. When they fall into disuse, something is lost. When they are revived with care and imagination, something is gained not just for the owners but for the entire area.

My visit left me genuinely excited about what Northwood House will become. It has the potential to be a landmark workspace that attracts people not just because it is convenient, but because it is inspiring. In a world where many offices look and feel the same, Northwood House offers something different. It offers history, character and a sense of place.

As someone who has spent years working with listed buildings, I know how challenging these projects can be. They require patience, respect for the past and a clear vision for the future. Brenda and Scott have all three. Their work is giving Northwood House a new chapter, one that honours its heritage while opening its doors to a new generation of people who will work, collaborate and build their own stories within its walls.

If you have an interest in architecture, heritage or simply enjoy discovering unique spaces, Northwood House is well worth a visit. It is a reminder that the buildings around us are more than bricks and mortar. They are living parts of our communities, capable of evolving while still holding onto the details that make them special. Northwood House is a perfect example of that balance, and I look forward to seeing how it continues to grow in the years ahead.

Visit Northwood House Website: https://www.northwoodhouse1880.co.uk/