The Dens Road Monkey Riot: Dundee’s Strangest Day of Chaos

The riot occurred in the late 19th century, and though it sounds more like the plot of a comedy sketch, it was a very real and chaotic event that has become local legend.

In the late 19th century, Dundee was a bustling industrial city, known for its thriving jute industry and shipping port. The city was also home to a working-class population, many of whom lived in the tightly packed tenement buildings that lined streets like Dens Road. Life was hard, and entertainment options for the general public were limited. As a result, when traveling circuses came to town, they were met with great excitement and large crowds eager for a taste of exotic animals, performers, and curiosities from faraway lands.

This backdrop is crucial to understanding how the bizarre events of the Monkey Riot unfolded. Traveling circuses would sometimes parade their animals through the city streets to attract attention, and it was during one of these parades that chaos erupted.

One day in the 1880s, a traveling circus arrived in Dundee and set up near Dens Road, a busy and densely populated area. Among the circus’s collection of animals was a group of monkeys—exotic creatures that most Dundee residents had likely never seen before. Monkeys were particularly popular attractions, with their human-like behaviors and mischievous antics.

The trouble began when, during the parade or sometime thereafter, a group of monkeys escaped from the circus's holding area. Some accounts suggest that the monkeys slipped their handlers as they were being walked through the streets, while others say that the cage holding the monkeys was accidentally left open. Whatever the exact circumstances, several monkeys found themselves loose in Dundee’s streets, sparking a situation that quickly spiraled out of control.

At first, the sight of the monkeys scampering through the city likely amused onlookers, who were unaccustomed to seeing such exotic animals on their streets. However, amusement soon gave way to panic. The monkeys, unaccustomed to the noise and bustle of the city, became frightened and began causing chaos as they darted in and out of alleyways, climbed onto rooftops, and entered people’s homes and shops.

Dundee residents, many of whom had never seen a monkey before, reacted in a mixture of curiosity and fear. People rushed into the streets, some attempting to capture the monkeys while others ran away in terror. In the confusion, the monkeys reportedly began stealing food, knocking over market stalls, and even climbing onto people in their frantic attempt to find safety.

As the chaos grew, so did the crowd of onlookers, with more and more people pouring into the streets of Dens Road to witness the spectacle. The situation quickly escalated, as some people—likely trying to help—began throwing objects or chasing the monkeys, which only made the animals more agitated. Reports from the time describe an atmosphere of pandemonium, with dozens of people shouting, running, and trying to corral the unruly primates.

The sheer number of people on Dens Road during the monkey escape led to what has been described as a riot-like atmosphere. Local authorities, including police, were called in to try and restore order. However, with so many people crowding the narrow streets and with the monkeys continuing to dart from one place to another, controlling the situation became almost impossible.

As the police attempted to calm the crowd and capture the monkeys, tensions flared between officers and some of the residents. It’s believed that the sight of the monkeys being chased or mistreated by both citizens and authorities caused an outcry from some members of the public, which led to confrontations. In the confusion, small fights and scuffles reportedly broke out, and some sources even claim that a few arrests were made.

The event, though short-lived, was chaotic enough to make the newspapers, with headlines highlighting the “Monkey Riot” in Dundee as one of the strangest disturbances the city had ever seen. The circus owners were eventually able to round up the escaped monkeys, but not before the event became the talk of the town.

In the days following the riot, Dundee residents found themselves reflecting on what had transpired. The story of the Dens Road Monkey Riot quickly became a favorite tale among locals, a bizarre and humorous anecdote that stood out amidst the city’s more serious industrial life.

The riot didn’t result in any lasting harm—neither the monkeys nor the people were seriously injured during the incident—but it did cement itself in local folklore. The idea of monkeys running wild through Dundee, leading to a riot between townspeople and police, has remained an iconic part of the city’s strange and wonderful history.

Today, the Dens Road Monkey Riot serves as a reminder of how even the most unexpected events can bring a city together, if only for a brief moment of shared confusion and hilarity. It also offers a glimpse into the daily life of Dundee in the 19th century, a time when traveling circuses were among the most exciting forms of entertainment, and the sudden appearance of a few monkeys could send an entire community into chaos.

The Dens Road Monkey Riot is an example of how the smallest of incidents can spiral into something much larger and more memorable. While it may not have been a major historical event, it’s become one of the most talked-about episodes in Dundee’s local lore—a quirky chapter that brings a smile to those who hear it.