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Shepherd's Court
97 An image of Shepherd's Court looking towards the Guestrow. The turreted house at 21 Guestrow was occupied by Sheriff-Depute Andrew Thomson and his wife Agnes Divie in 1673. Mitchell's Hospital, Old Aberdeen
171 Mitchell's Hospital is situated in the Chanonry not far from St. Machar's Cathedral in Old Aberdeen. It was founded and endowed in 1801 by David Mitchell, a native of Old Aberdeen. It was set up for the purpose of lodging, clothing and maintaining five widows and five unmarried daughters of Old Aberdeen merchants. The women who lived there dressed in deep blue, and those who were able to earn some money from spinning or knitting were expected to give half to the hospital. The building is of one storey in the shape of a letter 'H' with a central refectory for breakfast. Depending on the cost of beef, dinner was boiled beef and greens two or three times a week, otherwise they had fish or eggs. The building has now been reconstructed into four separate dwellings. Aberdeen Savings Bank, Union Terrace
178 Aberdeen Savings Bank, Union Terrace, 1894. Aberdeen Savings Bank was established in May 1815 "for receiving such small sums as may be saved from the earnings of tradesmen, mechanics, labourers, servants etc". As the bank became more successful, they moved from premises in the Guestrow to a new building in Exchange Street. By the 1890s, the directors decided that a new site was necessary, especially as the population in the city was moving westwards. This illustration, by the architect William Kelly in 1894, shows the building that was to be constructed at the junction of Union Terrace and Diamond Street at a cost of £11,000. The design is of Renaissance style, with the central entrance leading to an inner porch lined with red and grey granite, then a short flight of steps led to the main telling office. This office had a deeply panelled ceiling and dome partially filled with painted and decorated glass. Coats of Arms of the City and Lord Provosts were also displayed. The counter and desks were made of mahogany and oak with wrought iron and wrought copper grills. In the 1960s, a large extension was built on an adjacent site and, in 1983, the bank became part of the Trustees Savings Bank in Scotland and in 1999 became part of Lloyds TSB. Marischal College
198 Marischal College dated c.1906. The view overlooks the Guestrow area which would become part of a slum clearance scheme in the 1930's although Provost Skene's House, the turretted building in the foreground, would survive. The sparkling Kemnay granite of the newly completed frontage to the College stands out clearly. At the right are the tower of the North Church, now Aberdeen Arts Centre, and the spire of Greyfriars Church. The Guestrow, Aberdeen
365 This photograph shows a rather delapidated house in the once fashionable area of the Guestrow in the centre of Aberdeen. The word "Guestrow' may derive from 'Ghaistrow' because of the street's proximity to St. Nicholas Churchyard where 'ghaists', ie ghosts might be thought to roam. The tiled roofs and outside stairs were typical of these early houses. Note the handcart propped up outside. The Guestrow area was part of a slum clearance initiative by the Town Council in the late 1920s and 30s when most of the buildings there were demolished.
Correspondent Ed Fowler plausibly suggests that this is the dwelling house in the T-shaped Mitchell Court. Post Office directories and old maps tell us that the entrance to the court was just beside a public house at number 41 on the Guestrow. If this is correct then the large building in the background is likely to be Provost Skene's House, then probably known as the Victoria Lodging House. Gala and Heather Day in the Duthie Park
395 This Adelphi Series postcard shows the Gala Day taking place in Duthie Park on 21st August 1915.
The Gala in Duthie Park and the accompanying Heather Day were both organised to raise funds for the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
The Gala Day is one of largest events ever to take place at the park. It was estimated that between 25,000 and 26,000 people attended. Tickets cost 6 pence (6d) for general admission and 2s 6d for carriages or motor cars.
Within the park there was an elaborate programme of entertainment and refreshments organised. Details of the programme were published in a 32 page booklet prior to the event. Upwards of 1,300 people took part in the programme.
Gates to the park opened at 3pm and the event officially commence at 3pm with a grand military parade. Lieut-Colonel A. H. Leith of Glenkindie, Garrison Commander, and Lord Provost James Taggart "took the salute" opposite the Hygiea statue.
The Gala and Heather Day were organised by a distinct committee; Taggart was its president and Alexander Findlay, Superintendent of Cleansing, was its chairman. Councillor H. J. Gray was the secretary and treasurer and Mr John Lints was his assistant. There were also conveners and secretaries for various sub-committees concerned with aspects like entertainment and refreshments.
There was a wide range of entertainment organised for within the park including singing, dancing, gymnastic displays, musical drill, motor cycle gymkhana and bayonet fighting. Various platforms saw performances from acts such as a company lead by D. M. Kinghorn, pierrots directed by Minnie Mearns, Dan Williams, and W. A. Craig's operatic choir. Charles Soutar lead a 500 strong choir of children from the city's public schools.
Practically all naval and military units present in the city were represented at the event and individuals from many of them took part in the sporting competitions. The day also included a 5-a-side football and tug of war competition. Preliminary matches for these took place prior to the day at Pittodrie Park.
The Gala Day was filmed and this was later shown as part of a special programme at the Picture House on Union Street from the 25th of the month.
Over £500 was taken at the gates for the event. Entertainment and refreshments within further increased the figure raised.
Heather Day itself generated another £474. This involved over 1,500 vendors going around all parts of the city selling sprigs of the plant. The sale started on the afternoon of the Friday and continued all through Saturday. Entertainment venues throughout the city were also visited.
The vendors were primarily young women and members of organisations like the boys brigade. Stores present in all areas of the city were replenished from a central depot at 173a Union Street. This in turn was supplied by the cleansing department buildings in Poynernook Road, where the preceding week had seen 200,000 sprigs prepared for sale. Peterhead, Inverurie, Ellon and Banchory organised their own Heather Days for the same fund.
The sum taken from both the Gala and the Heather Day was estimated at considerably over £1,000.
See the report in the Aberdeen Journal, Monday 23rd August 1915 page 8, for further details about the occasion. Provost Skene's House, Guestrow
472 Provost Skene's House, dating from 1545, also known as Cumberland's Lodging when it was occupied by the Duke of Cumberland during his pursuit of Jacobites in 1746. Belonged to Sir George Skene of Rubislaw, Provost of Aberdeen from 1676 to1685. In the nineteenth century it had become the Victoria Lodging House and was only saved from demolition in 1938 by the intervention of the Queen Mother. Shepherd's Court
695 An image of Shepherd's Court looking towards the Guestrow. The turreted house at 21 Guestrow was occupied by Sheriff-Depute Andrew Thomson and his wife Agnes Divie in 1673. Many thanks to Edward Fowler for this information. Provost Skene's House, Guestrow
757 Provost Skene's House, Guestrow. It probably dates from 1545. It was called Cumberland's House, from the six-week residence there of the Duke of Cumberland in 1746. By the 19th century, it had become the Victoria Lodging House and was due for demolition but was saved by the intervention of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, in 1938. It has since been restored and is now a museum. Old Savings Bank, Guestrow
760 Aberdeen Savings Bank was founded in 1815 and had conducted its business in these small offices on the Guestrow until 1858, when the bank was relocated to Exchange Street.
Correspondent Ed Fowler got in touch with Local Studies in order to complete this description:
"Aberdeen Savings Bank was formerly Baillie Alexander Galen's House. Here the first Aberdeen National Security Savings Bank at No.17 Guestrow and perhaps Galen's Court is No.19 as suggested by the larger numeral on the right of the doorway. The building is isolated between the lesser arch of No.15 on the left the and the mysterious Trader's Yard (Galen's Court) on the right. A modest and unassuming structure for the frugal Aberdonians to deposit their spare Bawbees and Mecks." Provost Skene's House, Guestrow
762 Provost Skene's House, Guestrow. It probably dates from 1545. It was called Cumberland's House, from the six-week residence there of the Duke of Cumberland in 1746. By the 19th century, it had become the Victoria Lodging House and was due for demolition but was saved by the intervention of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, in 1938. It has since been restored and is now a museum. Provost Skene's House, Guestrow
763 Provost Skene's House, Guestrow. It probably dates from 1545. It was called Cumberland's House, from the six-week residence there of the Duke of Cumberland in 1746. By the 19th century, it had become the Victoria Lodging House and was due for demolition but was saved by the intervention of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, in 1938. It has since been restored and is now a museum. The Aberdeen New Savings Bank
764 The new Aberdeen Savings Bank, Union Terrace. Designed by William Kelly, 1896.
Aberdeen Savings Bank was established in May 1815 'for receiving such small sums as may be saved from the earnings of tradesmen, mechanics, labourers, servants etc'. As the bank became more successful they moved from premises in the Guestrow to a new building on Exchange Street in 1858.
By the 1890s, the directors decided that a new site was necessary, especially as the population in the city was moving westwards.
This photograph shows the building that was constructed at the junction of Union Terrace and Diamond Street at a cost of £11,000. The design is of renaissance style, with the central entrance leading to an inner porch lined with red and grey granite, then a short flight of steps led to the main telling office. This office had a deeply paneled ceiling and dome partially filled with painted and decorated glass. Coats of Arms of the City and Lord Provosts were also displayed. The counter and desks were made of mahogany and oak with wrought iron and wrought copper grills.
In the 1960's a large extension was built on an adjacent site, and in 1983 the bank became part of the Trustee Savings Bank in Scotland, and in 1999 became part of Lloyds TSB. 13 Skene Square
792 A photograph showing 13 Skene Square in the late 19th century. This tenement is thought to be the birthplace of the genre and portrait painter John Phillip (1817-1867).
The image is included as a plate in Historical Aberdeen: the Castle and the Castle-hill, the Snow Church, the Woolmanhill and neighbourhood, the Guestrow by G. M. Fraser (1905).
Fraser indicates that the tablet that can be seen above the door was put up in memory of John Phillip by his friend William Brodie (1815-1881), the sculptor.
Fraser elaborates as follows:
"The first plate on the house, 13 Skene Square, was placed there by William Brodie, the sculptor. that house was pulled down six years ago, but fortunately Mr George Watt, architect, the proprietor of the house erected on the spot, has, with much public spirit, placed a bronze tablet on the new house telling that Phillip's house stood on that site. I wish we could be absolutely certain that Phillip was born here. There can be no doubt that he lived here as a child, but it suggestive that in the detailed notices of Phillip in the Aberdeen papers at the time of his death, it was said that he was born in Windy Wynd, where his father was a shoemaker. See Aberdeen Journal, 6th March, 1867; Aberdeen Free Press, 1st March, 1867. Aberdeen Steam Laundry, Claremont Street
1148 Ironing room, Aberdeen Steam Laundry, Claremont Street, c.1890. In this busy location, several dozen women were employed in ironing what appears to be mainly large sheets. Long trestle tables have been erected to allow for a greater flow of productivity. All the irons in operation would have been gas irons. Several wicker carrying baskets can also be noted in the picture. The Laundry itself had begun in 1879. In the early 1890s, their wash-house was fitted with steam washers, boilers, rinsing vessels, tubs for handwork and hydro-extractors. Donside Paper Mill
1220 Donside Paper Mill. William Falconer attends the paper reels. c.1928.
The production of paper in the area goes back as far as 1696 at Gordon mills which later changed to a cloth mill, then meal mill before returning to paper production in 1890.
Donside Paper Company Ltd. took over in 1893 with many men and women from Woodside working in the Donside Paper Mill.
In 1913 a modern newsprint machine was installed (reportedly the fastest in the country). By the mid-1900s the mill modernised further and was home to the two fastest running paper machines in the North east. Shepherd's Court, Guestrow
1281 Gateway to Shepherd's Court, Guestrow. Much of this area was demolished in the 1930's as part of a slum clearance scheme. However, this arch was saved and was incorporated into the entrance to the refurbished Provost Skene's House after spending some time in Union Terrace Gardens.
(Many thanks for additional information provided by Gary Ether, Aberdeen) Aberdeen Central Library, Newspapers and Periodicals
1399 The list of papers and periodicals in the Reading Room amounted to 21 dailies, 100 weeklies, 78 monthlies and 11 quarterlies. Railway Timetables were also stocked. The ladies had their own selections including Girl's Own Paper, Good Needlework and Women's Employment. Shepherd's Court gateway, Guestrow
1519 Shepherd's Court gateway, Guestrow. This arch was initially removed to Union Terrace Gardens circa 1931 and then re-positioned in front of Provost Skene's House around 1970.
(Many thanks for additional information provided by Gary Ether, Aberdeen)
The sign that can be partially seen on the extreme left is likely for Hay & Lyall, a company of carvers and gilders that were based at 19 Guestrow for some time.
The company was run by John Hay (Jnr.) and his brother in law, Robert Watson Lyall. The Hay family played a long and varied role in the Aberdeen art trade, including providing frames for many local artists.
John Hay's obituary from the Aberdeen Weekly Journal, 21st October 1896 p. 5, gives particular praise to his decorative carvings on the ceilings of the Town House and the Mitchell Hall in Marischal College.
He was also a one time partner of pioneering photographer George Washington Wilson, who took this photograph.
(Thanks to Ed Fowler for additional information) Guestrow
1522 An illustrated image of a dilapidated house in Guestrow. We also have a photograph showing the same scene.
Correspondent Ed Fowler suggests the image is of a dwelling, including exterior staircase, in Mitchell's Court. Likely the residence of a trader and hand carter. Group portrait of men, women and children outside
1601 This image has not yet been indexed. Use the Comments button below the image to enter information about the image.
Please note: we will not include any personal information provided unless you indicate that you wish to be acknowledged. The standard form for crediting your information is (name, place) e.g. (John Smith, Aberdeen). Two women
1645 A photographic portrait of two women, employed as domestic servants, in the garden setting. This image is thought to be from Aberdeen. The names of these women are unknown. |