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Tomb of Bishop Gavin Dunbar
195 The tomb of Bishop Gavin Dunbar at St. Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen.
Gavin Dunbar was appointed Bishop of Aberdeen on 5th November 1518 and died on 9th March 1532. He became a great benefactor not only of King's College, but of the town.
It was he who took over the plans left after the death of Bishop Elphinstone and created the Bridge of Dee which opened road access to the City, from the south.
Dunbar also built the twin towers at St. Machar's Cathedral and gave its magnificent ceiling at his own expense. It comprises 48 heraldic shields including the arms of Scottish monarchs, nobles, Kings of Europe, and Scottish Bishops.
When he died in 1532, he was buried in the south transept of the cathedral. This was virtually destroyed after the collapse of the great central tower in 1688, and a recumbent statue of white marble of Dunbar was broken into pieces during the Reformation.
The splendor of the six foot richly carved arch of Morayshire freestone is still obvious despite its exposure to the weather. A bishop's mitre surmounts the Dunbar coat of arms and his initials, at the right hand side. Postcard of ruins of Huntly Castle
288 Located on the outskirts of Huntly, the castle stands on the south bank of the River Deveron. The castle dates from the late 12th century with a Norman Motte and Bailey , a medieval L-Plan tower house and defence earthworks of the Civil War nearby. The castle was the home of the Gordons, a powerful Catholic family who once ruled over much of the North-East. The main structure was begun by Lord Gordon in 1452, being built in the new 'Palace' style. The castle was not completed in its final form until 1597/1606. In 1650 it was visited briefly by Charles ll, on his way to Worcester, defeat and exile. After the Civil War, the castle fell into disuse and the Dukes of Gordon moved to Fochabers. Much of the impressive ruin still remains including the fine heraldic doorway. The castle is now the property of Historic Scotland, and is open to the public. Marischal College c. 1741
491 The original Marischal College, architect William Adam of Edinburgh, was built in 1741 and demolished in 1840. The building was entered from the gateway on the Broadgate. The Public School occupied the ground floor of the principal building, the Public Hall was on the next floor, and the Library on the third. The wings contained lodgings for three of the Professors, the Divinity Hall and extra classrooms. There was a fine heraldic ceiling in the Public School but it was destroyed in 1836/40 when the old college was taken down to make way for the new building. Marischal College c. 1741
66 The original Marischal College, architect William Adam of Edinburgh, was built in 1741 and demolished in 1840. The building was entered from the gateway on the Broadgate. The Public School occupied the ground floor of the principal building, the Public Hall was on the next floor, and the Library on the third. The wings contained lodgings for three of the Professors, the Divinity Hall and extra classrooms. There was a fine heraldic ceiling in the Public School but it was destroyed in 1836/40 when the old college was taken down to make way for the new building. Treasure 22: Aberdeen Public Library - Children's Book Week Programme, May 1945
193 Our featured treasure from the Library archive is a programme describing lectures and exhibitions held in the Central Library Juvenile Department during Children's Book Week 21-26 May 1945. It's really quite different compared to events held for Book Week Scotland, 23-29 November 2015 and the Scottish Children's Book Awards 2015-2016!
The first Children's Book Week organised by the National Book Council/League (now the Book Trust) started in November 1931. Aberdeen received a letter suggesting the "Public Library should be the pivot of local book week activities". However the Library Book subcommittee deferred consideration and instructed the City Librarian meantime to keep in touch with the movement in view of further developments. Surprising there was no uptake considering a reward scheme had been introduced in 1924. Young readers who had completed one year's membership and read at least 12 books during the year were presented with a Library badge with the name of the Library round the outside and the city arms in heraldic colours in the centre.
It was not until 1945 that the Education Department and public library together organised a programme of events, including book displays, lectures and films with a couple of well-known speakers - Nan Shepherd and Dr. W. Douglas Simpson. Over 2000 pupils from schools visited the Library in organised groups and perhaps as a result of the "How to Use Your Library" talk 400 young people applied for membership. Equally important were the beginnings of cooperation between the library and education authorities and the adoption of a scheme of Library visits as part of the school curriculum. Interestingly the Education Committee proposed payment of £117 towards the salary of Library staff for their time spent during the visits.
Treasure 113: Railway Station Plans
334 2017 marks the 150th anniversary of the main railway station in Aberdeen. One of our treasures this month is a plan which shows the siting of the original joint railway station and the beginning of the Denburn Valley Line.
This plan was published as a supplement to the Aberdeen Free Press and is dated May 29th 1863. The plan shows the proposed station and the surrounding area. The station and areas around it which require alteration are tinted in dark and light red. We can see that the plans involved the extension of Guild Street and the creation of access roads to the station so that it could be easily reached via a variety of approaches. Other features of note are the proposed tunnel earmarked for the Woolmanhill area and also the Scottish North Eastern Railway Station on Guild Street which indicates that the joint station was not the first station to be built in Aberdeen.
Aberdeen Joint Station was opened on the 4th November 1867 and a glowing report and detailed description of the new building can be found in the Aberdeen Journal: "it is truly a magnificent building; and its proportions are such as few stations in the three kingdoms will surpass in point of elegance." William Smith, city architect at the time, was the architect of the joint station and John Willet the engineer.
Learn more about the other stations of Aberdeen, now vanished, in the Treasures from our Collections digital exhibition on the touch screens. Burgers Oath
474 A broadside reporting the solemn oath that the Craftsmen of the Burgh of Aberdeen were to pronounce when admitted to the Gild [Guild].
Since the burgers were to swear loyalty to Queen Anne, it can be assumed the document was created at the beginning of the 18th century, given that she Queen of Scotland from 1702 to her death in 1714.
Great importance is given to religion in this oath: only devoted Protestants - and absolutely no Catholics - were admitted in the Gild. A reference prohibiting Quakerism has been scored out.
The burgers also vowed support and allegiance to the magistrates and the Burgh and pledged themselves to act only for its profit. This, together with the commitment to pay the taxes and protect the Burgh from its enemies, is summarised with the medieval formula "Scot, Lot, Watch, Wake and Ward" in the IX article.
In a final note states that chirurgeons (surgeons), apothecaries, and barbers among others were not considered as members of the Gild but were only admitted "in sua arte", and therefore were not entitled to vote.
Aberdeen's coat of arms, or heraldic achievement, is prominently displayed at the top of the broadside. |