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Victoria Park
241 In 1871 Aberdeen Town Council decided to convert nearly 14 acres of Glennie's Parks, which had been used for cattle grazing, into a public recreation ground - Aberdeen's first public park.
Aberdeen's lack of a public park up to this point had become a contentious issue. For example, newspaper reports indicate that those opposed to the Municipality Extension Act of 1871 (which extended the boundary of the city, brought the functions of the Police Commissioners under the Council and incorporated the gasworks) repeatedly suggested that the expense involved in the new bill would be better used in the creation of a much wanted public park.
It is not unreasonable to suppose that this debate, and criticism of the Council, hastened the creation of Victoria Park. While work likely begun in 1871, it was not until March 1873 that the Improvements Committee of the Council recommended that the new park should be called "Victoria Park". At the same time, they also outlined a series of 13 rules and regulations for agreement by the full Council. There does not appear to have been an official opening for the new amenity.
Glennie's Park was not the only site considered for Aberdeen's first public park. Interest in such an undertaking was increasing at the same time as work was underway to divert the River Dee and improve the harbour. The new ground created in this latter project, encompassing the old, more northerly course of the river and the Inches, was a much proposed location for a park. Following the creation of Victoria Park this newly leveled ground was instead given over for buildings related to the expanding fishing industry.
A nurseryman called Robert Walker (1848-1930), originally from Perth, was chosen out of 450 candidates to be the city's first public park keeper and appointed to Victoria Park. He was likely largely responsible for the park's initial layout and appearance. His Press & Journal obituary (21/04/1930, p.6) suggests that prior to his appointment the site was "little better than a waste space".
Walker subsequently laid out Westburn Park, Stewart Park, Union Terrace Gardens and the Promenade. He also advocated and pioneered the planting of street trees. He served the Corporation for 46 years, retiring in 1919, and must be considered one of the unsung heroes of Aberdeen history.
This photograph, taken around 1900, shows one of the main paths leading to a large granite fountain, which was designed by J.B. Pirie. It is built of 14 different types of granite and was presented by the granite polishers and master builders of the city.
Since the park is almost in the city centre, it is an oasis of peace with its mature trees and, in spring, there are masses of flowering bulbs scattered through the grass. The No2. Woodside Tram, 1900
430 The No2. Woodside Tram. Anderson Road, Aberdeen 1900.
A group of Aberdeen businessmen formed the Aberdeen District Tramways Company in 1871 and proposed a number of tram routes to run within Aberdeen. This was the beginning of the use of horse drawn trams within the city and a regular tram service started to run from St. Nicholas Street to Woodside.
The Aberdeen Corporation purchased the District Tramways in 1898 and started to electrify the tram routes and the first route to be electrified was the Woodside line in December 1899. The trams were a popular and convenient mode of travel and the tramways competed with the railways by providing a similar suburban service.
By the 1950's plans were afoot to replace all of the trams with buses as Aberdeen Transport Committee decided that a modern fleet of buses could provide quicker and more regular services at cheaper running costs. The last tram to Woodside ran in 1955.
Sir David Stewart
2029 A portrait of Lord Provost Sir David Stewart (1835 - 1919). He served as Provost of Aberdeen from 1889 to 1894. After graduating from King's College in 1855 he joined his father in the firm Messrs. S. R. Stewart & Co., the largest combmaking business in the world. Stewart was the president of the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce for 1883-84 and was also a member of the School Board. He entered the Town Council in November 1889. One very significant development during his term as Provost was the Aberdeen Corporation Act of 1891. This extended the boundaries of the city to include Old Aberdeen, Woodside and Torry.
He also, somewhat reluctantly, gave his name to Stewart Park. The Woodside amenity was officially opened on the afternoon of Saturday 9th June 1894. The Aberdeen Journal's report of the ceremony has the Provost responding to a toast by stating "he did not know what the park was to be called. It was rather hard lines that he should be put in the position of saying 'No' to the request that had been made, but if he had been properly consulted - he would have advised them not to call it the Stewart Park. He might have possibly been chaffed [chuffed] about it being called the Stewart Park, and taken a good-natured smile, but he did not think he ever gave his consent any way. He felt it would be just as well perhaps if the committee called it 'Hilton' or 'Woodside,' and perhaps they would reconsider it." He left the matter in the hands of the Town Council and the name stood. Aberdeen Theatres: Aberdeen Arts Centre
3386 In 1960 the education committee of Aberdeen Town Council proposed the conversion of the empty North and Trinity Parish Church into an adult education and civic arts centre. The plan was given final approval in February 1961, much to the delight of Aberdeen's art enthusiasts.
The Evening Express detailed the need for such a venue at the time by describing the difficulties faced by the William Gavin Players, a local drama group, in staging a play earlier that week in the ballroom of the Music Hall. They had to overcome the roar of a nearby wrestling audience, the incessant ringing of an unanswered telephone, a cramped stage and poor acoustics.
A temporary restriction on capital expenditure and a particularly severe winter caused delays for the conversion. Work began in late 1961 and was concluded by the autumn of 1963. The work cost around £33,000 and saw the reconstruction of the interior and a thorough re-vamp for the building's exterior. At one point the new centre was going to be called Longacre, but this idea was scrapped in favour of Aberdeen Arts Centre.
The completed venue was opened on 18th October 1963 by Sir Herbert Read (1893-1968), an art critic, poet and anarchist philosopher. In his speech Read criticised the main political parties of the day for neglecting the development of the arts and the human imagination in favour of a blind drive for scientific and technological efficiency.
In addition to the 385-seat auditorium, the venue had an exhibition space, a lounge, and a tea bar. The Arts Centre has remained the focal point for local arts groups and arts education to this day. It has also served as a meeting place and provided a useful stage for theatrical productions of all types.
In 1998, facing the need to cut £17.5 million from their budget, Aberdeen City Council withdrew their funding from the Arts Centre. This left the future of the venue in danger. A popular campaign to avoid its closure was led by Annie Inglis MBE (1922-2010), Aberdeen's first lady of theatre.
This led to the Aberdeen Arts Centre Association taking over the venue on a voluntary basis and the eventual formation of the Castlegate Arts Limited, a company with charitable status who continue to run the venue today.
Over the years the Arts Centre has played host to many noted local theatre groups like the Attic Theatre Co., The Revue Group, the aforementioned William Gavin Players, Phoenix Theatre, the Gilbert & Sullivan Society, Aberdeen Opera Company, Confederate Theatre, Dragongate Theatre, and no doubt many more. It remains a much-loved venue for performers and audiences of all ages. Northfield Library
3836 This photograph from 1967 shows children reading books in Northfield Library, Aberdeen.
Northfield Library opened in October 1955 as part of a plan formulated by the Library Committee to extend the provision of branch libraries into new housing areas.
In January 1950, building began on the Northfield estate, the first major housing development in post war Aberdeen. By June 1952, 800 families had moved to the area and were served by the mobile library which made evening visits to Marchburn Drive and Deansloch Terrace. These sites were very busy with over 9,000 books issued and people often queued to use the service.
At a meeting of the Public Library Committee in January 1953 it was agreed to ask Aberdeen Corporation to erect a library building on a site in Northfield.
The construction of a new branch library began in the autumn of 1954. On 12th October 1955, the G. M. Fraser Branch (named in memory of the late City Librarian) was officially opened on Byron Square by Mr. Thomas Johnston, former Scottish Secretary.
The success and popularity of Northfield Library inspired the committee to open a similar unit on the adjacent housing estate of Mastrick. The first section of the new Mastrick Branch Library opened on Greenfern Road on 18th October 1957, with the second section opening in 1961. Treasure 3: Aberdeen Public Library Bye-laws, 1906
170 In 1906 the Public Library Committee of Aberdeen City created a series of bye-laws that outlined the management of the library and the behaviour required of all library users. Aberdeen City Libraries have retained a copy of the original document in our Local Studies collection.
The document is informative on the then organisation of the library and also provides an at times comical insight into the attitudes and lifestyle at the beginning of the century.
Bye-law number 38, in the general section, states: "No audible conversation shall be permitted in the Library rooms, nor shall any person be allowed to partake of refreshments, to whistle, smoke, spit, strike matches, or bring a dog therein. Loitering or rambling about the premises is strictly prohibited; and no person shall be permitted to lie on the benches or chairs, to sleep in any room, or to interfere with the arrangements for conducting the Library".
Bye-law number 23 states, in no uncertain terms, that: "On the occurrence of any infectious disease in their homes, Borrowers shall give up any books in their possession to the Sanitary Inspector of the Burgh, and shall be debarred from borrowing until they shall produce to the Librarian a medical certificate of health."
If you would like to read more of the library bye-laws please visit Local Studies in the Central Library. Just do not let us catch you whistling or rambling on the premises! 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 78: Northfield and Mastrick Libraries
289 Both Northfield and Mastrick Libraries opened during the month of October in 1955 and 1957 respectively as part of a plan formulated by the Library Committee to extend the provision of branch libraries into new housing areas. From photographs, plans and news cuttings in the Library Archive we can take a look at the early history of both libraries.
In January 1950, building began on the Northfield estate, the first major housing development in post war Aberdeen. By June 1952, 800 families had moved to the area and were served by the mobile library which made evening visits to Marchburn Drive and Deansloch Terrace. These sites were very busy with over 9000 books issued and people often queued to use the service.
At a meeting of the Public Library Committee in January 1953 it was agreed to ask Aberdeen Corporation to erect a library building on a site in Northfield.
The construction of a new branch library began in the autumn of 1954. On 12 October 1955, the G. M. Fraser Branch (named in memory of the late City Librarian) was officially opened on Byron Square by Mr. Thomas Johnston, former Scottish Secretary.
The success and popularity of Northfield Library inspired the committee to open a similar unit on the adjacent housing estate of Mastrick. The first section of the new Mastrick Branch Library opened on Greenfern Road on 18 October 1957, with the second section opening in 1961.
View the Treasures from our Collection interactive exhibition on the touchscreens in Central, Airyhall, Tillydrone and Mastrick libraries to find out more about the history of Mastrick and Northfield libraries. Treasure 93: George Sim's Journals
312 The Minutes and Proceedings of the Public Library Committee of 1910-11 provide us with the first reference to the collection of journals written by the naturalist and taxidermist George Sim which are held in the Local Studies collections.
The solicitors administering Sim's estate contacted the City Librarian in September 1910 to inform him that Sim's natural history journals covering the period 1862 - 1900 had been bequeathed to the Public Library.
George Sim was born in 1835 at Craigellachie in Banffshire where his father James was a general merchant who also worked on farms. George received little formal education since he was needed to help in the household and at the age of 13 he was apprenticed as a tailor in Auchterless.
He eventually became a journeyman tailor moving around Scotland, England and Ireland before returning to work with his brother in a druggists' business. However, his long interest in natural history and a desire to be a taxidermist encouraged him to undertake training in Edinburgh.
He came to Aberdeen in 1862 and set up in business in King Street where he is listed in the Aberdeen Directory as a "bird stuffer". His successful business allowed him to move to larger premises at 52 Castle Street about 1897 when he is listed as naturalist, furrier and antiquarian, living at 40 Constitution Street.
Learn more about this interesting Aberdeen character - and the confusion that surrounds his name and profession - in our interactive exhibition on the touchscreen. Jubilee of the Aberdeen Tramways, 1874 - 1924
379 The front cover of a menu card from the dinner held at the Music Hall to celebrate the 50 year anniversary of the tramways in Aberdeen. The event took place on 2nd September 1924 and the actual jubilee was 31st August of the same year.
The inside of the card details the food served, which included kidney or tomato soup, baked haddock, roast beef, steak and kidney pie, and a selection of desserts. The food was supplied by The Douglas Hotel on Market Street.
The card also lists toasts to the King and the Corporation of Aberdeen Tramways Committee. The latter was proposed by Mr. James Barnett and acknowledged by the committee's chairman.
Additionally, a number of songs were sung by Mr. Anderson and Miss Mary Topp and the card details an extensive programme of dances. The master of ceremonies was Mr. James F. Donald (1870-1934). He was major figure in Aberdeen cinemas and theatres and served as a local government councillor.
The menu originally belonged to George Niven, who worked for the Corporation of Aberdeen Tramways, and was kindly donated to Aberdeen Local Studies by his daughter in May 2018. Festival of Britain - Poster
462 A large decorative poster for Festival of Britain celebrations that took place in Aberdeen in 1951.
The poster has a theatre influenced design and lists the planned events between 29th July and 11th August.
The celebrations were organised by the Aberdeen Festival Society and the Corporation of Aberdeen in association with the Arts Council Scottish Committee.
Events included a church service, exhibitions of art and of crafts, theatre performances, concerts, and sporting competitions. Among the groups involved were the Arion Choir Ensemble, the Children's Theatre and the Band of Royal Corps Signals.
Events took place at venues around Aberdeen including Cowdray Hall, the Music Hall, King's College Library, Gaumont Gallery, the News Cinema and many more.
The bottom right of the poster indicates that it was designed by noted British illustrator and graphic artist Eric George Fraser (1902-1983) and was printed for H.M. Stationary Office by Fosh & Cross Ltd., London.
The poster is approximately 77 x 51 cm. Festival of Britain - Programme
463 The front cover of the programme of festivities for Aberdeen's celebrations of the Festival of Britain.
These celebratory events were organised by the Aberdeen Festival Society and the Corporation of Aberdeen in association with the Arts Council Scottish Committee.
The interior of this pamphlet gives a listing of all events and includes descriptions of each with details of particular performers.
The shown design is repeated on both the front and back covers of the programme. It has approximately 6 pages and is 18.5 x 12 cm in dimension. |