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The Pleasure Park, Aberdeen Beach
397 A postcard showing John Henry Iles' Pleasure Park in the 1930s. The park's esplanade site, south of Wellington Street (roughly where Amadeus nightclub/the Range and part of the Queen's Links carpark would later stand), was leased to Iles by the Council in 1929. Illes was an amusement entrepreneur originally from Manchester.
The park's biggest attraction, in all senses, was the Scenic Railway roller coaster shown here. Iles was involved in several amusement parks around Britain and during a visit to New York he obtained the European rights to the design of the latest roller coasters. He subsequently erected his Scenic Railway in Aberdeen in 1929.
The roller coaster rose to 100 feet in the air at its highest point and was popular with holiday makers and locals throughout the 1930s. The local press recorded 21,000 children, between 3 and 14 years of age, carried on the ride during a special children's day that was held on Saturday 20th August 1932.
Part of the message written on the back of this postcard by a young visitor to Aberdeen reads "This picture shows you the scenic railway which I have been on and liked very much".
The Scenic Railway was sadly badly damaged by fire on the night of 5th December 1940 and was consequently demolished. Other attractions of Iles' park included rides such as The Caterpillar, The Whip, Water Dodgems, and the Brooklyn Racers (petrol driven cars).
In the background of this image be seen the tower of St. Clements Church and a row of tenements, likely those on Wellington Street. Culter Juniors Football Club, 1911
946 A team photograph of Culter Juniors Football Club in 1911.
Local historian Brian Coutts has been in touch with names of the individuals shown (all from left to right):
Back row - D. Guild, P. Low, J. MacDonald, W. Duncan, C. Dunbar, J. McAra, J. Milne and J. Ogilvie.
Middle Row (kneeling) - G. Insch, C. Allan and J. Milne.
Front row - J. Reid, Alastair Thomson, J. Agnew, G. McKenzie and J. Fraser.
Silver City Vault visitor David Allan suggests that the C. Allan in the middle row looks like his uncle, Charlie Allan, who lived in Culter's Clayhills cottages. Treasure 34: A Selection of Original Scots Songs in Three Parts
2322 Although the union of the Parliaments between Scotland and England had taken place almost a hundred years before, as the 18th century was drawing to a close there was still much fascination regarding the differing cultures. In time, Victorian society would give this fascination a renewed vigour, helped by Queen Victoria's passion for Scotland - including the establishment of Balmoral Castle as her residence North of the border. Before that time though, in the late 1790s, books were produced offering English readers an insight into their neighbours' traditions.
One such book was entitled 'A selection of original Scots songs' edited by Franz Haydn and published between 1790 and 1794. The book is designed to introduce the reader to the music and lyrics of traditional songs in Scotland. Haydn's book reproduced the songs along with corresponding music, and also offered a glossary to help with the more obscure language.
Burns' song 'My Heart's In The Highlands' - more popularly regarded today as a poem - makes an appearance in the selected works by Franz Haydn. With the collected works produced between 1790 - 1794, this was at a time when Burns began to suffer from the illnesses which would eventually end his life just a couple of years later.
Robert Burns
Celebrated across Scotland every year, Robert Burns Day takes place on 25 January and is an opportunity to remember Scotland's Bard and his work. Known the world over as the National Poet of Scotland, Robert Burns (1759 - 1796) was born in Alloway, Ayrshire. Burns' early life was one of balance; he toiled on his family's farm by day, and was taught reading and writing by candlelight at night. He conversed in Scots, while learning passages from English texts to further his studies. Although regarded by history largely as a poet, Burns also composed many songs - perhaps his most famous work 'Auld Lang Syne' being one of the few traditionally remembered in song form. One of our treasures this month celebrates Robert Burns' work and that of many other traditional Scottish musicians. Aberdeen Theatres: Vestibule of His Majesty's Theatre
3359 The vestibule of His Majesty's Theatre, with the Box Office to the right of centre. The doors to Rosemount Viaduct are on the right of the image.
By 1927, the fortunes of the theatre were at a low ebb. In an effort to publicise the building nationally, a pictorial article appeared in a glossy weekly entitled "A Model Theatre". The Press & Journal newspaper lead a public appeal to save HMT in 1931.
The vestibule's black and white marbled floor provides a striking entrance, as does the polished wood surrounds. The ceiling itself consisted of a series of pre-fabricated panels. In the centre is the curtained doorway, taking the visitor into the "posh" seats. Tourist information caravan
4215 A City of Aberdeen Council employee showing a visitor a map.
This photograph was taken inside City of Aberdeen's tourist information caravan. Other images indicate this substantial caravan was pulled by a gold coloured Range Rover.
Aberdeen City Council appear to have used a caravan like this from at least 1978. Its purpose was to provide information for visitors and would also have been able to assist with accommodation and activity bookings.
The caravan appears to have been sited at road-side locations for considerable periods. One location between 1978 and 1985 was the lay-by on the Stonehaven Road, across the A92 from the foot of Nigg Way, as the road approaches Aberdeen from the south.
The kitchen equipment seen here in the background would no doubt be useful when the caravan was in its location.
The photograph comes from a collection of slides from the 1970s and 80s donated to Aberdeen City Libraries by Aberdeen City Council's publicity department. Another image of the caravan suggests these ones may date from 1980. Aberdeen Market 20 - view from foyer area
4396 This photograph by Roddy Millar looks west down the main corridor of the Aberdeen Market building.
It gives a good representation of the initial view a visitor would encounter having came in via the large Market Street entrance, located to the rear of this image.
On the left can be seen Ai to Ai, offering cosmetic treatments for eyelashes and eyebrows, Aberdeen Vinyl Records is further on, identifiable by the baskets of records, then D&S Discounts and Dream Beauty Studio at the very rear.
On the right, starting at the back and coming forward, is Outfits, Combo Café & Restaurant, Liberty Hair and the Market Heel & Key Bar in the foreground.
The Market Heel & Key Bar offer shoe repairs, watch batteries, luggage, shopper trolleys, belts, key cutting and slippers. Due to the closure of the Market, this business moved to nearby premises at 88 Union Street.
Photograph taken on 26/02/2019. Treasure 73: Jamieson's Dictionary of the Scottish Language, 1895
275 Our treasure for the month of September looks at the person responsible for collating the first dictionary of the Scottish language. Born in Glasgow in 1759, John Jamieson was the son of a Scottish minister. Following his father's path, Jamieson studied theology and became pastor of a congregation at Forfar, Angus in 1781.
Alongside his ecclesiastical work, Jamieson developed a passionate interest in the development and study of language - philology. In Forfar, Jamieson briefly met Grimur Thorkelin, the National Archivist of Denmark who was in Britain researching the links between Danish and English. Thorkelin's chief legacy was the transcription and publication of the epic medieval poem, Beowulf.
From conversation with Thorklein, Jamieson set himself upon the task of recording those words he felt were exclusive to Scotland. It would be twenty years before his lifetime's work, The Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language would be published.
Subsequent revisions, amendments and abridgements refined Jamieson's original work - refuting some claims of Gothic origin, and proposing others. Our treasure is one of the revised editions of Jamieson's original work - a later edition from 1895.
View the Treasures from our Collection interactive exhibition on the touchscreen in Central, Airyhall, Tillydrone and Mastrick libraries to find out more about John Jamieson and his work.
Treasure 124: Queen Mother authograph
347 One of our final 125 treasures is a valued item from the Library Archive; the Visitor's Book containing the signature of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, dated October 20, 1982. The Library staff newsletter of December 1982 states that: "The highlight of our Autumn was undoubtedly the visit by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother to the Central Library on Wednesday 20 October." The purpose of the visit was to unveil a commemorative plaque in the new Lending Library to mark the completion of the extension and refurbishment of the building over a 4 year period. During her 45 minute tour, Her Majesty visited all the public departments and chatted to members of staff who were issued with a souvenir ticket for the event. Before leaving, Her Majesty signed the Visitors Book and was presented with a copy of "The old Deeside Road" by G.M. Fraser. Peter Grant was the City Librarian at this time and he oversaw the 4 year modernisation project and improved the public image of the library service. He held the position of City Librarian from 1973 until his retirement on 28 April 1989. Staff remember Peter as a quiet man who always found time to walk around the Library and speak to staff. He loved books and earned a personal reputation as an enthusiastic and well-informed book man. Following retirement he was a familiar figure in the Central Library. He died in April 2009.
Learn more about this royal visit in the Treasures from our Collections interactive exhibition on the touchscreen. Wallace Nook
361 An old print from about 1840 showing the Wallace Nook on Netherkirkgate accompanied by a William Cadenhead poem. Private John M'Pherson
428 The front cover of a copy of Private John M'Pherson by Elsie S. Rae. It was a WWI poem written largely in Doric and first published in December 1917 by the Aberdeen Daily Journal Office. |