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Porthill Factory, Gallowgate
683 This image, dating from 1905, shows the Gallowgate looking south, with Seamount Place on the left. The name Gallowgate, means the road to the gallows where public executions took place. The building at the left corner of the photograph was known as the Porthill Factory, erected in the 1750's and used by Milne, Cruden and Co. for the manufacture of linen thread. At the time of this photo, it was occupied by William Kitson and Co. Stoneware Merchants. Porthill was so named because of one of the city's gates or ports stood there until 1769. At the corner of Seamount Place were the premises of William Allan, grocer, later trading as Allan's Public Supply Stores. The three brass balls signifying a pawnbroker can also be seen projecting from the building. Futher down on the left were the New Porthill School and the Gallowgate Free Church. These buildings were swept away during street widening and slum clearance and the hill was flattened out. Settmaker at Persley Quarry
1071 The Aberdeen area had many granite quarries, and there was a need for men who had the skill to reduce huge blocks of granite into manageable pieces by chipping it with a variety of hammers, and chisels to produce the required shape and size. In this 1920's photograph we see a settmaker at Persley Quarry on the north side of the River Don in Aberdeen, at his wooden shelter or 'skaithie'. These shelters provided some sort of wind break for these men who had to sit on blocks of granite patiently working on the hard stone. Settmakers made cassies for roads and Aberdeen setts were used to pave streets in London. On his left is a tripod structure which acted like a small crane to lift the bigger stones into position. Note the lack of protective safety equipment apart from some extra padding on his knees. Loch Street
1200 The photo shows No's 18-20 and 22-28 Loch Street in a rather delapidated state. Clydesdale, electrical goods, Target Discount and Bruce Millers had all closed in preparation for demolition for the Bon Accord Centre. Charles Bruce Miller first opened his music shop in 1900, and he was succeeded by his sons and grandsons as the company prospered. They moved from 51 George Street to these purpose designed premises in Loch Street in May 1977 where they had four floors catering for the growing trade in TV's, music centres as well as musical instruments. In 1983, they moved to a new location at the west end of Union Street, so that by the time this image was taken in 1987, the shop had been bricked up and was covered in advertising posters. Free Churches and Denburn
2263 This photo, taken from Union Bridge, shows the Denburn Valley being used as a bleaching green, prior to the creation of Union Terrace Gardens. The photo also predates the Denburn railway constructed in 1865 and the Belmont Street Congregational Church. The absence of Rosemount Viaduct means that Woolmanhill Hospital is visible in the distance.
The photo was probably taken in the early 1860s. It is almost certainly the work of noted Aberdeen photographer George Washington Wilson. The image is one of two that made up a stereo picture when viewed using a special device. This type of stereoscopy was an early method of creating the illusion of depth in an image by presenting each eye with a slightly different image. Wilson created a series of such views and they were sold by "A. Brown & Co., 77 Union Street".
This image was very kindly shared with Aberdeen Local Studies by Michael Eriksson from Södertälje, Sweden. We are always pleased to receive new images of Aberdeen and hear from our users. If you would like to share images with the general public or just get in touch, we can be reached at localstudies@aberdeencity.gov.uk. Stop 4: Health Services for Women and Children - Agnes Thomson (1880-1952) Clementina Esslemont OBE (1864-1958) Fenella Paton (1901-1945) and Mary Esslemont (1891-1984)
2303 The first sick children's hospital on site of former Naval Surgeon's Dr Blaikie surgery on 6-8 Castle Terrace in 1877 extended to take in Castle Brae Chapel. An unsung heroine that worked on this site is Dr Agnes Thomson (nee Baxter) a graduate from Aberdeen University who served as an anaesthetist at the Sick Children's and Maternity Hospitals during the First World War. Agnes Thomson was instrumental in founding the Aberdeen Mother and Baby Home and volunteered her services to the Mother and Child Welfare Association, which was established to address the shockingly high death rate of babies and toddlers in the east end of Aberdeen.
Throughout her life, Clementina Esslemont OBE was a champion of liberal ideas and good causes and well known for her no-nonsense approach to social service provision. One of her principal achievements was the foundation of the Aberdeen Mother and Child Welfare Association in 1909, which played an important role in social service and public health provision in the City of Aberdeen until the creation of the Public Health Department in 1949. She was also involved in the establishment of a model block of tenements on the Spital, Aberdeen, in the formation of Aberdeen Lads' Club, St Katherine's Club, and the nursery school movement.
Dr Mary Esslemont, one of Clementina Esslemont's daughters, worked as a Gynaecologist at the hospital. Mary did much to improve the care and wellbeing for mothers and babies with her determination and hard work. As well as being the Gynaecologist she also ran prenatal and family planning clinics. Mary was an advocate of women's rights, health education and family planning. She was the first female president of the Student University Council and the first woman to be president of Aberdeen Liberal Association in 1954. Awarded the CBE in 1955, Aberdeen City Council bestowed the Freedom of the City of Aberdeen in 1981.
Aberdeen has also led the way in family planning with a remarkable woman at the forefront of fertility control. Pioneer Fenella Paton opened Aberdeen's first family planning clinic in 1926 at Gerrard street. The clinic, the first of its kind in Scotland, moved to new premises in Castle Street in 1948. But prior to these clinics and innovations in family planning there were large families and mothers that needed to go out to work and at our next stop an initiative was put in place to help these working women.
Memories:
Norma Michie speaking about Mary Esslemont
Audrey's memories of the Family Planning Clinic
Denise's memory of the Family Planning Clinic
Heather's memories of Ina Lawrence and the Children's Hospital
Alma Duncan's memories of Cocky Hunters Lord Provost Collie at Aberdeen Joint Station
2645 In the 1980s, long distance train travel started to become popular again. The High Speed Trains on the East Coast route to London were the stars of the new fleet. Lord Provost Collie gave the accelerated "Flying Scotsman" service to London Kings Cross a send-off in June 1981. Aberdeen Cinemas: La Scala / Majestic
3424 This photograph from the collection of the Aberdeen Journals Archive shows the Majestic Cinema on Union Street in 1972. This super-cinema at 234 Union Street was designed by architect Thomas Scott Sutherland and was built on the site of Aberdeen's first purpose-built picture house, La Scala.
A public company called Caledonian Theatres Ltd., with James Brebner of the Belmont as managing director, was formed for the purpose of acquiring the site of La Scala and some nearby buildings and constructing a large new cinema.
The Majestic opened on 10th December 1936 with a film called Eliza Comes to Stay as its main feature. In his autobiography, Sutherland states that the Majestic was his finest design. Michael Thomson in Silver Screen in the Silver City suggests that the cinema's style could be described, "without too much facetiousness", as "Sutherland Perpendicular".
Sutherland's characteristic long window panels were set in side panels on the building's Kemnay granite front. Decorative neon stripes were placed between each column. At the top of the front elevation was the neon "Majestic" sign and below that, in the centre, was the space to advertise the venue's programme.
In 1938 James F. Donald (Aberdeen Cinemas) Ltd. acquired Caledonian Theatres and the Majestic operated as part of the Donald circuit from then on. In time the cinema closed down with the site marked for redevelopment. The Majestic showed its last film, Kelly's Heroes, on Saturday 29th September 1973.
The cinema and the neighbouring Clydesdale Bank building were soon demolished. On the site was built a new £1.5 million office block called Caledonian House. This was opened on 25th February 1976.
[Information primarily sourced from Silver Screen in the Silver City (1988) by Michael Thomson]
Image © Aberdeen Journals Ltd. Steam Rally
4219 This photograph shows a steam engine rally with onlookers admiring the traction engines Wizard and Olive. This is most likely a Bon-Accord Steam Engine Club Rally and Steam Fair in Hazlehead Park.
In the centre of the photo is the traction engine Wizard. This tractor, as indicated by its signage, was owned by William McConachie of Tarland (c.1893-1981).
Programmes for Bon-Accord Steam Engine Club events, such as that for their 1986 fair, states that Wizard was Aveling no. 1139, registration number SO2182. Built by Aveling and Porter in 1926 it was an 8 horse power compound piston valve traction engine. It was built for Moray County Highways for road maintenance, before being acquired by McConachie. Following William McConachie's death in 1981, the engine, plus two others, was owned by his son William "Bill" McConachie (1929-2013), a former policeman and chairperson of the Bon-Accord Club.
The man standing in front of the engines, wearing a suit and glasses, may be William "Bill" McConachie.
Olive was Foster no. 14289, reg. no. SA5264. Manufactured in 1919 by Foster Wellington it was a 5 horse power compound tractor. It is described as "an ex-W.D. engine acquired by Godsman & Sons, New Pitsligo, for hauage of peat from the mosses in the district, then sold to a threshing contactor at Mintlaw Station and later used for sawmill work, until bought by the late William McConachie, Tarland. Now owned by his daughter Jean of Breda, Alford" (1986 programme, page 26).
An obituary for William "Willie" McConachie can be found in the Press & Journal of 28th October 1981 on page 4. It states that this well-known traction engine enthusiast was a publican before taking over the Mill of Wester Coull Farm. He had four engines which he took to rallies all over Scotland. He and his wife Olive, no doubt the naming inspiration for the above engine, were honorary members of the Bon-Accord Steam Engine Club. William was also a local Justice of the Peace.
This photo is likely dates from the 1970s or 1980s and is from a collection of slides donated to Aberdeen City Libraries by Aberdeen City Council's publicity department. Queen's Cross in 1911
4271 A photograph showing the procession organised in Aberdeen to celebrate the coronation of George V (1865-1936) and Queen Mary (1867-1953). The image shows the procession passing north up St. Swithin Street and across Queen's Cross. A number of trams and horse drawn gigs are shown outside the lines of spectators.
This photo is taken from the Aberdeen Bon-Accord and Northern Pictorial coronation souvenir number published on 12th May 1937, page 55. This special issue celebrated the crowning of George V's son, George VI (1895-1952) and Queen Elizabeth (1900-2002).
This photograph illustrates an article by journalist William Diack (1871-1942), part of a series looking at the changes in Aberdeen between the coronations of George V and VI. Diack's article is titled 'Scotland has witnessed Coming of New Age and the Triumph of Youth' and discusses the changing political scene in the city during the period.
The caption for this photograph reads as follows:
"This was the Aberdeen procession on June 22, 1911, the day of the Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary. The procession is just reaching Queen's Cross by way of St. Swithin Street, the photograph having been taken from the belfry of Rubislaw Parish Church. Note how the fashions have changed. Horses predominated then, this time motor vehicles will be in the majority. And women's fashions! Well, there's just no comparison possible." Gallowgate in 1932
4274 A photograph showing a no. 20 bus driving up Gallowgate in around 1932. The image looks south towards Marischal College from outside no. 121, James T. Scott's Shepherd's Bar, later the Blue Lamp.
This photo is taken from the Aberdeen Bon-Accord and Northern Pictorial 1932 annual, page 46. It is one of a number illustrating an article by G. M. Fraser (1863-1938), city librarian, titled 'The gates of Aberdeen: intimate study in street nomenclature.'
The caption accompanying the photograph reads as follows:
"The spacious Gallowgate - older citizens have hardly yet accustomed themselves to the adjective "spacious" as applied to the Gallowgate. 'Old crabbed ways' are rapidly disappearing, and the transformation of this area has undoubtedly been stimulated by the setting of the new buildings of Marischal College in their midst." Netherkirkgate in 1932
4275 A photograph looking west along Netherkirkgate towards the Wallace Tower in around 1932. On the right, the businesses H. Cordiner, joiner, Petrie & Co., plumbers and electricians, and Lewis Smith & Son, stationers, are shown. There is also the sign of three hanging balls for a pawn shop beyond.
The buildings on the left remain at the time of writing in 2023. Those on the right were demolished to make way for the new Marks & Spencer building.
This photo is taken from the Aberdeen Bon-Accord and Northern Pictorial 1932 annual, page 46. It is one of a number illustrating an article by G. M. Fraser (1863-1938), city librarian, titled 'The gates of Aberdeen: intimate study in street nomenclature.'
The caption accompanying the photograph reads as follows:
"The Netherkirkgate - This was one of the most noted thoroughfares in Aberdeen, leading from the heart of the town to the city kirks. Like other streets in this vicinity, its glory has departed, and the city improvers will soon have it transformed, if not blotted it out." Treasure 60: Library bindery
236 This month we pay tribute to a number of craftsmen whose daily work was seen as essential to the maintenance of the book stock in the library service. These were the library bookbinders who, with their assistants, ensured that the library books were in as good condition as possible.
The Library Bindery was based in the basement of the Central Library and bookbinders would spend their working day there rebinding and repairing damaged books, in addition to numbering and labelling new stock.
This photo dates from around 1950, and shows bookbinder Joseph T. Duncan and his assistant Ruth Chalmers in the bindery. He is applying gold lettering to the spine of a volume using the tools laid out on the rack beside him.
Find out more about Mr Duncan and the library service's bookbinders over the years in our interactive exhibition on touchscreens.
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 82: Linksfield Library
294 Did you know there were once plans to build a Branch Library on the corner of School Road and King Street? In the Library Archive we hold a set of drawings showing the proposed library, prepared by A.B. Gardner, City Architect.
In January 1938 the Sub-Committee accepted the proposal for a new library building constructed in white dressed Kemnay granite and referred the scheme for final approval to the Town Council.
Unfortunately, due to a shortage of construction workers in the City, the scheme was deferred and the outbreak of World War II further delayed the plans. Linksfield Branch Library did not open until December 1975, several hundred yards south of the original School Road site, within the newly constructed Linksfield Academy.
Linksfield Academy closed in 2002 due to falling numbers and its pupils transferred to St Machar Academy. The building was occupied by the public library, community centre and swimming pool, all of which remained open following the school closure.
Linksfield Public Library closed on 30 September 2010 after which Linksfield Academy was demolished to make way for the new Aquatics Centre on King Street.
View the Treasures from our Collections interactive exhibition on the touchscreen to find out more about the history of Linksfield Library.
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