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Aberdeen Grammar School, Skene Street, c.1860. This view shows the school which was built by Aberdeen Town Council in Skene Street and opened in October 1863 to replace the old school in Schoolhill. In later years, a statue of Lord Byron was placed in front of the school to commemorate the fact that he attended the old Grammar School in the 1790s. The walls in the foreground indicate where the Denburn used to flow before it was covered over. In July 1986, much of the central area of the school, including the library, was severely damaged by fire and some valuable material was lost. Rebuilding was completed by 1992.

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Rosemount Viaduct, showing the William Wallace statue, the South Church and the Central Library, c.1900 prior to the building of His Majesty's Theatre.

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His Majesty's Theatre on Rosemount Viaduct, Aberdeen. Buses line the street outside the building. A summer line up of Aberdeen registered touring buses together with their smartly turned out drivers can be seen standing outside His Majesty's Theatre, Rosemount Viaduct sometime in the 1930's. The destination of some of the vehicles include Lossiemouth and Killiekrankie. The fine ionic columned building to the left of the image was originally known as the South United Free Church, later known as St Marks Church, with the Central Library adjacent.

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Interior of King's College Chapel, University of Aberdeen, Old Aberdeen, c.1900. King's College was founded by Bishop William Elphinstone under a Papal Bull issued by Pope Alexander VI on 10th February 1495. Marischal College was founded as an independent university in 1593 and the two became the University of Aberdeen in the Fusion of 1860. Work began on the College in 1500 and it took 6 years to complete the Chapel. This photograph shows the interior looking west, showing Bishop Stewart's pulpit on the right, through the nave and choir to the choir stalls and rood screen, with the antechapel behind it. Non-residents entered through the west door and occupied the antechapel, while students entered from the College Library via a special staircase within the rood screen. The central gallery of the screen is still used to house the organ. The 52 choir stalls, commissioned by Elphinstone, are "a unique survival as well as the finest of their king in Scotland". The finely panelled Renaissance pulpit of William Stewart (Bishop 1532-1545) bears his coat of arms and was originally in use in St. Machar's Cathedral. The timber ceiling was constructed soon after 1506 and was probably designed by John Fendour. It consists of a diagonal arrangement of ribs and widely spreading foliage sprigs radiating from centre bosses. The choir stalls and ceiling both show a strong Flemish influence. The Chapel is still in use today for University services and is a popular marriage venue for graduates.

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In 1615 Dr. William Barclay wrote a treatise extolling the virtues of the Well of Spa and commending the use of its waters to invalids. Then George Jamesone, the artist, while suffering from calculus of the bladder found relief from the mineral qualities of the well. At the beginning of the 20th century, the well was removed and re-erected inside the wall of the old Royal Infirmary at Woolmanhill and water was introduced into it from another source. Later it was moved to a nearby site behind Aberdeen Central Library, beside the Denburn Car Park.

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Aberdeen Central Library, Rosemount Viaduct decorated seen from Skene Terrace.

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Aberdeen Central Library was designed by George Watt but has been added to over the years. This image shows the library decorated for the city's celebrations of the coronation of Edward VII and Queen Alexandra that were held on Saturday 9th August 1902. The new monarchs had been crowned the previous year. The decorations on Schoolhill and Rosemount Viaduct were carried out under the direction of Mr Stewart, superintendent of Stewart Park. See the Aberdeen Daily Journal of Monday 11th August 1902 for an extensive report on the coronation celebrations.

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Aberdeen Central Library on Rosemount Viaduct. c.1980.

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Drawing of Castlegate looking west along Union Street. Silver City Vault user Ed Fowler got in touch to point out the salient features of "the Plainstones, Mercat Cross in is original position with the Athenaeum Reading Room, Tolbooth, the New Inn (Freemasons Lodge) and the Aberdeen Bank at the top of Marischal Street. It is one of set of 3 drawings by the same artist employed by Gibb's the Lithographer. The others being the Brig o' Dee, and the Nether Kirk Gate, Benholm Lodging."

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Library Fountain which stood adjacent to the original Central Library building. It was removed to make way for the extension which housed the Commercial Library, later known as the Business and Technical Department and subsequently as the Media Centre.

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Union Terrace looking towards the Central Library.

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Rosemount Viaduct with (from left to right) Aberdeen Central Library, St. Mark's Church and the statue of William Wallace.

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Rosemount Viaduct from Union Terrace Gardens. St. Mark's Church and the Central Library are on the left with the statue of William Wallace pointing towards the site of His Majesty's Theatre.

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King's College was founded by Bishop William Elphinstone in 1495. Marischal College was founded as an independent university in 1593. The two formed the University of Aberdeen in the fusion of 1860. The core of King's College Library was formed from the books Elphinstone left in the latter years of his life. The books were originally housed in a room in the south east tower (now the round tower). They were then moved to a building on the south side of King's College Chapel, and in 1773 to the west end of the Chapel. They were relocated in 1870 to a new building as illustrated. This library was extended in 1885, with galleries being installed in 1912, reading desks in 1932 and a mezzanine floor in 1964. This image shows King's College Library when it was closed in 1983. The library was converted into King's College Conference Centre in 1991.

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Aberdeen Central Public Library, St Mark's Church and the statue of William Wallace all on Rosemount Viaduct. His Majesty's Theatre is yet to be built - opened in 1906. The dome of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Woolmanhill is just visible in the background.

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The main doorway to Aberdeen City Libraries Central Library on Rosemount Viaduct. The two people in the doorway are librarians Jean Dodds and Alan Rennie.

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The new Central Library was officially opened by Andrew Carnegie on July 5th 1892 at a cost of £10,000 (about £5m today). Mr. Carnegie had contributed £1,000 to the building fund and prior to the opening ceremony received the Freedom of the City.

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The opening ceremony was held in the new Reading Room on 5 July 1892 where a platform had been erected covered in crimson cloth and decorated with plants and flowers. The original seating plan is held in Aberdeen City Archives.

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When the Central Library opened in 1892, the staff consisted of the Librarian and Sub-Librarian plus 9 Assistants, a Reading Room Keeper, a Janitor and 2 staff in the Binding Department. A total of 15 compared to 70 in 2012 (120 across the service).

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The Reading Room was open everyday (except Sunday) from 9am-10 pm with over 2,000 people using it daily. It was free to all "provided they are decent in person and attire and conduct themselves in a becoming manner". A drinking fountain provided refreshment.

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By 1900, the need for an extension was recognised as the Reading Room had been criticised as "congested, dark and inaccessible". In 1902, the architects Brown and Watt designed a 2 storey central piece with a single storey extending west to the junction of Skene Street, and ending in a tower.

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The extension cost £7,700 and opened on 18 May 1905. Built in keeping with the character of the main structure, it was described as a "harmony of architectural features". Facilities included a new Reading Room, a Stock Room, an upgraded Reference Department and public toilets.

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The new Reading Room was described as "handsome, airy, bright and convenient" and was painted in colours of citron and cream. The 2,000 readers who frequented it daily should have been well satisfied. The polished granite fountain, a feature of the old reading room was transferred to the new location.

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Gentlemen browsing the local newspapers. The newspaper boards were divided into sections containing Aberdeen newspapers, Scottish nationals and English provincial and London papers. A special section was set aside for 'Colonial' and other titles such as the 'Cape Argus' and the 'Ceylon Observer'