Quick Search
|
Search Results
You searched for: More Like: 'Council forks out thousands over Travellers'
16 items
items as
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. Provost Cruickshank's coat of arms on Ruthrieston Pack Bridge
521 Provost Robert Cruickshank's coat of arms on Ruthrieston Pack Bridge, which he had installed without being first sanctioned by the City Council. He refused to remove it and the Master of Bridgeworks turned the panel over and had engraved a Latin inscription recording that the bridge was erected out of funds mortified for the upkeep of the Bridge of Dee. By 1705 the stone was again reversed and Cruickshank's coat of arms was visible again. Hazlehead Park
1557 The estate of Hazlehead was purchased by the Aberdeen Town Council at a cost of 40,000 pounds. Over 200 acres were originally woodland but part of this now forms a public golf course. The grounds in the vicinity of the mansion house are attractively laid out and, in the season, a wealth of bloom combines with the grassy lawns, well-trimmed walks and stately trees to make a charming picture. Treasure 36: Aberdeen City Libraries' First Book Sale, 24 February 1979
2327 National Libraries Day has been held every February since 2011 to celebrate and raise awareness of libraries, library staff and their communities all over the UK. It is an opportunity for libraries to showcase and promote what they have to offer and to attract as many visitors as possible to local libraries.
This month our selection from the Library archive brings the focus to a Library event the likes of which has never been seen before or since in Aberdeen City Libraries. The photograph shows the queue for the first ever Library book sale held in the Ballroom of the Music Hall on Saturday 24 February 1979, when well over a thousand people swarmed through the doors to grab a bargain. The Press and Journal covered the event with the headline: "Bonanza Day for Bookworms; bargain hunters pack the Music Hall".
In September 1978 the Aberdeen District Council's library committee agreed to a recommendation from City Librarian Peter Grant to hold a sale of more than 30,000 books which had been withdrawn from stock for various reasons. There was also considerable duplication of stock following local government re-organisation in 1975 when Aberdeen inherited six former county branch libraries.
Books were divided into three categories: Children's, Adult Fiction and Non-Fiction (including reference books) and prices were kept low at 20p for fiction books and non-fiction titles slightly more at 50p.
Best sellers included children's books purchased by play groups, out of date encyclopaedias and Whittaker's Almanacs, and bound volumes of National Geographic Magazine. By the end of the day, the event was deemed an overwhelming success, selling over 13,000 books and raising more than £3645 for the purchase of new stock.
The hard work and dedication of the Library staff was recognised by the Convener of the Library Committee Councillor Henry Rae who said "It turned out to be a resounding success and this was achieved by the dedication of the staff".
Pitmedden Garden
4207 A photograph showing three boys admiring the fountain at Pitmedden Garden.
Pitmedden Garden is a Natural Trust for Scotland property. Their website describes it as a "re-created Scottish Renaissance walled garden with vibrant floral designs and Museum of Farming Life."
Concerning its history, the website states "the Great Garden dates back to 1675 when it was originally laid out by Sir Alexander Seton." [...] "In the 1950s Pitmedden was gifted to the Trust who re-created the garden based on 17th-century plans after it was ploughed up to grow vegetables during the Second World War and used as a kitchen garden for over 100 years."
This fountain is detailed in an entry on Historic Environment Scotland's CANMORE website (CANMORE ID: 338622). Quoting a guide pamphlet by Dr James Richardson, designer of the garden restoration, it states "In the re-creation of the Great Garden of Pitmedden, the National Trust for Scotland not only has established once again the site of the original fountain but it has erected a further fountain as a focal point in the centre of the Great garden. The sculptured stones that compose this second fountain have an interesting history as seven of them formed, at one time, part of the Cross Fountain of Linlithgow designed and executed by Robert Milne, King's Master Mason, to commemorate King Charles II's Restoration. These detached fragments were given by the Ministry of Works. Three fragments of the original Pitmedden construction have also been worked into the composition of the fountain."
Looking west, a stairway up to Pitmedden's terrace garden and Pitmedden House can be seen in the background.
This image likely dates from the 1970s. It comes from a collection of slides donated to Aberdeen City Libraries by Aberdeen City Council's publicity department. 62-70 George Street
4335 A photograph looking east towards 62-72 George Street in around 1986 or 1987.
This image is one of a series taken by Aberdeen City Council to record buildings prior to the redevelopment of the area and construction of the Bon Accord Centre.
The Scorpio Boutique, can be seen in the centre of the shot. The boutique appears to be having a sale prior to its closure. By contrast, the units adjacent already stand empty.
The Scorpio Boutique frequently took out advertisements in the Evening Express offering a complimentary bottle of wine with any purchase over £25.
Approximately where these buildings stood is now within the Bon Accord Centre. Treasure 9: Sketch of Proposed Denburn Gardens
179 The future of Union Terrace Gardens has been the subject of much debate over the years and its original development also led to much discussion in Town Council meetings and in the local newspapers.
In 1868, the architect James Matthews suggested that the area of Union Terrace should be turned into a pleasure ground for the people and the following year this "Sketch of the Proposed Denburn Gardens", drawn by the land surveyor James Forbes Beattie, was published. It includes the area between Belmont Street to Union Terrace and from Union Street to the Royal Infirmary, Woolmanhill.
The gardens are shown laid out with paths and shrubbery but Beattie has also depicted the buildings in the surrounding streets, including the recently completed Belmont Street Congregational Church. Further to the north can be seen the spire and complex of the three churches built for the West, South and East Free Church congregations in 1843-44. The buildings which remain are currently known as the Triple Kirks.
A pedestrian bridge crosses the railway towards Union Terrace and the row of houses known as Denburn Terrace. These were demolished under the City Improvements Scheme of 1883 which eventually led to the construction of Rosemount Viaduct and would have stood on the site of the ornamental plot opposite the Central Library.
This plan acts as a snapshot of the area and provides an interesting comparison with the modern layout of the streets surrounding the Gardens.
After much discussion and negotiation with neighbouring proprietors, the Town Council sanctioned work on laying out the Gardens on the land between the wooded bank at Union Terrace and the railway. Work began in November 1877 and, when the gates were finally opened to the public on 11 August 1879, the band of Gordon's Hospital (forerunner of Robert Gordon's College) played a "selection of pleasing airs" prior the opening ceremony. The official name was now Union Terrace Gardens but it was more popularly known to generations of visitors as the "Trainie Park". Treasure 86: Bon Accord Christmas Annuals
298 Aberdonians of yesteryear would have been delighted to receive this particular treasure as a Christmas gift. The Bon Accord Annual was produced just before Christmas each year for over 30 years. Linked to the well-known local newspaper the Bon Accord and Northern Pictorial, it was packed full of seasonal treats in the form of photographs, adverts, short stories, poems, recipes and articles.
The Bon Accord Annual provided a round-up of the year's happenings and included a multitude of striking photographs. We are given a revealing glimpse into all aspects of local life at the time. The annual was filled with photographs and text covering graduations, amateur drama events, the arts scene, visits from the Royal Family, council elections, personal achievements, obituaries of prominent citizens, the church, the cinema, clubs, societies and weddings. The impression gained from leafing through the annuals is that the coverage of local events was far ranging and no occurrence was too insignificant to be recorded.
Issues of the Bon Accord and Northern Pictorial from 1926-1952 are available to the public for searching on microfilm in the Central Library. Our Local Studies department also holds Bon-Accord and Northern Pictorial holiday numbers; Bon Accord Highland Show Souvenirs for 1928 and 1935 and the Bon Accord Silver Jubilee number from 1935.
Find out more about the annuals and the Bon Accord and Northern Pictorial in the Treasures from our Collections interactive exhibition on the touchscreen. Guest Treasure: Design Team (Public Buildings) Architectural Drawings
338 Our guest treasure this month is the collection of architectural drawings held by Aberdeen City Council's Design Team (Public Buildings).
Design Team (Public Buildings) is a Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) chartered practice with a team of qualified Architects, Architectural Staff and Quantity Surveyors. Their aim is to support and provide a sustainable built environment in Aberdeen based on principles of design excellence, social wellbeing, environmental responsibility and value for public money.
Over the years Aberdeen City Council has collected thousands of architectural drawings. They are used by the Design Teams to inform alterations to existing buildings and demolitions. The Design Team's (Public Buildings) collection contains drawings of many of Aberdeen's best known structures. These include: The Beach Ballroom, The Music Hall, The Bon-Accord Baths, the Maritime Museum and the Central Library.
The collected drawings are an important resource used in the Design Team's work and therefore are not publicly accessible. Although the public do not have access to this collection, many historic architectural drawings are available to consult at the Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Archives and Local Studies at Aberdeen City Libraries. If you would like assistance locating this type of material, please contact us at localstudies@aberdeencity.gov.uk. Act, for a voluntar Contribution tovvards the building and reparing of the Harbour of Aberdeen
485 This act was issued in Edinburgh on 7th July 1682. It regards rebuilding and repairing Aberdeen's harbour.
The act tells us that Aberdeen's magistrates and town-council had petitioned the King's Privy Council over rebuilding the harbour. They argue that Aberdeen's considerable maritime trade needs a functioning harbour. The weather was preventing them from managing their harbour. They speak of the banks of the River Dee being washed away by currents. They announce that they need a bulwark along the north shore to match that of the south shore. This would cost at least £1,000, roughly the equivalent price of 230 cows, or £230,000 in today's money. They justify their request by saying that they rarely burden their neighbours.
The act continues by saying that the King's Privy Council accept the petition for a 'voluntar Contribution' to be collected for the harbour. They also say that they will recommend to ministers, archbishops and bishops to contribute to the fund. The broadside is signed by Wil Paterson and was printed in Edinburgh by the heir of Andrew Anderson, printer to the King.
Aberdeen's harbour was established in 1136 by King David I of Scotland. In the mid-eighteenth century, it was ransacked by both English and Scottish forces. It was not until 1773, the best part of a century later, that improvements on the harbour begun in earnest. Before this act, through the seventeenth century, the harbour was continuously worked on. The wharf, for instance, was expanded eastward from 1623 through to 1659. The harbour remained dangerous and difficult to access due to a sand bar across its entrance. At high and low tide, the depth ranged from two to fifteen feet of water. Floods were common, and ships were sometimes swept out to sea. (Victoria Elizabeth Clark, The Port of Aberdeen (1921), pp. 47-49.) |