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Site of Mar's Castle
108 Site of Mar's Castle, Gallowgate after its demolition in 1897. The building in the background was for many years the meeting place of the Society of Friends (Quakers). They also had a burial ground in this area in the 1670s. The building was acquired by John Watt and Sons, leather merchants. The upper part had louvre windows which made it suitable for drying leather.
The two doorways that remain standing in the centre of the image were part of the tenement located just north of Mar's Castle. Above the one on the left can be seen a sign indicating that this was once the pend leading to Logan's Court. In the late 19th century the address of this tenement would have been 150 Gallowgate.
The demolition of Mar's Castle, and likely this tenement too, began in January 1897. The Town Council bought the property and ordered its demolition so that the street could be widened. Shuttle Lane prior to slum clearance
193 This 1930s photograph shows the Shuttle Lane slum clearance area situated between East North Street and Frederick Street, before the families were rehoused on new estates.
These houses were typical of the cramped, overcrowded tenements to be found in most Scottish cities. Large families would be crammed into 1 or 2 rooms. There might have been a shared toilet on the landings or more commonly outside in the back yard.
Infectious diseases such as diptheria and scarlet fever could be spread rapidly with such close contact of families, and infant mortality was high. There was often no drying green so many tenements had iron washing poles which could be slid out of windows when needed. Each family would have their allocated day to use the wash house.
Washing clothes was a laborious affair as the mother, maybe with the assistance of an older daughter, would stoke and light the boiler, and trek back and forth with water from an outside tap. Washing would be done by hand and if the weather was bad, then it would have to be hung inside in the kitchen to dry in the heat of the coal fire.
However, it seemed that community spirit was warm and close neighbours helped each other in times of crisis. This was a bond that would be broken when families were rehoused in the modern housing estates. Quaker Meeting House, Gallowgate
765 Site of Mar's Castle, Gallowgate after its demolition in 1897. The building in the background was for many years the meeting place of the Society of Friends (Quakers). They also had a burial ground in this area in the 1670s. The building was acquired by John Watt and Sons, leather merchants. The upper part had louvre windows which made it suitable for drying leather.
The two doorways that remain standing in the centre of the image were part of the tenement located just north of Mar's Castle. Above the one on the left can be seen a sign indicating that this was once the pend leading to Logan's Court. In the late 19th century the address of this tenement would have been 150 Gallowgate.
The demolition of Mar's Castle, and likely this tenement too, began in January 1897. The Town Council bought the property and ordered its demolition so that the street could be widened.
This photograph was taken at the junction with Innes Street and looks east across Gallowgate. George Street Electric Tram Service
1069 A photograph of the inaugural procession on 23rd December 1899 for the electrification of the Woodside tram route, the first in Aberdeen to be modernised.
This copy of the image has been labelled as the "Opening of George Street Electric Car Service - 1899." The trams would have travelled from Aberdeen city centre to Woodside along St. Nicholas Street and George Street.
Lord Provost John Fleming is at the helm, with Tramways Convener Alexander Wilkie standing next to him, and Councillor Alexander Glass has his foot on the platform.
Next to Fleming and Wilkie, and above Glass, appears to be Alexander Lyon, provost between 1905-1908. Baillie James Taggart, also later to be provost, is the right-most figure in the back row on the roof of the car. Two to the left of Taggart may be James Walker, provost between 1903-1905.
James Alexander Bell, City Electrical Engineer for Aberdeen in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, is the bowler hatted figure on the stairs above Lord Provost Fleming.
This inauguration is detailed in an article titled 'Electric tramways in Aberdeen: Opening of Woodside section' in the Aberdeen Journal of 25th December 1899, page 7. It details the celebratory tram trip shown here and a luncheon in the Town and County Hall that followed.
Another, clearer version of this image can be found on this website (image reference: A43_14). Dunecht Smiddy
1146 Blacksmiths in the smiddy at Dunecht. This shop appears to have been fairly busy, employing as it did, 3 blacksmiths. They were called upon for all sorts of metal related jobs. All the tools of the trade can be noted, including 2 anvils for hammering and a main furnace (centre of picture). All 3 blacksmiths are seen here wearing leather aprons, which protected them from the hot flying sparks. No industrial glasses were in use however at this time, and the traditional flat bonnet is still the norm.
Correspondent David Christie has identified the blacksmith on the left as James Stephenson Smith, his great grandfather. David explains that Smith worked as a blacksmith for Dunecht Estate from 1925 to 1929 and so this dates the photograph to this period. His great grandfather also worked at other properties belonging to the estate, such as renovations of Dunnottar Castle. Smith had to give up working as a Blacksmith after breaking his leg in a fall while working there.
He subsequently worked as a driver for the Dunecht Garage, which ran buses at the time, and later for the W. Alexander & Sons bus operating firm.
There is an article about this image by Hilary Simpson in the Evening Express of 17 September 1986. It details the memories of readers Margaret Skene and John Gray. Margaret's grandfather was Alexander Innes, the figure in the middle. On the right is Bill Innes, a son of Alexander. They are said to have run the smiddy with the assistance of James Smith.
The article also explains that the image was originally a postcard. One of a series detailing the various trades active on the Dunecht estate of Lord Cowdray.
(Many thanks to David for getting in touch and providing additional information and making us aware of the newspaper article.) Gordon's College
2708 An Adelphi Series postcard (no. 437) showing the grounds of Robert Gordon's college in the early 20th century.
Originally a school for orphaned boys, it became Robert Gordon's College in the 1880s. This view is relatively rare as the College's courtyard is occupied by temporary buildings that were present for sometime in the 20th century.
This postcard was used by a Maude S. who lived at 4 Allan Street, Aberdeen to send a message to a Miss Ada Newnham in Cape Town, South Africa. Maude's message suggests it is the time of the First World War and briefly details her activities:
"I have been in training for munition work, & suspect to be called up any time now. I like the work very much. This is the college I trained at, but you can't see the building I was in, it is a bit to the side by the x". Note the "x" marked on the left of the postcard. The Henry Sisters
3006 A fantastic group portrait showing the Henry sisters in Highland dress.
The figure on the near left is most likely a youthful Jeannie Henry (1869-1931) who married Walford Bodie and performed on the stage as Princess Rubie. She appears to have been known as Kitty when she was younger.
It is difficult to say for certain but top and bottom right could be Isabella and Mary Walford Henry respectively.
This image comes from a family photograph album, originally owned by Annie "Nan" Henry, held by Aberdeen City Libraries. Street entertainer
3346 We believe this photograph shows a man historically known as Fool Friday entertaining a group of children and adults outside a house in Aberdeen. Fool Friday was a street vendor who sold ice cream in summer and hot chestnuts in winter. He may have also played a barrel piano as shown here.
Fool Friday was an often seen, distinctive character on the streets of Aberdeen. References to him in recorded oral history and newspapers suggest he sold his goods around the town centre, including at the Castlegate. He appears to have been around in the earlier years of the 20th century, between the two world wars. Little seems to be known, or recorded, about the life of this intriguing figure.
He is mentioned in an article of reminiscences by Arthur Bruce from the Leopard magazine of December 1986/January 1987. Bruce writes "I am reminded of another worthy who lived round the corner in Harriet Street, an Ice Cream Mannie, with a home and family. Of Italian origins he was known as 'Fool Friday' - nothing to do with being stupid, I may add, simply the local dialect for foul or dirty. Legend had it that the nickname was well deserved, but as a child I was never aware of his less than hygienic approach to the business of selling ice cream from a 'cairtie'. I have never solved the mystery of the 'Friday' part, although I should be delighted to hear from anyone who knows the answer."
It is possible that this photograph shows not Fool Friday, but someone else entirely. A letter in the Evening Express of 30th October 1979, looking back to this earlier time, describes a man known as Can-Tam who played a barrel organ in the streets. The letter writer suggests that Can-Tam's organ was smashed by a tram and subsequently replaced by the council.
A suggestion received through social media and subsequent further research indicates that this image may show Guiseppe, or Joseph, Bordone (1872-1957). He was an eating house keeper and an ice-cream and chestnuts vendor. A brief mention in the Evening Express newspaper of 15th March 1994, page 8, suggests that Bordone may have been known as Fool Friday, but this is uncertain.
This photograph was printed as a postcard and these were perhaps sold to the families visited by the entertainer. This postcard was lent to Aberdeen City Libraries by Bill Cheyne so that we could create and preserve a digital copy for public use. Pitglassie Group Portrait
3353 This photograph was one of three lent to Aberdeen City Libraries by Mr William Finney of Banchory so that we could create and preserve a digital copy for public use. These three photographs were kept by Mr Finney's family and he hopes to find out more about the people shown in them. If you can shed any light on these images please get in touch using the comment button on the left. Mr Finney was born in Turriff and the images likely relate to that area of Aberdeenshire.
This photograph by David Smith is a group portrait that appears to show five workers from the farm or area of Pitglassie in 1923. The image might have been taken at a local event or competition. This could well be a competitive ploughing team.
Pitglassie is an area with a number of farms located to the south of Turriff and north of the Kirktown of Auchterless. Ordnance Survey maps from the period show farms called Upper Pitglassie, Mid Pitglassie and North Pitglassie. There is also a Wood of Pitglassie and Crofts of Pitglassie.
The man in the middle of the lower row bears a resemblance to a figure from another of Mr Finney's images who is tentatively identified as a Fred Matthews. The man in the top left can be seen in the background of another of the three images. We do not have any knowledge about the other sitters.
Not a great deal is known about the photographer either. The card states David Smith is a "Photographic artist and picture frame maker" and that he is available for marriages and picnics. A search of old newspapers indicates there was a photographer called David Smith active in Inverurie in the 1910s. He appears to have lived in Souterford, a property that still stands today, though derelict, on the Oldmeldrum Road just after it crosses the River Urie, going out of the town. This may or may not be the David Smith who took this portrait. F. G. Main farm portrait
3354 A portrait by photographer F. G. Main of a young man and his horses at an Aberdeenshire farm. This was one of three photographs lent to Aberdeen City Libraries by Mr William Finney of Banchory so that we could create and preserve a digital copy for public use. These three photographs were kept by Mr Finney's family and he hopes to find out more about the people shown in them. If you can shed any light on these images please get in touch using the comment button on the left. Mr Finney was born in Turriff and the images likely relate to that area of Aberdeenshire.
Mr Finney believes the figure in the middle of this image may have been called Stephen Lorimer. This is uncertain however, as is any detail of the location shown. The image may relate to a local ploughing competition or event of this nature.
The figure in the background on the right of the image looks a lot like one of the five workers from Pitglassie shown in another of Mr Finney's images. This strongly suggests this image too is taken at, or connected to, the area and farms of Pitglassie in the Parish of Auchterless.
F. G. Main was an Aberdeen based photographer. Searches in old newspapers do not reveal a great deal about his career, however. As indicated on this card, he had premises in the New Market in Aberdeen town centre. Post office directories suggest this was numbers 39 and 40 in the gallery of the New Market.
Main also appears to have been active as the Electric Studio at 66 St. Nicholas Street. Additionally, searches indicate he operated studios at Aberdeen Sea Beach and at 47 Wellgate in Dundee. Richard D. Torrance in his Photographers in North-Eastern Scotland to 1914 (2001) has entries for both a F. G. Main and a Frank Main. These are likely one and the same photographer.
A newspaper notice for the birth of a son in 1914 indicates that F. G. Main lived at 245 Great Western Road at one time. We can find no obituary for the photographer. A cursory search of statutory records reveals that a Frank G. Main died in Aberdeen aged 65 in 1946. This may be the photographer in question. Ploughing portrait
3355 A photograph showing a young man working an Aberdeenshire field with a plough and two horses.
This photograph was one of three photographs lent to Aberdeen City Libraries by Mr William Finney of Banchory so that we could create and preserve a digital copy for public use. These three photographs were kept by Mr Finney's family and he hopes to find out more about the people shown in them. If you can shed any light on these images please get in touch using the comment button on the left. Mr Finney was born in Turriff and the images likely relate to that area of Aberdeenshire.
The man shown was tentatively idenitied by Mr Finney's father as a Fred Matthews. Though his identity is not known for certain. The location shown is also unknown for sure. The man resembles one of a group of workers from the Pitglassie area shown in another of Mr Finney's images.
This image likely dates from around the 1920s. It is possible that the portion of the card that has been removed at the bottom once gave details of the photographer.
Our current hypothesis is that Mr Finney's three images (that can be found on this site using the following image references: DO03_24, DO03_25 and DO03_26) all relate to involvement in competitive ploughing events, held around the 1920s, by inhabitants of the Pitglassie area in the Parish of Auchterless. Aberdeen Cinemas: News Cinema / Curzon / Cosmo 2
3427 An Aberdeen Journals Archive photograph of the Cosmo 2 at 15 Diamond Street in 1977.
The Cosmo 2 was on the site of Aberdeen's News Cinema that had opened 1936. In 1959 it had become the Curzon. In 1963 the Curzon was sold to Singleton Cinemas, a Glasgow based cinema operating firm that had been in the business since 1911.
The venue was renovated and re-opened on 22nd January 1964 as the Cosmo 2. The Cosmo 1 was the former King's cinema in Glasgow, owned by Singleton Cinemas, that is now the Glasgow Film Theatre. The inaugural film at the Cosmo 2 was the Italian film Il Posto directed by Ermanno Olmi.
The Cosmo 2 showed quality British and foreign films that might not have been shown at other cinemas. Michael Thomson likened this valuable role to that of the old La Scala long before. It could also be likened to the role of the Belmont in more recent times.
The Cosmo 2 sadly closed down in August 1977. The closure was credited to a dearth of attractive foreign language films coupled with the now tripled major circuit venues taking a wider range of pictures.
There was much discussion if the venue could be carried on by another party with the Scottish Film Council suggested as a possibility. The smallness of the cinema made this unfeasible however as a Scottish Film Council venue would need adequate meeting and social space.
There were subsequent plans to convert the premises into a restaurant though these came to nothing. The fate of the cinema was sealed in September 1981 when the next-door Palais, then operating as Satchmo's disco club, was destroyed by a serious fire and the site was left roofless. The corner block towards Union Street survives but the rest of the buildings were later demolished and are now the site of a car park.
[Information primarily sourced from Silver Screen in the Silver City (1988) by Michael Thomson]
Image © Aberdeen Journals Ltd. The Adamant Stone & Paving Company Ltd.
4189 This photograph shows a paving stone with a branding plaque for the Adamant Stone & Paving Company Ltd. The plaque is located in the pavement in front of 9 Forest Road.
An account of the history and operation of the Adamant Stone & Paving Company Ltd. is given in Aberdeen: The Official Handbook (1951), compiled by the Corporation of the City of Aberdeen, on page 175. Within the "Other Industries" section, under the title 'Precast Concrete', the account begins as follows:
"The Adamant Stone & Paving Company Ltd. was established in 1885 by a group of London engineers, to manufacture at Dancing Cairns, Bucksburn, paving flags made of crushed granite and Portland cement by a new hydraulic process."
The account, which provides much detail on the history and work of the company up to the time of writing, continues that the flags were an immediate success and were shipped across Britain and beyond. It states that the city of Aberdeen remained the company's most consistent customer.
This custom is reflected in the paving branding that can be seen in various places across Aberdeen. It can also be found in other places around Britain.
When pavement wear and damage is repaired these branding marks can become lost over time. Beyond this one on Forest Road, in Aberdeen, pavement branding can also be found on the following streets:
Queen Street - This branding, the more familiar brass lettering reading "Aberdeen Adamant", can be found in a pavement slab next to the south west corner of Greyfriars Church. Both words are written in straight lines.
George Street - Also "Aberdeen Adamant" brass lettering, both words in straight lines, located outside 101 George Street.
Hilton Terrace - Outside nos. 21-23. Silver coloured lettering "Aberdeen Adamant". "Aberdeen" is written in a curve above a straight "Adamant".
Hilton Road - Slightly down the road from nos. 54-56. Silver "Aberdeen Adamant". "Aberdeen" curved above straight "Adamant".
Company branding like that seen on Queen's Street and George Street can also be seen on Holburn Street. One could previously be found on a flag in the pavement just north of the junction with Strachan's Lane. This appears to have been removed sometime between 2010 and 2012 as part of street repairs. Though just to the south of the junction, outside 219 Holburn Street, an example of the brass branding remains in place.
The same branding, brass, straight lines, could also be found on Murray Terrace at the junction with Polmuir Road, north side of the pavement. Below the south elevation of 56 Polmuir Road. This disappeared between 2012 and 2014.
There was also a plaque, the same as the one on Forest Road, outside 29 Murray Terrace in recent times. This has was removed as part of repairs between 2009 and 2012.
A digital copy of this photograph was donated to Aberdeen City Libraries by Colin Johnston. The Adamant Stone & Paving Company Ltd.
4190 This photograph shows a paving stone with a branding plaque for the Adamant Stone & Paving Company Ltd. The plaque is located in the pavement in front of 9 Forest Road.
An account of the history and operation of the Adamant Stone & Paving Company Ltd. is given in Aberdeen: The Official Handbook (1951), compiled by the Corporation of the City of Aberdeen, on page 175. Within the "Other Industries" section, under the title 'Precast Concrete', the account begins as follows:
"The Adamant Stone & Paving Company Ltd. was established in 1885 by a group of London engineers, to manufacture at Dancing Cairns, Bucksburn, paving flags made of crushed granite and Portland cement by a new hydraulic process."
The account, which provides much detail on the history and work of the company up to the time of writing, continues that the flags were an immediate success and were shipped across Britain and beyond. It states that the city of Aberdeen remained the company's most consistent customer.
This custom is reflected in the paving branding that can be seen in various places across Aberdeen. It can also be found in other places around Britain.
When pavement wear and damage is repaired these branding marks can become lost over time. Beyond this one on Forest Road, in Aberdeen, pavement branding can also be found on the following streets:
Queen Street - This branding, the more familiar brass lettering reading "Aberdeen Adamant", can be found in a pavement slab next to the south west corner of Greyfriars Church. Both words are written in straight lines.
George Street - Also "Aberdeen Adamant" brass lettering, both words in straight lines, located outside 101 George Street.
Hilton Terrace - Outside nos. 21-23. Silver coloured lettering "Aberdeen Adamant". "Aberdeen" is written in a curve above a straight "Adamant".
Hilton Road - Slightly down the road from nos. 54-56. Silver "Aberdeen Adamant". "Aberdeen" curved above straight "Adamant".
Company branding like that seen on Queen's Street and George Street can also be seen on Holburn Street. One could previously be found on a flag in the pavement just north of the junction with Strachan's Lane. This appears to have been removed sometime between 2010 and 2012 as part of street repairs. Though just to the south of the junction, outside 219 Holburn Street, an example of the brass branding remains in place.
The same branding, brass, straight lines, could also be found on Murray Terrace at the junction with Polmuir Road, north side of the pavement. Below the south elevation of 56 Polmuir Road. This disappeared between 2012 and 2014.
There was also a plaque, the same as the one on Forest Road, outside 29 Murray Terrace in recent times. This has was removed as part of repairs between 2009 and 2012.
A digital copy of this photograph was donated to Aberdeen City Libraries by Colin Johnston. The Adamant Stone & Paving Company Ltd.
4191 This photograph shows a paving stone with a branding plaque for the Adamant Stone & Paving Company Ltd. This plaque was located in the pavement in front of 29 Murray Terrace. It was removed as part of street repairs sometime between 2009 and 2012.
An account of the history and operation of the Adamant Stone & Paving Company Ltd. is given in Aberdeen: The Official Handbook (1951), compiled by the Corporation of the City of Aberdeen, on page 175. Within the "Other Industries" section, under the title 'Precast Concrete', the account begins as follows:
"The Adamant Stone & Paving Company Ltd. was established in 1885 by a group of London engineers, to manufacture at Dancing Cairns, Bucksburn, paving flags made of crushed granite and Portland cement by a new hydraulic process."
The account, which provides much detail on the history and work of the company up to the time of writing, continues that the flags were an immediate success and were shipped across Britain and beyond. It states that the city of Aberdeen remained the company's most consistent customer.
This custom is reflected in the paving branding that can be seen in various places across Aberdeen. It can also be found in other places around Britain.
When pavement wear and damaged is repaired these branding marks can become lost over time, as is the case with this one. In Aberdeen, pavement branding can be found on the following streets:
Queen Street - This branding, the more familiar brass lettering reading "Aberdeen Adamant", can be found in a pavement slab next to the south west corner of Greyfriars Church. Both words are written in straight lines.
George Street - Also "Aberdeen Adamant" brass lettering, both words in straight lines, located outside 101 George Street.
Hilton Terrace - Outside nos. 21-23. Silver coloured lettering "Aberdeen Adamant". "Aberdeen" is written in a curve above a straight "Adamant".
Hilton Road - Slightly down the road from nos. 54-56. Silver "Aberdeen Adamant". "Aberdeen" curved above straight "Adamant".
Company branding like that seen on Queen's Street and George Street can also be seen on Holburn Street. One could previously be found on a flag in the pavement just north of the junction with Strachan's Lane. This appears to have been removed sometime between 2010 and 2012 as part of street repairs. Though just to the south of the junction, outside 219 Holburn Street, an example of the brass branding remains in place.
The same branding, brass, straight lines, could also be found on Murray Terrace at the junction with Polmuir Road, north side of the pavement. Below the south elevation of 56 Polmuir Road. This disappeared between 2012 and 2014.
A digital copy of this photograph was donated to Aberdeen City Libraries by Colin Johnston. Aberdeen Market 16 - Beauty Salon
4392 The subject of this Roddy Millar photograph is unit 10 in the Aberdeen Market building as occupied by the Beauty Salon.
This busy establishment was located in the eastern end of the building next to the main Market Street entrance (to the left of this image).
As indicated by the price list on the window, Beauty Salon offered an extensive array of nail treatments, alongside other cosmetic treatments such as eyebrow tinting and shaping. A large number of nail polishes and products can be seen within the premises.
A line of seats is available outside for those waiting for appointments.
At the edge of the photograph a small plaque with opening times for the Market building can be seen attached to the wall. This would have been for visitors as they entered from Market Street.
Photograph taken on 27/02/2019. Treasure 110: A Tribute to Marcus Kelly Milne, City Librarian 1938 - 1968
331 By the time he retired in April 1968, Marcus Milne had been with the Library Service for 47 years and 10 months. In the Evening Express of 1 May 1968 he talked about what the library meant to him:
"I shall always regard meeting people and being able to help them as perhaps the most satisfying feature of my work".
Milne started out as a junior assistant on 8 July 1920 and for a long time was the only male assistant. This meant he often doubled as Reading Room Attendant and Janitor, cleaning out the furnace on a Saturday afternoon for which he said "I carried out this task with great gusto and lots of dust". In 1928 he was appointed Senior Assistant and acted as interim City Librarian during G.M. Fraser's illness. Upon Fraser's death he was unanimously appointed City Librarian from 18 October 1938 at the age of 35. Under his direction, the library service in the city expanded enormously, with new branch libraries being opened across the city (some of these achievements have featured in previous treasures from our collections). Outside of the Library, Marcus Milne was very much known as 'Mr Aberdeen' because of his omnipresence in civic life, and in our Local Studies Collections we have a variety of material reflecting this.
Marcus Milne is shown on the left, speaking with Library staff. The photograph dates from September 1963.
Find out more about the achievements of this notable Aberdonian in our Treasures from our Collections interactive exhibition. |