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College Bounds, Old Aberdeen
74 This image from the Spital looks downhill (northwards) and shows College Bounds. The Powis Gate Towers, near the junction with University Road, can be seen in the distance.
Many thanks to correspondent A. G. Duthie for flagging up the image's previous inaccurate description. George Innes, Boot & Shoemaker
1965 A photograph of George Innes, Boot & Shoemaker with the proprietor standing in the doorway.
Correspondent Alan Duthie has identified the location of this photograph as on the Spital in Old Aberdeen. In the Aberdeen Post Office Directory for 1900-01 there is a entry for a bootmaker called George Innes with a shop at 49 Spital and a home address of 394 King Street.
Ordnance Survey maps from the period show buildings on in the area comparable to that in the photograph. 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 101-105 Union Street
2803 The Union Street entrance to the New Market, the Princess Café at 101. Telfer & Co. at 103 and A. C. Little & Sons, customiers and furriers, at 105 Union Street. Annie "Nan" Henry
2999 Annie "Nan" Henry (1880-1970) was one of the Henry sisters who worked with the magician Walford Bodie.
We hold a photograph album of hers at Aberdeen City Libraries. A handwritten inscription inside the front cover reads "To My Dear Sister 'Nurse Nan', From her loving Sis Loo, With Fondest Love." The inscription is dated 8 April 1912. "Loo" is Louisa Henry (1888-1912).
The album is a large volume, bound in dark green leather. The volume has seen damage over the years and now lacks some of this intriguing covering. Within floral endpapers is around 101 pages each containing approximately three photographs. The images are a mixture of postcards and photographic prints. Most appear to have been sent to Nan Henry while she was living in the Bodie family home in Macduff. Many have signed endearments on front and carry short messages on the reverse.
The life of variety performers was one of perpetual travel and many of the postcards are clearly missives sent back home. The majority of the images are studio portraits but there are also some outdoor scenes and views of home life in MacDuff. While it is difficult to establish exact information, the images look to date primarily from the 1910s with some perhaps reaching into the following two decades. As the album progresses we see new people, uniformed individuals clearly off to World War I and children who are likely to be the next generation of the family. 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. Scotstown House
4374 A postcard image looking north east towards the portico of Scotstown House. This substantial mansion stood in what is now East Woodcroft in Bridge of Don.
The house is described by David G. Miller in his book Archibald Simpson, Architect: His Life and Times 1790-1847 (2006) on pages 101-102. Miller states that the mansion was designed and erected by Archibald Simpson for the Moirs of Scotstown and Spital, the local landowners, in around the 1820s.
Simpson is also credited with its design in his obituary in The Builder magazine (8th May 1847, vol. 5, no. 222).
Miller states that the mansion was "abandoned by the Moirs and lay derelict for many years before finally being demolished in the 1930s." (Page 102).
Newspaper mentions indicate the property was in disrepair and due for demolition in the 1930s (see Press & Journal, 6th October 1933, page 3), but sources, including Aberdeen City Council's Historic Environment Record, indicate that at least part of the building stood as a ruin until full demolition in the 1980s. Rubble was subsequently removed from the location in 1999. Some garden walls remain in situ.
As indicated in the top right, this postcard was published by a person or company abbreviated to "D. F. McK." This postcard likely dates from the early 20th century. Scotstown House
4375 A postcard image looking north towards the southern elevation of Scotstown House. This substantial mansion stood in what is now East Woodcroft in Bridge of Don.
The house is described by David G. Miller in his book Archibald Simpson, Architect: His Life and Times 1790-1847 (2006) on pages 101-102. Miller states that the mansion was designed and erected by Archibald Simpson for the Moirs of Scotstown and Spital, the local landowners, in around the 1820s.
Simpson is also credited with its design in his obituary in The Builder magazine (8th May 1847, vol. 5, no. 222).
Miller states that the mansion was "abandoned by the Moirs and lay derelict for many years before finally being demolished in the 1930s." (Page 102).
Newspaper mentions indicate the property was in disrepair and due for demolition in the 1930s (see Press & Journal, 6th October 1933, page 3), but sources, including Aberdeen City Council's Historic Environment Record, indicate it stood as a ruin until full demolition in the 1980s. Rubble was subsequently removed from the location in 1999. Some garden walls remain in situ.
As indicated in the bottom left, this postcard was published by a person or company abbreviated to "D. F. McK." This postcard likely dates from the early 20th century.
The rear of the postcard features a 1909 date stamp, green half penny Edward VII postage stamp, and was sent by a "J. C. W." to a Miss M. McKenzie of 37 Summerfield Terrace, Aberdeen. Sportsrevue
258 A poster for a physical exercise and bodybuilding event organised by the Spartan Physical Culture Club. The event, entitled Sportsrevue, took place in the Music Hall on 18th November 1955. Featured acts included Reg Park, billed as "World's Best Developed Man", and a Miss Scotland Physique Contest. The address of the Spartan Club is given as 143 Spital. The poster is courtesy of The Liverpool & London & Globe Insurance Company and their local office is given as 201 Union Street. Treasure 101: Advice to Women
322 In recognition of International Women's Day (March 8th), we offer a selection of books for this month's treasure which highlight the role of women in society, and how attitudes and approaches have changed over time. One of our Treasures this month includes a work entitled "The Five Talents of Woman" in which the author (a male) proposes the five main talents as:
- Pleasing people
- Feeding them in dainty ways
- Clothing them
- Keeping them orderly
- Teaching them
With the exception of the final "talent", the author proposes a rather limited view of a woman's capabilities! However, this is from the same author who writes that "Shakespeare's mother could not have written Hamlet, but she - perhaps she alone - could and did produce Shakespeare".
Offered as a contrasting view for our Treasures, is another work: "Pearls for Young Ladies", in which the author (female) rightly comments that "we scarcely ever, in our study of education, ask this most essential of all questions about a man - What patience had his mother or sister with him?" Regardless of the viewpoints proposed, the truth remains that even at the close of the Victorian period, one key symbol of equality - that of the parliamentary franchise - was still denied to women. All later developments towards equality - including the Suffragette movement, and the right to vote - can trace their origins to the early Victorian writers who began to propose, argue and question how society should treat women. While it may be claimed that these writers did very little to progress the situation, it can also be proposed that the conversation they started is one that remains with us today.
Find out more about Victorian attitudes towards women in the Treasures from our Collections interactive exhibition on the touchscreen. Treasure 120: Walford Bodie
343 In the late-Victorian and Edwardian periods, at the height of music hall variety, Dr Walford Bodie M.D. was one of the most famous and highly paid entertainers in Britain. He remains an enigmatic and charismatic figure in the history of the North East. Born Samuel Murphy Bodie at 33 George Street, Aberdeen on 11 June 1869, he went on to become a leading showman, hypnotist, ventriloquist, controversial 'bloodless surgeon', and was billed variously as The Electric Wizard, The Modern Miracle Worker of the North, and The Most Remarkable Man on Earth.
Our treasure is a photograph album held by Aberdeen City Libraries that offers an insight into the life and times of Bodie and his amazing family. Walford Bodie was for much of his career the headline performer of an extended and shifting company of artists. Members of his family, and in particular those of his wife, often played important roles in the Bodie Show. In 1890 Bodie married Jeannie Henry (1869-1931), who performed with Walford as an illusionist and mind-reader called Princess Rubie, until her retirement in 1930. Jeannie and 3 of her sisters went on to play important parts in the Bodie show. One of her sisters was Annie "Nan" Henry (1880-1970) and it is her album that we now hold in the library.
The album is a large volume, bound in dark green leather. Within floral endpapers there are around 101 pages each containing approximately 3 photographs. The images are a mixture of postcards and photographic prints. Most appear to have been sent to Nan Henry while she was living in the Bodie family home in Macduff. Many have signed endearments on the front and carry short messages on the reverse.
To learn more about this unique character, have a browse in the Treasures from our Collections interactive exhibition. Mounthooly
435 This image was digitised from Artistic Aberdeen: A Sketch Book (1932) by W. S. Percy.
The book describes the scene as follows:
"Mounthooly. This curiously-named street on the left runs only a few hundred yards from its junction with Causewayend-a name that would be more appropriate fifty years ago-and Gallowgatehead when it becomes known as King's Crescent and, a little further on, the Spital. It is part of the hilly and winding but direct route between the new city of Aberdeen and the old town, or Aulton. The name Mounthooly, although not unique, is not very common in Scotland. It has been conjectured that it means the Holy Mount, a hill on which in ancient times a chapel stood." Spital Brae
439 This image was digitised from Artistic Aberdeen: A Sketch Book (1932) by W. S. Percy.
The book describes the scene as follows:
"Spital Brae, looking from its crossing at Froghall Terrace and Merkland Road towards the centre with Mitchell Tower, which crowns Marischal College, in the distance. Civically and academically this is a storied highway. Generations of students have trod this way between King's College in the Aulton and Marischal College in Broad Street, but colour has gone with the falling into desuetude of the students' scarlet gowns. The name Spital indicates that a hospital founded by Bishop Matthew of Kininmond was erected here in the later years of the twelfth century." |