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John W. Whyte's shop, Bridge Street, Ellon
205 A Valentines Series postcard showing John W. Whyte's shop on Bridge Street in Ellon. The windows advertise Cadbury's and Fry's chocolate. Mill of Udny
208 This postcard image, looking west, shows the Mill of Udny, located not far to the south east of Pitmedden, next to the Bronie Burn. This photograph likely dates from the early 20th century.
The large building shown here, which old OS maps indicate was a corn mill, is still there at the time of writing in 2022. As is the bridge over the Bronie Burn, though its walls appear to have been lowered.
The Mill of Udny is located on a small road, running east to west, between Housieside and Udny Green. The original buildings have been added to and it is now the site of the Mill Business Centre. Aberdeenshire: Donside and Strathbogie, an Illustrated Architectural Guide (2006) by Ian Shepherd indicates that this conversion took place in 1991.
A waterwheel can be seen on the southern side of the mill in this image. Early 20th century OS maps indicate this was powered by a lade, diverted from the Bronie Burn, that ran through the field to the west. A mill dam was once located to the south west across the field.
This image features in the book Old Udny, Tarves and Methlick (2007) by Donna M. Donald. In accompanying information the author states that in 1800 the mill was one of ten working in the Udny area. Donald also states that the mill was built in the middle of the 18th century, "by a forward-thinking laird", and remained in operation until the 1920s. Victoria Dock
212 An Adelphi Series postcard looking north west along Victoria Dock in Aberdeen Harbour. A steam paddle tug is towing a steamship in the foreground. Gala and Heather Day in the Duthie Park
395 This Adelphi Series postcard shows the Gala Day taking place in Duthie Park on 21st August 1915.
The Gala in Duthie Park and the accompanying Heather Day were both organised to raise funds for the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
The Gala Day is one of largest events ever to take place at the park. It was estimated that between 25,000 and 26,000 people attended. Tickets cost 6 pence (6d) for general admission and 2s 6d for carriages or motor cars.
Within the park there was an elaborate programme of entertainment and refreshments organised. Details of the programme were published in a 32 page booklet prior to the event. Upwards of 1,300 people took part in the programme.
Gates to the park opened at 3pm and the event officially commence at 3pm with a grand military parade. Lieut-Colonel A. H. Leith of Glenkindie, Garrison Commander, and Lord Provost James Taggart "took the salute" opposite the Hygiea statue.
The Gala and Heather Day were organised by a distinct committee; Taggart was its president and Alexander Findlay, Superintendent of Cleansing, was its chairman. Councillor H. J. Gray was the secretary and treasurer and Mr John Lints was his assistant. There were also conveners and secretaries for various sub-committees concerned with aspects like entertainment and refreshments.
There was a wide range of entertainment organised for within the park including singing, dancing, gymnastic displays, musical drill, motor cycle gymkhana and bayonet fighting. Various platforms saw performances from acts such as a company lead by D. M. Kinghorn, pierrots directed by Minnie Mearns, Dan Williams, and W. A. Craig's operatic choir. Charles Soutar lead a 500 strong choir of children from the city's public schools.
Practically all naval and military units present in the city were represented at the event and individuals from many of them took part in the sporting competitions. The day also included a 5-a-side football and tug of war competition. Preliminary matches for these took place prior to the day at Pittodrie Park.
The Gala Day was filmed and this was later shown as part of a special programme at the Picture House on Union Street from the 25th of the month.
Over £500 was taken at the gates for the event. Entertainment and refreshments within further increased the figure raised.
Heather Day itself generated another £474. This involved over 1,500 vendors going around all parts of the city selling sprigs of the plant. The sale started on the afternoon of the Friday and continued all through Saturday. Entertainment venues throughout the city were also visited.
The vendors were primarily young women and members of organisations like the boys brigade. Stores present in all areas of the city were replenished from a central depot at 173a Union Street. This in turn was supplied by the cleansing department buildings in Poynernook Road, where the preceding week had seen 200,000 sprigs prepared for sale. Peterhead, Inverurie, Ellon and Banchory organised their own Heather Days for the same fund.
The sum taken from both the Gala and the Heather Day was estimated at considerably over £1,000.
See the report in the Aberdeen Journal, Monday 23rd August 1915 page 8, for further details about the occasion. Aberdeen Beach with the Beach Baths
404 An Adelphi Series postcard showing Aberdeen Beach with the Beach Baths building on the right.
Also known as the Beach Bathing Station, its fresh water pool was where generations of Aberdonians learnt to swim.
The Bathing Station was designed by City Architect John Rust and opened on 13 July 1898.
Its distinctive red brick chimney dominated the beach skyline.
The Bathing Station was eventually filled in and demolished, the door having finally closed to the public on the 11th July 1972. Aberdeen Grammar School
407 A Valentine Series postcard image showing the Skene Street entrance to the Aberdeen Grammar School.
This building, sited on the edge of the Denburn, was designed by architect James Matthews and built 1861-63. It is thought the school's illuminated clock tower, popularly known at one time as "the Grammar moon", was added later.
In 1986, a significant fire destroyed much the interior, including the library, and damaged the exterior. Major remodelling was undertaken following the fire. 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.) Oldmill Military Hospital. A pipe band parades in front of the main buildings. c.1918.
1737 Oldmill Military Hospital was opened on 15th May 1907. The total cost of the structure, including the purchase of the Old Mill, was £130,000. During the First World War, the Old Mill was used as a military hospital and was re-opened as Woodend Hospital in October 1927. A pipe band parades in front of the main buildings. c.1918 Lord Roberts
2195 An Adelphi Series postcard showing Lord Roberts alighting from a horse-drawn carriage, with a procession down Union Street, and arriving at the Music Hall to receive the Freedom of the City. 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. The Harbour, Aberdeen
2266 An Adelphi Series postcard showing Aberdeen Harbour in the early 20th century.
This photograph features in the book Coastal Passenger Liners of the British Isles (2011) by Nick Robins. It is captioned as follows:
"City of Aberdeen (1873) leaving her home port behind the tug John McConnachie (1879). The North company's St Sunniva (1887) is alongside centre left."
The Scottish Built Ships website indicates that the City of Aberdeen was an iron screw streamer built in 1873 by Cunliffe & Dunlop of Port Glasgow. The ship's first owner was the Aberdeen Steam Navigation Co. and it was used to transport passengers and cargo.
The ship was sold to a Greek firm of shipowners and renamed the Salamis in 1906. Its sale and overhaul was reported in the Aberdeen Daily Journal of 15th October 1906, page 4. The General Post Office
2286 An Adelphi Series postcard showing the General Post Office, Crown Street, opened in 1907, with designers W. T. Oldrieve and J. Cumming Wyness. Union Street Looking East
2312 An Adelphi Series postcard looking east down Union Street. Trams for Rosemount and Queen's Cross can be seen in the centre of the image.
The premises of Knowles & Son, fruit growers and importers, can be seen on the right at 77 Union Street. They moved into this shop, previously occupied by booksellers Messers Brown & Co. in 1893.
A sign for Sangster & Henderson's Warehouse is visible high up on the side of a building in the background and the 2nd statue of Queen Victoria is visible in its original location at the junction with St Nicholas Street.
The postcard is number 148 from the Adelphi Real Photographic Series. Rubislaw Quarries, Aberdeen
2414 An Adelphi Series postcard showing the rock-face of Rubislaw Quarry and some of the machinery employed in excavating the granite. Duthie Park
2471 A postcard showing a lake in Duthie Park. Swan swim on the lake and the McGrigor obelisk is visible in the background. The hand-coloured postcard is from the Milton Series by the Woodstone Bros company. Children's Boating Pond
2472 A Caledonia Series postcard showing the boating pond in Duthie Park. It is a busy day and many families and prams are alongside the lake. Yachting Pond, Duthie Park
2474 A Belmont Series postcard showing the yachting, or boating, pond in Duthie Park. The scene depicts people people of all ages going for a stroll and sailing miniature ships. In the Duthie Park
2475 An Adelphi Series postcard showing two men sitting on a bench in Duthie Park near some large trees. Duthie Park
2476 A photograph from an Adelphi Series postcard showing a southern portion of Duthie Park.
The image looks east across the park's old Lower Lake towards Arthurseat House.
This lake was expanded, and made more rectangular, in the 1920s. This was undertaken to provide improved facilities for the sailing of model yachts and for skating and curling in winter. From the time of the park's creation, this earlier lake contained two spray fountains at either end. The more easterly of these is shown here.
Arthurseat House dates from before the creation of the park, when the land was owned by Arthur Dingwall Fordyce. The house remained, primarily as a museum, until it was demolished in 1934.
For a detailed account of the park, its history and creation, see the article 'Miss Duthie's Gift: History and Description of the Park' in the Aberdeen Journal of 26th September 1883 (published the day before the park's official opening) and the park's entry in Historic Environment Scotland's Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes - reference number GDL00166.
Also shown in this picture is the park's main rockery, described in the Aberdeen Journal article as follows:
"A most picturesque rockery has been built upon the brow of the rising ground to the west of Arthurseat House, and immediately above the pond we have just been describing. It is very extensive, being upwards of 100 feet in length and 66 feet broad at the widest part, and is composed of different kinds of peculiar stones, broken into all manner of fantastic fragments, which are set-up on end in groups and cone-like eminences. A footway winds through it from end to end; and as the spaces between the stones are occupied by Alpine plants and flowers of various kinds, the whole as viewed from the low ground in front presents a most charming appearance."
Dee At Culter (Looking West)
2507 A postcard from the Rob Roy series showing the River Dee at Culter. Winter Scene on the Feugh
2543 A J. Greig's series postcard showing a snowy Feugh with a man standing on a foot bridge. |