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Bon Accord Crescent
135 Isometrical view of Bon Accord Crescent - This perspective drawing shows the gently curving terrace of 19 identical two-storey houses, with basement and attic, designed by Archibald Simpson in the 1820s for the Corporation of Tailors. In 1823, the "Aberdeen Journal" carried an advertisement for building areas to feu. The houses were to be laid out on what had previously been garden ground and the advert boasts "No situation, immediately in the vicinity of Aberdeen, possesses so completely the advantages of free air and fine exposure". The properties overlook the hollow once occupied by the Howe Burn and the area has now been converted into landscaped parkland as part of a conservation area. Houses 3-17 have a curved frontage, while numbers 1 and 2, and 18 and 19 have straight frontages. However, even by the 1950s, most of the houses were being, and still are, used as offices. 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. H. Company, 7th Gordon Highlanders
281 H. Company, 7th Gordon Highlanders leaving Culter for War Service. August 6th 1914 Suburban tram in Bankhead Road
1134 This is tram 2 of the Aberdeen Suburban Tramways Company, which operated two routes from Mannofield to Bieldside and Woodside to Bankhead from 1904 to 1927. Car 2 was one of the four closed top double deckers in the first six ordered (cars 1 and 5 were open top) and is here photographed at the terminus at Bankhead.
(Many thanks to Dr Mike Mitchell for this information.) Treasure 1: Aberdeen Public Library staff photograph of 1892
2271 What a fabulous photograph of the Central Library staff from when the building opened in 1892. We get a feel for the ladies dress at the time and during our 120 celebrations in 2012 mannequins wore paper costumes replicating the Victorian style.
There were 15 staff then - the Librarian, Sub-Librarian, 9 Assistants, a Reading Room Keeper, a Janitor and 2 staff in the Binding Department but not everyone is in the photograph. The Librarian is definitely missing but we will meet him later.
We have a list of staff names and one in particular was remembered for her helpfulness, courtesy and compilation of the Local Studies catalogue. Miss Emma Valentine joined the service in 1890 as an Assistant and progressed to Assistant in Charge of the Reference Department. Sadly she died young in 1915 and is believed to haunt the building today.
Who do you think Miss Valentine is in the photograph? Stop 1: Marion Douglas, Lady Drum (1577-1633) and Katherine Forbes, Lady Rothiemay (1583-1652), The Town House
2300 On the ground floor of the Town House on each side of the walls hang the mortification boards. These boards form a public record of the mortifications or legacies given by wealthy citizens to Aberdeen Town Council for various charitable purposes. Many of the donors are women and two are of particular interest - Lady Drum and Lady Rothiemay. They were early philanthropists, aware of older women and girls living in circumstances locally much less favourable than themselves.
Lady Drum left money to provide a home for poor widows and aged virgins. This home known as "Lady Drum's Hospital" was built c1677 in what became known as Drum's Lane, just off Upperkirkgate and today a plaque marks its site. Lady Rothiemay had a turbulent life. Her husband and son were killed in a feud with a neighbouring family and she attempted to avenge their deaths. She was imprisoned in Edinburgh. Once released she lived in Aberdeen and founded Lady Rothiemay's School for Girls, in which she took a personal interest. The school moved several times, from Guestrow finally to Littlejohn Street. It was closed in 1873 when School Boards were set up to oversee primary education for the under twelves, following the Education Act of 1872
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 Stop 7: Miss Bella Walker (1887-1962) and Miss Elsie Moffat (1894-1985) St Katherine's club, West North Street, (now Lemon Tree building)
2306 The next stop is the building now known as the Lemon Tree but this was built especially for St Katherine's Club as is still known affectionately by the older generation as St Kay's.
St Katherine's Club was originally set up in October 1917 for working class girls to have a comfortable meeting place away from the crowded and dismal conditions of their homes during WW1. Held in two rooms in a tenement in the Shiprow, the club was founded by Miss Bella Walker and Miss Elsie Moffat and they provided an environment which was at once domestic, educational and recreational. There were classes in home craft, art and craft, drama and literature, and physical education. The club grew to a membership of over 500 until it moved to the purpose-built YWCA building at 5 West North Street in 1937. It continued to grow and evolved as the needs arose. In the 1960s there was a greater awareness of adolescent, social and personal issues and the 'Open Club' was set up. In 1990 with the money from the sale of the building, the St Katherine's Trust was established and has met twice yearly to make financial donations to local organisations and groups.
Aberdeen Women's Centre, Shoe Lane (1989-2006)
In the former Caretaker's flat of the St Katherine's Club, Aberdeen Women's Centre offered a women-only space for women's groups and classes to meet. With urban aid funding came staff which included the city's first Minority Ethnic Development Worker for women.
Memories:
Memories of the St Katherine's Club 1
Memories of the St Katherine's Club 2 Stop 12: Isabella Burgess (1930-1933), Lord Provost Margaret Farquhar CBE (1996-1999) and Margaret Smith Council Leader (1996-1999)
2311 Our final stop is back at the Town House, Broad Street, Aberdeen, where in 1930 Isabella Burgess was the first woman to be elected onto Aberdeen City Council. Miss Burgess was an Independent and represented the Gilcomston Ward until 1933, when she retired owing to ill health. She had spent her working life in the teaching profession and was the first Secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland for the Aberdeen branch.
After nearly 800 years Aberdeen got its first woman Lord Provost when Margaret Farquhar CBE was elected in 1996 after having served as a councillor in the Northfield ward for 25 years.
The first woman ever to become the leader of Aberdeen City Council was Margaret Smith who was elected in 1996 and served until 1999 when she then went on to become Lord Provost until 2002.
Memories:
Margaret Farquhar speaking about her career in politics
Margaret Smith discusses her career in politics Diamond Wedding (2 of 2)
2515 A group portrait at the Diamond Wedding celebrations of Mr. and Mrs. William Symon. William Symon was from Portsoy and Elspeth Geddes was from Fochabers. They were married in Fochabers on 26th February 1859 by Rev. Robert Cushnie. The celebrations took place in Turriff on 26th February 1919 and were ministered by Rev. Duncan MacLaren.
Many of the figures in the photograph are wearing military uniforms, which suggests they fought in the world war that ended the previous year.
The photograph was taken by the Milne Photographic Studio of Turriff. It was based at 45 High Street and was likely started by a James Milne who ran a clothes shop at the same address.
These two photographs were donated to the library by a descendant of the family. 150 Union Street and Diamond Street
2847 Pat Grant, hairdresser, at 150-150 and a half and Royal Exchange Assurance at 150 Union Street in 1937. The premises of Francis J. Scott & Gilchrist, solicitors, at 1 Diamond Street can be seen above.
The street on the left of the image is Diamond Street. In the distance can be seen The Palais De Danse and the News Cinema at 13 & 15 Diamond Street. OTHER FACTS
2895 1. Bonnie Prince Charlie was half Polish. His mother was Maria Klementyna Sobieska.
2. Marie Curie was from Poland. She discovered the two elements - radium and polonium. These elements are used in treatment for Cancer. Curie is the ambassador for the 'Marie Curie Foundation' which provides aid for cancer patients.
3. A memorial for Jan Karski can be found in the Aberdeen University. Jan was a famous WW2 resistance hero.
4. Frederic Chopin (famous music composer) visited Scotland in 1849 and his short holiday in Edinburgh is marked by a plaque on the wall of a house in Warriston Crescent
5. Polish war veteran graves and memorials can be found all over Scotland
6. There was a Polish Medical School in Edinburgh University in February 1941; which trained soldiers to become doctors
7. Queen Mary's House in St. Andrews is made from timber from Gdansk
The image on the left is a portrait of Prince Charles Edward Stuart by Louis Gabriel Blanchet, oil on canvas, 1738 (NPG 5517) © National Portrait Gallery, London. It is used here with their Creative Commons image licence (CC BY-NC-ND). The image is available to view on the National Portrait Gallery website here. Aberdeen Cinemas: Regal / ABC / Cannon
3400 An Aberdeen Journals Archive photograph of the interior of the ABC Cinema on Shiprow and Union Street in 1976. This was shortly after the "tripling" of the cinema which was completed on 8th July 1974. This was the process of dividing the cinema's original, single large auditorium into three distinct screening rooms. This allowed cinemas to show a greater variety of films and to cater to smaller audience numbers. The Odeon on Justice Mill Lane had been the first cinema in Aberdeen to be tripled, reopening as such on 8th April 1974.
This photograph shows ABC 1, the largest screen, that sat 566 people. Silver Screen in the Silver City (1988) explains that the largest screen (cinema one) would mainly show first runs. The smaller screens (cinemas two and three) would be used for less commercial attractions or the retention of popular features already shown in the main screen. This is the format of cinema exhibition that is most common today but marked a significant change from the tradition of single large auditoriums.
The tripling of major circuit cinemas like the ABC and Odeon had a knock-on effect on the viability of cinemas such as The Cosmo on Diamond Street. These smaller cinemas had previously been a home for the less commercial features that the larger venues were now taking on.
In 1986 the ABC Cinemas chain became part of the American-based Cannon company, which already had extensive cinema interests in the UK. The vertical ABC sign above the Union Street entrance gave way to the Cannon logo in June 1987.
Some highlights of the cinema's time as the Cannon included hugely popular runs of E.T., the Tim Burton Batman, and Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. The cinema's name reverted to the ABC for a period before closing for the final time in early 1998.
Aberdeen and cinema-going was shortly to experience a period of expansion. In August 1999 Aberdeen company Craiglair Properties got the go-ahead to demolish the abandoned ABC and build a new seven screen cinema on the site. The cinema was called The Lighthouse and opened in April 2001. Since 2004 it has operated as The Vue Aberdeen.
[Information primarily sourced from Silver Screen in the Silver City (1988) by Michael Thomson]
Image © Aberdeen Journals Ltd. Aberdeen Cinemas: News Cinema / Curzon / Cosmo 2
3426 An Aberdeen Journals Archive photograph of the Cosmo 2 cinema at 15 Diamond Street in January 1976.
This site was first used as a picture hall by the News Cinema which opened on Saturday 5th September 1936. This was only the second cinema of its type to open in Scotland. Michael Thomson explains that news cinemas aimed to entertain those with only limited time, with programmes lasting approximately an hour made up of comedy and local interest shorts, newsreels and cartoons. They were ideal for travellers waiting for connections or those passing time before appointments.
The News Cinema in Aberdeen was owned by Ernest Bromberg and was located next door to the Palais on Diamond Street. The cinema was converted from a former stable building that Bromberg had owned since 1931. Thomson states that "the acoustics and the RCA talkie system were excellent, and all in all the little cinema more than made up in comfort and quality for what it lacked in size."
The News Cinema made its own local newsreels that documented happenings in the town. In October 1941 one of these captured footage of the tragic fire that destroyed the upper section of the Palace Hotel and killed 6 people. Major national events such as coronations and the second world war were also heavily represented in the News Cinema's programme.
On 4th April 1955 the cinema was rebranded by Bromberg as the Newcine Continental and specialised in showing films from Europe, which were then growing in popularity. During the next year the cinema shifted back to news programmes and reverted to its original name on 3rd December 1956.
The current events function of news cinemas was increasingly superseded by the growth and availability of TV news reporting. In May 1959 the cinema changed its name to the Curzon and returned to showing continental films, including the more risqué variety which were popular at the time.
[Information primarily sourced from Silver Screen in the Silver City (1988) by Michael Thomson]
Image © Aberdeen Journals Ltd. 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 Foundry
4409 A photograph of The Foundry pub and restaurant at 41-43 Holburn Street taken on 21st March 2024.
43 Holburn Street, today The Foundry, was built in around 1915/16 as a motor showroom and workshop for Mr. John Harper, engineer of Bournemouth, to a design by architect George B. Mitchell (Aberdeen Daily Journal, 20th September 1915, p. 4).
In November 1916, during the First World War, the Harper Motor Company put their new garage, at the junction of Holburn Street and Justice Mill Lane, at the disposal of the Red Cross. The commodious building, ideal for transport work, became the headquarters of the Aberdeen Transport Section of the Red Cross Society (Evening Express, 21st November 1916, p. 5).
43 Holburn Street was occupied and in use by the Harper Motor Company until at least 1979. In 1986, George Dowdles, who had ran a roller skating rink called Rollerland Disco in Bon-Accord Terrace, proposed to turn the premises into a leisure centre for teenagers (Press & Journal, 19th June 1986, p. 3).
The new venture at 43 Holburn Street was to be a soda and burger café modelled on the TV show Happy Days and called Up The Junction. It opened in October 1986 (P&J, 10th October 1986, p. 3).
Up The Junction appears to have struggled financially and 43 Holburn Street was remodelled and opened as Rollerland Mark II in August 1987 (EE, 22nd February 1988, p. 8). The original Rollerland skating rink had been on the second floor of 5 Bon-Accord Terrace and operated from 26th June 1981 to mid-1986.
Rollerland on Holburn Street was briefly owned by Cove Rangers football club and was temporarily renamed Wheels Leisure Centre. George Dowdles remained its manager (P&J, 1st April 1989, p. 1). The venue was reopened as Rollerland under the ownership of Aberdeen District Council in July 1989. DJs Robin Galloway and Gary Stein provided music for a reopening gala night (EE, 27th July 1989, p. 5).
Rollerland finally closed in February 1991 on safety grounds. Water leaks had warped the floor making it unsafe for skating. The venue had struggled financially and the estimated cost of repair was too large (P&J, 18th September 1991, p. 3). In June 1995, there was a significant fire in the building (EE, 19 June 1995, p. 2).
In September 1995, the company Alloa Pubs and Restaurants, who had leased the building from the District Council, unveiled plans for a £500,000 transformation of the run-down property. It was to be turned into a prestige bar-diner called The Granary, with a lay-out based on the company's Glasgow venue of the same name (EE, 16th September 1995, p. 7).
With a final redevelopment cost of £600,000, The Granary opened to the public on 6th February 1996 (P&J, 7th February 1996, p. 11).
A search of Aberdeen City valuation rolls indicates that by April 2005 The Granary had changed its name to The Foundry. At the time, The Foundry was operated by Mitchell & Butlers, one of the largest restaurant and pub businesses in the UK.
Mitchell & Butlers own the O'Neill's chain of Irish pubs, the first branch of which opened at 9-10 Back Wynd, Aberdeen on 22nd September 1994. This was formerly the premises of the Tappit Hen pub (P&J, 16th September 1994, p. 3).
In 2010, Mitchell & Butlers disposed of 333 of their town and community pubs to the Stonegate Pub Company. This likely included The Foundry ('Our history' page on Mitchell & Butlers website: https://www.mbplc.com/about-us/our-history/: accessed 22/03/2024).
In November 2023, The Foundry reopened to the public following a brief closure for a significant redevelopment. Backed by a £277,000 investment from the Stonegate Group, the UK's largest pub company, the work aimed to shift the venue from a sports-focused pub to a more family-friendly food destination. The exterior design changed from a black and gold colour scheme to the red and gold of Aberdeen Football Club (Aberdeen Business News, 23rd November 2023, https://aberdeenbusinessnews.co.uk/the-foundry-unveils-stylish-transformation-after-major-investment/: accessed 22/03/2024).
Bon Accord Crescent
23 Isometrical view of Bon Accord Crescent - This perspective drawing shows the gently curving terrace of 19 identical two-storey houses, with basement and attic, designed by Archibald Simpson in the 1820s for the Corporation of Tailors. In 1823, the "Aberdeen Journal" carried an advertisement for building areas to feu. The houses were to be laid out on what had previously been garden ground and the advert boasts "No situation, immediately in the vicinity of Aberdeen, possesses so completely the advantages of free air and fine exposure". The properties overlook the hollow once occupied by the Howe Burn and the area has now been converted into landscaped parkland as part of a conservation area. Houses 3-17 have a curved frontage, while numbers 1 and 2, and 18 and 19 have straight frontages. However, even by the 1950s, most of the houses were being, and still are, used as offices.
Treasure 117: Estate Sale Catalogues
340 On display is a collection of local estate sale catalogues. During the 20th century many large estates were sold and the pattern of land ownership in Scotland changed. The division of estates at the time of sale lead to an increase in the ownership of smaller areas. Economic depressions and increased taxation were among the reasons behind the break up and sale of estates, particularly the imposition of death duties, also known as inheritance tax.
The catalogues typically include the following information:
1) The location of the estate and area that it covered in acres
2) The details of the sale of the estate
3) A description of all the properties and other assets on the estate
4) Descriptions of sporting activities usually shooting and fishing taking place on the estate which could be rented out
5) A list of individual properties on the estate; the current tenants and the rents that were paid
6) A list of burdens - these were often financial responsibilities shouldered by the owner of an estate that were transferred to the buyer at the time of sale
7) Photographs of properties and sometimes individual rooms within the main country house on the estate
8) Maps of the estate showing the lots if the estate was to be sold in parts
These catalogues provide a fascinating resource for anyone interested in family or local history as they provide detailed information about individual estates and the people that lived and worked on them.
Learn more about these fascinating documents - including the catalogue relating to the mysterious Slains Castle - in the Treasures from our Collections interactive exhibition on the touchscreen. Glen Cinema Poster
407 A poster for the Glen Cinema in Culter advertising showings of Home at Seven (1952), Bride of the Gorilla (1951), Call of the Jungle (1944) and Prison Mutiny (1943).
The Glen Cinemas company showed films in various venues throughout the North East of Scotland during the 1930s to early 60s. One of these venues was Culter Community Centre.
Glen Cinemas was founded in 1936 by a local man called Arthur M. Burns. The company folded in 1961. Cinema equipment from the Culter Glen Cinema remained in the community centre for around 21 years before being sold by Burns to the London based collector Ronald Grant.
Grant was born in Banchory and worked as a projectionist in the Playhouse, Majestic and Kingsway cinemas in Aberdeen. He was also the assistant general manager of the Cosmo 2 in Diamond Street, before moving to the British Film Institute in London in 1967. The Ronald Grant Archive of Film and Cinematic Memorabilia remains active today.
Glen Cinemas also operated in the Shepherd's Hall in Bucksburn (also known as the Argosy Ballroom).
See the Aberdeen Press & Journal article 'Culter "upset" over cinema history loss' from 14th September 1982, page 3, and Michael Thomson's book Silver Screen in the Silver City (1988) for more information on Glen Cinemas. Books You Can Borrow from Aberdeen Public Library
461 This is the front cover of Books You Can Borrow from Aberdeen Public Library from November 1949. The publication was a quarterly pamphlet created by Aberdeen's library service that was aimed at the general public. It provided thematic lists of recommended titles that had been recently added to the lending stock.
Each number featured an introductory editorial that would provide updates on the activities of the library service or make comment on the subject of books and reading.
Issue number 1 of Books You Can Borrow from Aberdeen Public Library was published in October 1941. It begins with a section entitled 'Introducing Ourselves' by the then City Librarian, Marcus K. Milne. He writes "The issue of a Reading List is an experiment, the success of which depends on the use of the Library by its readers. It will be readily understood that it is only possible to give a selection of the books added to the Library, but the selection is a catholic one and no doubt everyone will find something to their taste."
Published in the midst of the Second World War, early issues of the pamphlet include many lists relating to the conflict; 'The Empire Fights', 'Blue Prints for Peace', and 'Wings Over Europe'. There are also many perennial and more everyday subjects such as 'Days in the Sun', 'General Literature', and 'Photography'. Each issues concludes with a listing of 'Stories for All Moods'.
There are also pages of illustrated adverts for local businesses at the beginning and end of each pamphlet. Companies such as Jamieson & Carry, Balgownie Dairy and Bakery and the Aberdeen Wireless College feature in issue number 1.
The illustrated front cover, showing Aberdeen Central Library, is believed to be the work of Fenton Wyness, the prolific local historian, architect, and artist.
At Aberdeen City Libraries we hold a collection of these pamphlets bound into 2 volumes, dating from issue 1 to number 33 from June 1954. It is likely the publication was stopped after this number, though this is not stated in the final editorial, as one might expect.
During this period, there was also regular, though shorter, listings of new additions to the Library's stock published in the Evening Express newspaper under the Books You Can Borrow title.
Milne concludes his introduction to the first issue with the following suggestion: "When you have finished with this Bulletin do not destroy it - pass it on to a friend, especially if he is not a reader from the Public Library." City of Aberdeen. At Aberdeen, the 21st day of February, 1817 years (1 of 2)
511 This is the front page of a two-sided broadside style pamphlet. The back page can be seen here.
This broadside refers to a meeting on 21st February 1817 of Aberdeen's bureaucrats. Attending the meeting were creditors - individuals and organisations providing loans - and their debtors, the treasurers of Aberdeen. The meeting had been called by a letter dated to the 8th February. The Lord Provost, Alexander Fraser (1775-1840), chaired the meeting. The Lord Provost reiterated the contents of the letter, that the treasurers felt bound to provide a detailed statement of their accounts to the creditors. They also iterated their desire to establish an independent committee to assist in the auditing of their accounts.
The treasurers felt it necessary to reassure the attending creditors. The treasurers had previously borrowed money from the creditors to fund the formation of Union Street and King Street. For some years in the run up to this meeting, the treasurers had been unable to pay the creditors the required five-per-cent interest on the money borrowed for this project. (Alexander Munro, Memorials of the Alderman, Provosts, and Lord Provosts of Aberdeen, 1272-1893 (1897), 265-267).
Thus, presumably, the creditors were nervous over the security of their debts. A lack of trust between the creditors and debtors exists. The Lord Provost, speaking on behalf of the debtors, sought to rectify this through making the treasurers scrutable. A motion was moved by a Mr Crombie to give the independent committee (of trustees) the power to sell property belonging to the treasurers in order to pay the treasurers' debts. This motion was unanimously approved by the meeting. The broadside concludes by listing the trustees as treasurers in order to pay the treasurers' debts. To the Independent Electors of the burghs of Elgin, Cullen, Banff, Inverury, Kintore, and Peterhead (1 of 2)
513 This is the front page of a two-sided broadside style pamphlet. The back page can be seen here.
The document implores the electorate to consider voting for the document's author, Holt Mackenzie (1786-1876). Mackenzie was running for election in the 1832 General Election, for the House of Commons seat Elgin Burghs.
Holt was the son of the acclaimed Scottish author Henry Mackenzie. Mackenzie himself was a prominent member of the East India Company, and was central to the establishment of the Mahalwari system. The system maintained village-level-autonomy in India, to enable Britain to exercise control over wide-scale taxation whilst being able to outsource its collection. He retired later, and in 1832 was made a member of the Privy Council.
In the document, Mackenzie opens by establishing himself as an advocate of liberal policy in India where he was a colonial administrator. He voices himself as attached to the "free institutions" of Britain and its freedom. Mackenzie argues that he is a reformist. Mackenzie argues that he is neither a Whig nor a Tory, but a liberally inclined free standing, liberally inclined individual. Still, Mackenzie stood in the election as a Tory. He lost the vote to Alexander Leith Hay, the Whig candidate. Observations on the making, curing, and casking, of butter (1 of 2)
515 This is the front page of a three-page broadside style pamphlet. The inner two pages can be seen here.
This oversized pamphlet provides instructions as to how to make butter. It was authored by the Agricultural Association, following precedent set in Ireland and the experience of curers in Aberdeen.
The pamphlet is a remarkable piece of food and hygiene history. The first step of the broadside, for instance, warns against cross-contamination and having foreign items in the dairy factory. Twelve steps follow, dictating best practices for making and storing butter. Observations on the making, curing, and casking, of butter (2 of 2)
516 There are the inner two pages of a three-page broadside style pamphlet. The front page can be seen here.
This oversized pamphlet provides instructions as to how to make butter. It was authored by the Agricultural Association, following precedent set in Ireland and the experience of curers in Aberdeen.
The pamphlet is a remarkable piece of food and hygiene history. The first step of the broadside, for instance, warns against cross-contamination and having foreign items in the dairy factory. Twelve steps follow, dictating best practices for making and storing butter.
The pamphlet was printed by D. Chalmers & Co. of Aberdeen. |