58

The Denburn looking southward towards and beyond Union Bridge, with the old Bow Brig in the distance and the houses adjacent. The Bow Brig featured largely in the social life of the inhabitants of the area. Note the bleaching green on the right of the print. Illustration taken from a plate drawn by Sir John Carr, 1807

65

The Old Bridge of Dee dating from the early 16th century was begun by Bishop William Elphinstone c.1493. Further building started in 1518 and was carried out by Alexander Galloway and Thomas Franche. In 1840, the bridge was widened by John Smith, the City Architect. Drawing by Curtis Green. Lithograph by Gibb & Hay.

89

Union Terrace Gardens looking towards the Union Bridge. The spires of St Nicholas Congregational Church are on the left. The gardens were laid out in 1891-3. The chimney belonged to Hadden's textile factory in the Green.

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.

209

Deeside Hydropathic at Murtle, five miles to the west of Aberdeen City Centre, was built for the Rev Dr Alexander Stewart in 1899. He had founded a similar establishment in 1874 at Heathcot, Kincardinshire, and the growth of business there led to the selection of this new site close to Murtle Station on the Deeside Railway. It was also seen as a convenient centre for visiting the Deeside area. The extensive grounds included a croquet lawn, bowling green and tennis courts, while the Deeside Golf Club was only a mile away. The building itself had 92 bedrooms, there were Turkish, Russian, vapour, electric and spray baths. Since hydropathy was a medical treatment consisting of the external and internal application of water, the proximity of an artesian well supplying abundant pure water was also a feature. After the first World War, the building was sold and converted into Tor-Na-Dee Sanatorium in August 1918, specialising in the treatment of tuberculosis. More recently it has been used as a convalescent hospital, but it is now being re-developed for housing. Dr Stewart was born in 1835 in Coupar, Angus and studied at Glasgow University and did the medical course at Aberdeen University. At his death in 1909, he was Minister of John Street Congregational Church in Aberdeen, having been ordained there in 1864.

424

The Green. The house occupied by John Buchan, baker, at the foot of the Back Wynd stairs leading up to Union Street was demolished in 1914. In the late seventeenth century the house was owned by George Aedie. Although Boots the Chemist have since relocated elsewhere, the stairs which replaced these are still often referred to as the Boots Stairs because there was an entrance to their premises on the left. The golden teapot sign that belonged to John Adam's tea and coffee shop disappeared when the shop closed. Silver City Vault user Ed Fowler investigated the 1904 Post Office directory for Aberdeen to discover more information about the businesses visible in the image. John Adam's premises, with its golden teapot at 64 The Green, can be see on the far right. The tea merchant lived in Hammerfield House, 349 Great Western Road. The next two entrances to the left, 66 and 68, are for the tenements above the shops. To the left of them at 70 The Green is a drapers called P. & C. Adams. The business also had premises at 47 George Street.

442

A photograph of Mr D. Cameron on his horse and cart and outside his bakery and confectioners shop at 76 Skene Square. This photograph was taken by Kidd & Stridgen of 33 New Market Gallery, Aberdeen. A copy of this image was kindly lent to the Aberdeen City Libraries for reproduction by William Donald of Udny Green. Local historian A. G. Duthie has been in touch to suggest that if we look at the Ordance Survey from 1902 (Aberdeenshire sheet 075.11), judging by the shape and position of the buildings, there is a plausible location for this building north of Skene Square School on the other side of the road.

443

Mr and Mrs Henderson, and others, outside their grocery shop at 21 Chattan Place. Mrs Henderson's maiden name was Prentice. This photograph was taken by Kidd & Stridgen, a photographers based at 9 New Market Gallery. 21 Chattan place was Kenny's Chip Shop in the 1980s and later a Chinese takeaway restaurant. A copy of this image was kindly lent to the Aberdeen City Libraries for reproduction by William Donald of Udny Green. Mrs Henderson was the sister of his mother-in-law.

532

This image looks south over the suburban platforms of the old Aberdeen Joint Railway Station. Its large curved roof can be seen in the background. The covered walkway that can be seen on the right of the image, that joins the platforms, likely linked up with the Palace Hotel. Consulting The Joint Station: Aberdeen Station, 1867-1992 (c1992) tells us that this image probably dates from 1912 when, in additional to commencing the reconstruction of the Joint Station, the GNSR also laid new loading docks and carriage storage siding in the Hadden Mills site. This was to ensure that the main station buildings were used purely for passenger traffic. The walkway that linked Windmill Brae and the Green, known affectionately as the Puffing Briggie, can be seen in the centre of the image. It looks like a section has been temporarily demolished as part of the ongoing work.

596

The Back Wynd stair is so named because, before the making of Union Street, the Back Wynd came right down from Schoolhill to The Green. The stairway was re-designed in the 1930s.

667

Albion Street, also known as the Bool Road because it led to the bowling green. It led to the Links from the foot of Justice Street. On the right hand side is the mission chapel which in 1848 replaced the "penny rattler", a street theatre which gave the area a bad reputation. It later became Albion Street Congregational Church. The area was cleared in the 1950s for the development of the Beach Boulevard.

669

This view was painted by Hugh Irvine of Drum. The Market Cross is located opposite the Tolbooth and the structure on the right is the base of the street well, popularly known as The Mannie in the Green, because it was moved to The Green in 1852 and re-appeared in the Castlegate in the 1970s. It was the first public well erected in the city in 1706.

675

This view was painted by Hugh Irvine of Drum. The Market Cross is located opposite the Tolbooth and the structure on the right is the base of the street well, popularly known as The Mannie in the Green, because it was moved to The Green in 1852 and re-appeared in the Castlegate in the 1970s. It was the first public well erected in the city in 1706.

676

Albion Street, also known as the Bool Road because it led to the bowling green. It led to the Links from the foot of Justice Street. On the right hand side is the "penny rattler", a street theatre which gave the area a bad reputation. A mission chapel replaced it in 1848 and later became Albion Street Congregational Church. The area was cleared for the development of the Beach Boulevard.

686

The curved wall of the popular New Market dominates this view while farming folk are gathered round the 'Mannie in the Green' street well to sell their butter and eggs, vegetables and flowers at the Friday market. The New Market was demolished in 1972 to be replaced by the Aberdeen Market, and the 'Mannie' returned to his orginal home in the Castlegate.

691

The Denburn Valley, showing Union Bridge. The chimney belonged to Hadden's textile mill in the Green.

704

Windmill Brae looking towards the Green and Hadden's textile mill.

733

A photograph of the Watson Street Lodge in Victoria Park. The figures standing in the doorway are most likely to be Robert Walker (1848-1930), the Keeper of Victoria Park, and his family; his second wife Christina Walker and daughters Elizabeth and Ann. Judging by the 1891 census and Robert's eventual obituary, the family also had at least five sons. Walker was previously married to Isabella Robertson. She died on 24th November 1877. This photograph likely dates from the later 19th century. Robert Walker was originally from Perth and was himself a son of a gardener. He came to Aberdeen as a nurseryman and in around 1871 was chosen out of 450 candidates to be the city's first keeper of parks. He oversaw the creation of Victoria Park, Aberdeen's first public park, before going on to lay out Westburn Park, Stewart Park, Union Terrace Gardens and the Promenade. Walker was also an early advocate and pioneer of the planting of street trees. For a number of years Aberdeen had two superintendents of parks, Walker and a Mr Peter Harper at Duthie Park. When Harper retired in 1914 Walker was appointed general superintendent. Post Office directories indicate that Walker and his family lived at the Watson Street Lodge, also known as the Victoria Park Lodge, from its construction in around 1872 to his retirement in 1919. His residence at the lodge was part of the job. On retirement Walker moved to the relatively nearby 111 Westburn Drive. He was succeeded as general superintendent of parks by William B. Clark, who resided at the West Lodge of Duthie Park. A man called Robert Duncan replaced Walker as the keeper of Victoria and Westburn Park. Over the years Aberdeen has had substantial success and renown as an attractive, green city. A considerable portion of the credit for this success must reside with the pioneering and dedicated work of Robert Walker.

785

John Buchan, baker, The Green. This building, also known as Aedie's Lodging, was reputed to be the building in which children who had been kidnapped for the slave trade in America were held in the 18th century. The most famous of these was Peter Williamson. On the left is the stairway leading to Union Street.

789

The Well in the Green historically important from being connected with the fiirst introduction of a regular water supply into the city in 1706. It stood originally in Castle Street. It was taken down about 1840 but then re-erected in the Green in 1852. It is now to be found in the Castlegate opposite the Town House.

790

John Buchan, baker, The Green. This building, also known as Aedie's Lodging, was reputed to be the building in which children who had been kidnapped for the slave trade in America were held in the 18th century. The most famous of these was Peter Williamson. On the left is the stairway leading to Union Street.

840

Market day in The Green.

1208

Trinity Lane, Aberdeen, c.1975, from Exchange Street. The Trinity place-name comes from the area once being the site of a Trinitarian Friary. The building to the right in this photograph was once known as Trinity Chapel, or Trinity Parish Church. It was opened for public worship on Sunday 27th April, 1794. For a number of years, the chapel was an important centre of religious life and activity. The Disruption of 1843 significantly diminished the congregation. The building was subsequently sold by the Presbytery and became the Alhambra Music Hall. See Gammie's Churches of Aberdeen (1909) for more information on the history of this congregation and building. A large part of the exterior still stands and the building currently houses Wagley's public house. In this photograph Alex. McKay, electrical appliance showroom, is in occupation. Newspaper notices indicate that the business moved here, from 41 The Green, in 1966. The building in the centre of the image is best known, as shown here, as a banana warehouse for Knowles & Sons, fruiterers and later as a restaurant and art gallery. It was originally built as a church for Aberdeen's Catholic Apostolic congregation. MUSA was a restaurant and art space, with a focus on music, throughout the first two decades of the 21st century. It closed down in October 2018. 8th March 2019 saw the opening of a new bar in the building called The Hop & Anchor, specialising in craft beer. It is owned by a company called the Draft House and this is their first pub outside London. The Draft House is owned by Brewdog, the North East beer company.

1560

On the opposite side of Westburn Road from Victoria Park, this popular area was formerly a residential property and contains some fine specimens of oak, ash, elm and sycamore trees. It was acquired by the Town Council in 1899 and extends to fully 25 acres. Facilities are provided for bowling and tennis, as well as for children's games. Altogether, the estate greatly enhances the amenities of the city.