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Bridge of Grandholme
160 An engraving showing Grandholm Bridge over the River Don from a drawing by James Giles. The inscription in the bottom right indicates that the engraving was printed at the Deaf and Dumb Institution.
This drawing likely looks west up the river and in the middle distance shows the Cruive Dikes, a complex of weirs and sluices across the River Don built for the purpose of fishing. Remains of these are located not far to the east of the modern Diamond Bridge.
Some information on the ownership and operation of the cruives is given in the book The Annals of Aberdeen (Volume II, 1818) by William Kennedy, on pages 207-209.
In the far distance is Grandholm Bridge. Aberdeen City Council's Historic Environment Record states that the bridge was built by the firm of Leys, Masson and Company in 1810 to improve access to its Granholm Works. It was a wooden bridge with a small lodge and was known locally as the "White Bridge."
The 1810 bridge was replaced by the present steel structure, built by the Motherwell Bridge Company, in 1922. Bridge Street, Aberdeen. c.1890
201 Bridge Street, Aberdeen. This George Washington Wilson image shows a horse drawn bus on Bridge Street travelling towards Union Street. The stairs leading to the upper deck can be seen, and the iron wheels must have been very noisy on the cobbled streets. The bus is just passing the American Store whose premises were 'To Let', and Galloway and Sykes, cabinet makers - the latter firm are only listed at 50 Bridge Street between 1887 and 1889. 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. Wellington Lodge
811 A photograph showing Wellington Lodge on the corner of Justice Mill Lane and Holburn Street.
The top of Holburn Street, towards Holburn Junction, was previously known as South Street and later as Wellington Place. In the background of this image, on the far left, can be seen the John Smith designed Water House on Union Street.
Wellington Lodge stood across the road from Holburn Church, roughly where the Glentanar Bar stands today. It can be seen on the large scale Ordnance Survey town plan and map sheets from the 1860s.
The property appears to have belonged to the Whytes of Dalhebity, Cults. For some time Wellington Lodge was the residence of Helen Whyte and she was likely the house's final resident.
Helen Whyte died aged 85 on 31st January 1898 (death notice: Aberdeen Weekly Journal, 09/02/1898, p. 4). Newspaper references suggest she was involved in various charitable activities. She was the daughter of Baillie John Whyte, a merchant, and had a brother also called John Whyte (1845-1904), a prominent citizen and advocate.
Another death notice indicates that Mary Ann Hardie, of 48 Victoria Road, Torry, was employed for 38 years as the servant for Miss Helen Whyte. Hardie died in 1895 (death notice: Aberdeen Journal, 17/08/1895, p. 4).
Newspapers also suggest the villa was the home of Miss Mary Murray Gordon. She would likely have been a relation of James Murray Gordon who was a partner in the same law firm as John Whyte, Helen's aforementioned brother.
Wellington Lodge was probably demolished shortly after the death of Helen Whyte. It made way for the extension of the larger tenement buildings on Holburn Street that can be seen in the background of this photograph.
The Aberdeen Weekly Journal's 'Granite Chips' column of 17th May 1899 (p. 9) states "A very large and handsome block of buildings for Mr Peter Farquharson has been erected in Holburn Street, stretching from the office of the Union Bank of Scotland to Justice Mill Lane." This most likely refers to this development.
David Miller in Archibald Simpson, Architect, His Life and Times 1790-1847 (2006) states that this villa was designed by Simpson for Mrs Yeats of Auquharney (page 174). Congregational Church, Woodside
822 Congregational Church, Woodside. This is the oldest church in Woodside and had its origin in the early 19th Century, when the people of the district had no place of worship nearer than Oldmachar Cathedral. A subscription list was issued in November 1818, and within a month enough money had been raised to permit building operations to begin. A small thatch-roofed building was erected on the site of the present Congregational Church and although there is no record of the opening services, they must have taken place near the end of 1819. the building was known as the Cotton Chapel. Market Street
861 Market Street looking north towards Trinity Quay and Union Street, showing coal being unloaded at Aberdeen Harbour.
A truck belonging to William Wisely & Sons can be seen heading south. This company were contractors and warehousemen and were based at 31-35 Virginia Street and 60 Frederick Street.
Norman Wisely, author of a booklet about William Wisely & Sons called Memories: recollections of haulage and farming around Aberdeen from the early 1930s to the mid 1950s (2002), has been in touch to inform us that the lorry is a Leyland Beaver and that it was purchased new by the firm in 1933. The vehicle registration number is RG 3860.
This photograph likely dates from the 1930s or 40s. Allan Park Skating Pond, Cults
1032 This wintry scene of iceskaters was taken about 1902/3 in Allan Park, Cults. Allan Park was named after David Allan, a resident of Cults and head of the firm of James Allan and Son, Furnishers. He gifted about 7 acres of land between the Deeside Railway and the River Dee, and the Park was officially opened in June 1897. It was proposed that there should be a curling and skating pond in the centre surrounded with trees and laid out with walks. Hockey match in Allan Park, Cults
1034 Hockey match in Allan Park, Cults, c.1900. Allan Park was named after David Allan, a resident of Cults and head of the firm of James Allan and Son, Furnishers. He gifted about 7 acres of land between the Deeside Railway and the River Dee, and the Park was officially opened in June 1897. 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.) Astoria Cinema, Aberdeen
1152 The exterior of the Astoria Cinema, Clifton Road, Kittybrewster, Aberdeen, c.1960. In 1934, a new cinema was built on part of the old Central Park, just north of Kittybrewster Auction Marts. It was designed by the architect, T. Scott Sutherland, and was opened on 8th December 1934, with space for more than 2000 people. Its proximity to the relatively new housing areas of Kittybrewster, Powis, Woodside and Hilton should have ensured its success. It was made of concrete over a steel framework, with the roof sloping in a series of steps to produce the best acoustics. It had a colour scheme of light pink, invory and brown with walnut panelling and 2 miles of Wilton carpet. It closed on Saturday 13th August 1966, re-opening later that month as a Bingo Hall but that only lasted a few months and it finally closed in January 1967. In April 1967, it was being demolished and the site redeveloped as a shopping complex. The cinema had had one of the latest Compton theatre organs, which had been removed piece by piece and restored to be placed in the hall of Powis Academy. In November 1982, an arson attack destroyed the organ. Lending Library re-opening, 1925
1391 In 1925 the Lending Library closed for a month whilst it was reorganised for open access. It was formally re-opened by Mr FC Thomason MP for Aberdeen South on 3 October 1925 with over 38,000 books in stock. This souvenir card was issued to all borrowers who could now browse the shelves to their hearts content. Broadford Works
1449 An illustration of Broadford Works, Aberdeen showing the textile factory in its Victorian heyday.
Broadford Works has a long and varied history. The first mill was built on the site in 1808 for Scott Brown and Company of Angus. It is the oldest iron-framed mill in Scotland.
John Maberly MP bought the site from a bankrupt Scott Brown in 1811. He partnered London banker John Baker Richards in 1825 and, bought out in turn by John Temple Leader in 1831, was declared bankrupt the next year.
The site, between Ann Street, Maberly Street and Hutcheon Street, was for many years the base of textile firm Richards & Company. See the Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Archives team's catalogue entry for their Richards plc records for more information about the company and site. Congregational Church, Woodside
1538 Congregational Church, Woodside. This is the oldest church in Woodside and had its origin in the early 19th Century, when the people of the district had no place of worship nearer than Oldmachar Cathedral. A subscription list was issued in November 1818, and within a month enough money had been raised to permit building operations to begin. A small thatch-roofed building was erected on the site of the present Congregational Church and although there is no record of the opening services, they must have taken place near the end of 1819. the building was known as the Cotton Chapel. Lord Provost Mearns' Garden Party
1923 Daniel Mearns (1838-12th February 1913) served as Provost of Aberdeen from 1895-1898.
He was the youngest son of a shipmaster in Aberdeen, also called Daniel Mearns, and worked as a ship chandler in the firm of Mr P. Buyers at Regent Quay.
He entered the city council in 1876 and was also a member of the Harbour Board up until his death. He was involved in many schemes to improve the city such as encouraging the Corporation to purchase tramways and the construction of the larger market.
Mearns also served on the Scottish Fishery Board and the Marine Board, was Consul to Argentina and a Governor of Robert Gordon's Technical College.
In this photograph we can see Mearns in the centre of the frame, in a top-hat, hosting a garden party. Sir David Stewart
2029 A portrait of Lord Provost Sir David Stewart (1835 - 1919). He served as Provost of Aberdeen from 1889 to 1894. After graduating from King's College in 1855 he joined his father in the firm Messrs. S. R. Stewart & Co., the largest combmaking business in the world. Stewart was the president of the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce for 1883-84 and was also a member of the School Board. He entered the Town Council in November 1889. One very significant development during his term as Provost was the Aberdeen Corporation Act of 1891. This extended the boundaries of the city to include Old Aberdeen, Woodside and Torry.
He also, somewhat reluctantly, gave his name to Stewart Park. The Woodside amenity was officially opened on the afternoon of Saturday 9th June 1894. The Aberdeen Journal's report of the ceremony has the Provost responding to a toast by stating "he did not know what the park was to be called. It was rather hard lines that he should be put in the position of saying 'No' to the request that had been made, but if he had been properly consulted - he would have advised them not to call it the Stewart Park. He might have possibly been chaffed [chuffed] about it being called the Stewart Park, and taken a good-natured smile, but he did not think he ever gave his consent any way. He felt it would be just as well perhaps if the committee called it 'Hilton' or 'Woodside,' and perhaps they would reconsider it." He left the matter in the hands of the Town Council and the name stood. Provost Daniel Mearns
2036 Daniel Mearns (1838 - 12th February 1913) served as Provost of Aberdeen from 1895-1898. He was the youngest son of a shipmaster in Aberdeen, also called Daniel Mearns, and worked as a ship chandler in the firm of Mr P. Buyers at Regent Quay. He enter the city council in 1876 and was also a member of the Harbour Board up until his death. He was involved in many schemes to improve the city such as encouraging the Corporation to purchase tramways and the construction of the larger market. Mearns also served on the Scottish Fishery Board and the Marine Board, was Consul to Argentina and a Governor of Robert Gordon's Technical College. Baillie Daniel Mearns
2037 Daniel Mearns (1838 - 12th February 1913) served as Provost of Aberdeen from 1895-1898. He was the youngest son of a shipmaster in Aberdeen, also called Daniel Mearns, and worked as a ship chandler in the firm of Mr P. Buyers at Regent Quay. He enter the city council in 1876 and was also a member of the Harbour Board up until his death. He was involved in many schemes to improve the city such as encouraging the Corporation to purchase tramways and the construction of the larger market. Mearns also served on the Scottish Fishery Board and the Marine Board, was Consul to Argentina and a Governor of Robert Gordon's Technical College. Sir Alexander Anderson of Blelack
2044 A portrait of Provost Sir Alexander Anderson (10th June 1802 - 11th April 1887). He served as Provost of Aberdeen from 1859-1866. He was the only son of Alexander Anderson, minister of Strichen, and Helen Findlay. Anderson graduated from Marischal College in 1819 and was admitted to the Society of Advocates in 1827. Later he formed a partnership with William Adam, creating the firm Adam and Anderson which existed until 1867. He entered the Town Council in November 1859. On the 13th October 1863 the Prince Consort's statue at the corner of Union Terrace, later moved to Rosemount Viaduct, was unveiled by Her Majesty and on this occasion Anderson received his knighthood in recognition of his public service. This portrait was painted by Sir George Reid. He and his wife are buried in the graveyard of St Nicholas Church. George Jamieson of Rosebank
2048 A portrait of Provost George Jamieson (c.1809 - 2nd February 1893). He served as Provost of Aberdeen between 1874-1879. Jamieson was born in Perth about 1809 but came to Aberdeen with his family early in his life when his father was employed by the Aberdeen Copper Company. He was apprenticed to grocer Robert Troup and for fifty years was the senior partner in the wholesale firm Jamieson & Mitchell. His first appointment in public life was a position on the Police Board in 1839. He was chosen as dean of guild in 1860. In addition to much council work, Jamieson was chairman of St Nicholas Parochial Board from 1864 to 1868, a director of the North of Scotland Bank and a number of public companies and also chairman of the Aberdeen District Tramways Company. He died at his residence, 19 Queen's Road, aged eighty-four years. G. W. Morgan Portrait
2145 This portrait of a smartly dressed young man was taken by G. W. Morgan (1855-1909). The photo features the ornate furniture and painted background that was the convention of the time. On the rear of the postcard photograph is printed "For further copies apply Elite Studios, 5 Market St, Aberdeen." This dates the image as between 1897 and 1907 when the business was trading under this name at the Market Street premises. Morgan and his brother William also operated photographic studios at 3 Bridge Place, 393 Union Street, and two in Aboyne and Ballater.
Morgan was the son of a blacksmith from the village of Clatt, called John Morgan. Born in 1855, George trained as a druggist in Aberdeen before leaving for California where he worked as a photographer. He returned to the city in 1880 and became the principal photographic assistant to Mr Dinnie of Bridge Place. The premises in Market Street were his first studio after going into business with his brother. He lived at Westfield Terrace.
In the coming years Morgan established a reputation in the city as an excellent photographer and businessman. He was described in his Aberdeen Daily Journal obituary as "A thorough artist in every sense of the word. Mr Morgan was remarkably successful in developing the very extensive business, and it was largely owning to his efforts that the firm attained its well deserved renown for the excellence of its portraiture and scenic work, all of which reach a high degree of artistic merit."
In 1909, Morgan died aged 54 in quite unusual circumstances. On the night of 25th June he was travelling with Mr J. B. Davidson, a solicitor and business associate, to London on the Caledonian sleeper train. All was well up to Stirling when the two men went to sleep. Davidson was awoken in the night by the wind blowing into their compartment and with Morgan nowhere to be seen. After a thorough search of the train and much telegraphic inquiries it was determined that Morgan had fallen from the train and died just south of Carstairs. The exact conditions of his death are unknown but it was believed that he woke in the night and groggy with sleep used the wrong door.
In addition to photography Morgan was a very accomplished violinist and acted as choirmaster for Ferryhill Parish Church for many years. He and his wife had 12 children. Milk from the Kirkhill Dairy
2236 Milk being delivered by two milk boys on Victoria Road, Torry. The milk came from the Kirkhill Dairy, Balnagask. The photograph shows a horse drawn cart.
Ian Smith has kindly been in touch to inform us that the man behind the cart is his grandfather, Albert Corbett. He ran Kirkhill Farm for much of his life.
The golden anniversary of Albert and Georgina Corbett (née Todd) was reported in the Press & Journal of 9th September 1970, page 18. The article explains that the couple had left South Kirkhill Farm, where Albert had farmed for 47 years, the previous year, moving to 28 Leggart Terrace.
They met when Georgia, an Aberdonian, moved to Fraserburgh. Albert worked on his family's nearby farm, called Watermill, and delivered milk to Georgina's landlady.
After marriage, and before moving to Balnagask, the couple lived in Strichen and ran a diary there. The article concludes stating, both aged 71, Albert and his wife had two daughters, named Mrs Irene Smith and Mrs Ethel Douglas, and three sons, Bert, James and Alistair. They also had nine grandchildren.
A family notice from the 10th January 1978 issue of the same newspaper states that Albert B. D. Corbett had died after a short illness, aged 79, the day before. A service was held for him on the 12th of that month at the Aberdeen Crematorium, Hazlehead (West Chapel).
Ian also checked with family members and informs us that the boy on the right in this photograph is Andy Cowe, who later moved to Seattle, USA, and on the left is Jocky Milne.
The Ordnance Survey, 25 inch to the mile, map of Balnagask published in 1899 indicates that there was once three houses called Kirkhill in the area; North, South and East.
South Kirkhill was located on the south side of Balnagask Road, a bit to the east of Balnagask House and Mains. East Kirkhill was not far to the east, on the other side of St. Fittick's Road and North Kirkhill was up towards Greyhope Road.
Later maps tell us that the original South Kirkhill was demolished by the early 20th century and by the 1950s East Kirkhill had taken its name. None of the residences remain today, the area of North Kirkhill is now part of Balnagask Golf Club and St. Fittick's Community Garden is now roughly where East (later South) Kirkhill once stood. North Kirkhill used to be the home of the greenkeeper of the golf course.
The use of the name Kirkhill likely refers to the nearby old St. Fittick's Church and the hilly terrain of Balnagask and Torry. 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 Astoria Cinema
2268 The Astoria Cinema on Clifton Road, Woodside.
In 1934, a new cinema was built on part of the old Central Park, just north of Kittybrewster Auction Marts. It was designed by the architect T. Scott Sutherland and was opened on 8th December 1934 with space for more than 2000 people. Its proximity to the relatively new housing areas of Kittybrewster, Powis, Woodside and Hilton should have ensured its success.
It was made of concrete over a steel framework, with the roof sloping in a series of steps to produce the best acoustics. It had a colour scheme of light pink, ivory and brown with walnut panelling and 2 miles of Wilton carpet. It closed on Saturday 13th August 1966, reopening later that month as a Bingo Hall but that only lasted a few months and it finally closed in January 1967. In April 1967, it was being demolished and the site redeveloped as a shopping complex.
The cinema had had one of the latest Compton theatre organs, which had been removed piece by piece and restored to be placed in the hall of Powis Academy. Tragedy befell it in November 1982, when, in an act of vandalism, a youth set fire to the hall and the organ was totally destroyed. 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. |