Quick Search
|
Search Results
You searched for: More Like: 'Delight over success of new order'
24 items
items as
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. The Aberdeenshire Canal
1789 This drawing shows a barge being pulled by two horses along the Aberdeenshire Canal, with the twin spires of St. Machar Cathedral in the background.
The Aberdeenshire Canal was opened in 1805 and ran for 18 miles from Aberdeen to Port Elphinstone, near Inverurie. It was first proposed in 1795 by various landed proprietors as a means of providing better transport connections for the rural interior of Aberdeenshire.
The new waterway was fed by the River Don and various streams and springs. Barges transported goods and fly boats or gig boats carried passengers.
In 1840, the goods transported included nearly 4000 tons of lime, 5000 tons of coal, 1124 tons of meal, 54 tons of salt, 110 tons of wood, 51 tons of granite, 43 tons of livestock and 8 tons of whisky. Passenger traffic was catered for by two iron boats, which made the trip twice a day in summer and once a day in winter. It cost 2 shillings (10p.) for the full journey or 2d. (about a half pence) per mile.
As a result of the number of locks to be negotiated at the Aberdeen end, passengers disembarked at the Boathouse at Kittybrewster, having completed the journey in 2 and a half hours. Goods traffic was handled by various barges, some of which belonged to the canal company. It took them 10-14 hours to complete their passage to Aberdeen Harbour. There were facilities for changing the horses at Dyce and Kintore.
In his book The Annals of Woodside and Newhills Patrick Morgan remarks that the canal "was a great convenience to the inhabitants, and a luxury to the boys for bathing in summer and skating in winter." There is no mention of girls using the canal for leisure purposes - perhaps they were required to stay at home and help with housework instead.
The canal increased the prosperity of the area that it served but it was never a huge financial success for its owners. Also it was about to be overtaken by a much speedier rival. Its demise as in other parts of the country was largely brought about by the coming of the railways. The Aberdeenshire Canal was bought over by the Great North of Scotland Railway and finally closed in 1854. The company gave £1000 as compensation for depriving the inhabitants of Woodside of the privilege of the Canal and to assist in obtaining a supply of water from other sources.
There is very little physical evidence to remind us that the Aberdeenshire Canal ever existed. However there is one quite substantial remnant which lies close to Great Northern Road - Warrack's Bridge was one of the original canal bridges and looking over the west side of the bridge the curve of the canal bed can clearly be seen. 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. Treasure 6: Royal Horticultural Society of Aberdeen
2275 Enthusiastic gardeners who have spent months, if not years, nurturing their plants have the opportunity to display their efforts at flower shows - usually held in August or September. These events for individuals happen all around the country and have a long history.
Britain in Bloom is the national flower show for whole communities. It was the brainchild of Roy Hay, a horticultural journalist. Following a holiday in France where he admired the "Fleurissement de France", he persuaded the British Travel and Holidays Association (later the British Tourist Authority) to organise a similar competition for communities in Britain.
Although the first competition in 1964 was won by Bath, Aberdeen received a "Special Mention". The city did even better in 1965 when it won the National Trophy. Although it did not win again until 1969, the city then continued its success each year until 1971. However, this achievement led to Aberdeen being debarred from the National Competition in 1972 although it still won the Scottish section. 1973 and 1974 saw Aberdeen winning the National award again, and its record 10th win was in 1998.
A slogan competition was held for the 1968 campaign when the winning entry proclaimed "Aberdeen - Garden City by the Sea".
In order to celebrate Britain in Bloom and Aberdeen's success in the competition we have chosen to highlight our collection of historic prize schedules for the Royal Horticultural Society of Aberdeen's annual exhibition.
The Aberdeenshire Horticultural Society was founded in March 1824 when a meeting of "Practical Gardeners" was held in the New Inn for the "purpose of forming themselves into a Society". The Earl of Aberdeen graciously agreed to be Patron of the Society.
In November 1863, it was announced at the annual general meeting that HRH the Prince of Wales had now agreed to become Patron of the Society and that the Society's name was to be changed to the Royal Horticultural Society of Aberdeen.
The Society's "Prize Schedule for Exhibition" gives details of each of the classes which can be entered, with the prizes which can be won - a sum of money or a cup or medal. In 1920, there were a total of 222 classes and those who exhibited were split into one of four Divisions - professional gardeners; nurserymen and florists; amateurs and working class.
The Schedules also contain the Rules of Competition, the Constitution of the Society and a list of Subscriptions and Donations received - these include names, addresses and amounts given. Our earliest copies of the booklets cover the period 1920 - 1937, although the file is incomplete.
The Society celebrated its 175th anniversary in 1999. To take a closer look at these, and many other Aberdeen historic documents, visit Aberdeen Central Library. Stop 10: Sheena Grant MBE, (1941-2010), Grant Room, Marischal College. Cleaner, trade unionist and member of Aberdeen University Court
2309 Sheena Grant was employed as a cleaner at the historic Marischal College from 1984 for over 25yrs. She ensured that the prestigious Mitchell Hall was always kept in meticulous order. Sheena ensured that the academics and support staff were all valued for their work. Sheena was even known to call the principal "Dunkiebaby". Sheena became a dedicated trade unionist at local and national level becoming the first chairperson of Aberdeen University's Unison Branch in 1993, an office she held for almost 20 years. In 2006 Sheena was awarded the MBE for services to education. At first she thought it was a wind up. Sheena was also known for her love of parties and was a well-known darts player in the city. When Marischal College was being refurbished the only room to remain in its original state was the former Senate room and this room was renamed the Grant Room by the building's new occupants Aberdeen City Council when it reopened in 2011. Treasure 32: George Washington Wilson South Africa Photography Collection
2320 George Washington Wilson is one of the great names in 19th century photography, famous for capturing images of people, buildings and landscapes across Scotland. His photography drew attention to the beauty of his country, but his travels further afield are not as well known.
As an innovative pioneer in photography, George Washington Wilson's work reflected the reality and attitudes of society during his lifetime (1823-1893). In our collections we hold a vast selection of photographs and portraits taken by the G. W. Wilson Company in South Africa. These images were taken by his son, Charles Wilson, and Fred Hardie, a company photographer of George Washington Wilson & Co.
The company's photographs of South Africa captured scenes of the country which would have been perceived as unusual and exotic to British people at the time.
South Africa and its Treasures
The majority of British colonization was concentrated in South Africa during the 19th century. In the past, the country was colonized in order to control one of the main trade routes to India. Due to the abundance of resources such as spices and tea, European interest in Africa increased dramatically in the late 19th century, especially with the discovery of gold and diamonds in the 1860s-1880s.
On their return to Britain, George Washington Wilson & Co presented many photographs showing these natural resources, from the Robinson Gold mine in Johannesburg to De Beers Diamond Mines in Kimberley.
Tea was also a very valuable resource, and people in Britain were keen to learn more about its production and its use in South Africa.
Photography and Tourism
The collection held by Aberdeen City Libraries shows local places of interest in South Africa. These photographs capture Cape Town and Johannesburg, two of the biggest cities in the country. Many Europeans emigrated to these cities in the 19th century, due to the discovery of valuable resources in the surrounding area.
With the rapid rise of tourism in this period, George Washington Wilson & Co. looked for new ways to promote and sell their work. Around 1880-1890, they started to commercialize their photography via picture postcards, a relatively new concept in Britain. This new form of media met with huge success as it was easy to write and cheap to send. It soon became the standard way to communicate with friends and family when abroad, a holiday tradition which remains today.
The postcards, in colour and having a standard size, featured many different scenes from South Africa and were viewed as an innovative way to publicize the country - and the works of photographic firms such as George Washington Wilson & Co. Treasure 36: Aberdeen City Libraries' First Book Sale, 24 February 1979
2327 National Libraries Day has been held every February since 2011 to celebrate and raise awareness of libraries, library staff and their communities all over the UK. It is an opportunity for libraries to showcase and promote what they have to offer and to attract as many visitors as possible to local libraries.
This month our selection from the Library archive brings the focus to a Library event the likes of which has never been seen before or since in Aberdeen City Libraries. The photograph shows the queue for the first ever Library book sale held in the Ballroom of the Music Hall on Saturday 24 February 1979, when well over a thousand people swarmed through the doors to grab a bargain. The Press and Journal covered the event with the headline: "Bonanza Day for Bookworms; bargain hunters pack the Music Hall".
In September 1978 the Aberdeen District Council's library committee agreed to a recommendation from City Librarian Peter Grant to hold a sale of more than 30,000 books which had been withdrawn from stock for various reasons. There was also considerable duplication of stock following local government re-organisation in 1975 when Aberdeen inherited six former county branch libraries.
Books were divided into three categories: Children's, Adult Fiction and Non-Fiction (including reference books) and prices were kept low at 20p for fiction books and non-fiction titles slightly more at 50p.
Best sellers included children's books purchased by play groups, out of date encyclopaedias and Whittaker's Almanacs, and bound volumes of National Geographic Magazine. By the end of the day, the event was deemed an overwhelming success, selling over 13,000 books and raising more than £3645 for the purchase of new stock.
The hard work and dedication of the Library staff was recognised by the Convener of the Library Committee Councillor Henry Rae who said "It turned out to be a resounding success and this was achieved by the dedication of the staff".
Treasure 61: Aberdeen City Mobile Library Service
2379 By 1948 Aberdeen Central Lending Library had issued a total of 388,528 books and the City Librarian reported that it could "barely cope with all the readers which crowd it at its busiest time".
He proposed the introduction of a mobile library service to cater to the growing population in what The Press & Journal newspaper called "new housing colonies" in areas such as Rosehill, Hilton, Middlefield, Stockethill, Kaimhill and Garthdee.
His recommendation was accepted and an order was placed with Aberdeen Motors Ltd for Aberdeen City Libraries' first mobile library - an Austin 30 H.P vehicle.
Over the years, the mobile library service grew and consisted of four vehicles at its peak. Aberdeen Theatres: Libraries' book sale
3378 This photograph shows the queue for the first ever Public Library book sale held in the Ballroom of the Music Hall on Saturday 24 February 1979, when well over a thousand people swarmed through the doors to grab a bargain. The Press and Journal covered the event with the headline: "Bonanza Day for Bookworms; bargain hunters pack the Music Hall".
Books were divided into three categories: Children's, Adult Fiction and Non-Fiction (including reference books) and prices were kept low at 20p for fiction books and non-fiction titles slightly more at 50p.
Best sellers included children's books purchased by play groups, out of date encyclopaedias and Whittaker's Almanacs, and bound volumes of National Geographic Magazine. By the end of the day, the event was deemed an overwhelming success, selling over 13,000 books and raising more than £3,645 for the purchase of new stock. Aberdeen Theatres: Aberdeen Arts Centre
3386 In 1960 the education committee of Aberdeen Town Council proposed the conversion of the empty North and Trinity Parish Church into an adult education and civic arts centre. The plan was given final approval in February 1961, much to the delight of Aberdeen's art enthusiasts.
The Evening Express detailed the need for such a venue at the time by describing the difficulties faced by the William Gavin Players, a local drama group, in staging a play earlier that week in the ballroom of the Music Hall. They had to overcome the roar of a nearby wrestling audience, the incessant ringing of an unanswered telephone, a cramped stage and poor acoustics.
A temporary restriction on capital expenditure and a particularly severe winter caused delays for the conversion. Work began in late 1961 and was concluded by the autumn of 1963. The work cost around £33,000 and saw the reconstruction of the interior and a thorough re-vamp for the building's exterior. At one point the new centre was going to be called Longacre, but this idea was scrapped in favour of Aberdeen Arts Centre.
The completed venue was opened on 18th October 1963 by Sir Herbert Read (1893-1968), an art critic, poet and anarchist philosopher. In his speech Read criticised the main political parties of the day for neglecting the development of the arts and the human imagination in favour of a blind drive for scientific and technological efficiency.
In addition to the 385-seat auditorium, the venue had an exhibition space, a lounge, and a tea bar. The Arts Centre has remained the focal point for local arts groups and arts education to this day. It has also served as a meeting place and provided a useful stage for theatrical productions of all types.
In 1998, facing the need to cut £17.5 million from their budget, Aberdeen City Council withdrew their funding from the Arts Centre. This left the future of the venue in danger. A popular campaign to avoid its closure was led by Annie Inglis MBE (1922-2010), Aberdeen's first lady of theatre.
This led to the Aberdeen Arts Centre Association taking over the venue on a voluntary basis and the eventual formation of the Castlegate Arts Limited, a company with charitable status who continue to run the venue today.
Over the years the Arts Centre has played host to many noted local theatre groups like the Attic Theatre Co., The Revue Group, the aforementioned William Gavin Players, Phoenix Theatre, the Gilbert & Sullivan Society, Aberdeen Opera Company, Confederate Theatre, Dragongate Theatre, and no doubt many more. It remains a much-loved venue for performers and audiences of all ages. Aberdeen Cinemas: Picturedrome / Cinema House
3411 The Cinema House was located at the corner of Union Terrace, Skene Terrace and North Silver Street. The building was designed by Arthur H. L. Mackinnon and originally built in 1897-1898 as a clubhouse for the Aberdeen Union Club. Mackinnon (1870-1937) was a local architect who also designed the Aberdeen Fire Station on King Street and Mile End School.
The building's first recorded use for cinematographic purposes was a New Year Holiday Carnival organised by the pioneering Aberdeen cinematographer and exhibitor William Walker in December 1901. Alongside an early picture show the extravaganza featured the popular fiddler James Scott Skinner and a conjurer called Harry Marvello.
It was a Londoner by the name of Henry N. Philips who came to Aberdeen and in June 1910 converted this building into Aberdeen's second permanent cinema: the Picturedrome. The enterprise was a great success and Philip's formed a company called British Animated Pictures to run the cinema.
The 'Drome's first manager was Harry Fenton. He also appeared on the cinema's stage as a singer. This was a time when cinemas would often show a mixture of films and variety performances. The venue had a pianist called Hal Scott who would accompany performances and provided musical ambience.
The Picturedrome was noted for showing the film productions of Thomas Edison's Edison Studios and for consistently good stage turns.
In 1923 the Picturedrome/Union Club block was sold to the Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds. They were one of the 19th century friendly societies in which people would band together prior to the development of more comprehensive welfare provision. The Shepherds continued to run the cinema for a period. A sign for the society can be seen in the top left of this image.
In May 1924 the cinema was taken over by James F. Donald. He was the patriarch of the Donald family that played a prominent role in the history of cinemas and theatres in Aberdeen. Restored and improved, the venue reopened on the 11th August of that year as the Cinema House. Donald initially held the premises on a 20-year lease, but would go on to buy the property outright.
This photograph, taken from in front of the Central Library, dates from around 1934 and shows the cinema advertising Father Brown Detective and The Lemon Drop Kid. Also visible next door at 2 Skene Terrace is a branch of the successful grocer and provision merchants, Wilburn Ltd.
[Information primarily sourced from Silver Screen in the Silver City (1988) by Michael Thomson] Aberdeen Cinemas: Regent / Odeon
3417 The Regent was opened as the second, companion cinema of Jack Poole, after his transformation of the Palace on Bridge Place that had opened in 1931. The Justice Mills location was selected and the cinema was constructed on the eastern end of the historic Upper Mill. A cinema was able to utilise the sloping nature of the site in the way few other projects could.
Michael Thomson in Silver Screen in the Silver City (1988) states that work progressed on the new cinema at an excellent rate with virtually all material and labour coming from local sources. The sparkling Rubislaw granite frontage was the work of masons Edgar Gauld of Gilcomston Terrace. Wood for the joinery work came from Sweden and Finland.
The Regent was Aberdeen's first all-new cinema since the Torry Picture House a decade before. It was also the first cinema designed by Thomas Scott Sutherland, who had previously been a designer of, and dealer in, houses, notably the granite bungalows of the Broomhill estate.
The impressive new cinema opened on Saturday 27th February 1932, to an audience mostly of guests, with the main feature being a melodrama called Over the Hill. Reporting on the opening, the Evening Express wrote the following:
"Even though Aberdeen has many magnificent edifices, there is nothing quite so distinctive as the modern design of the front of the new Regent. Fine use has been made of straight lines and curves placed in sharp contrast, and the face that looks through the entrance to Justice Mill Lane on Holburn Street has an imposing dignity about it and yet an elusive gaiety in its composition. It is built of grey granite decorated with bands of red terracotta, and a polished black granite base."
The frontage was floodlit by night and outlined by Aberdeen's neon display. Above the gantry was the large, neon "Regent" sign which made the cinema a beacon at night. The Regent and the Palace were then advertised as "Aberdeen's Super Two".
The Regent's manager John K. Stafford Poole, son of Jack Poole, was aged only 21 when the Regent opened and his innovative promotion and displays became a signature of the cinema. The younger Poole regularly invited the Gordon Highlanders to screenings and in return they would afterwards march, pipes a-skirl, through the cinema and along Union Street back to their barracks.
The Regent proved hugely popular and was soon out-performing the Palace. The success of Poole's Regent prompted Aberdeen Picture Palaces to undertake the creation of their own super-cinema, the Capitol, which would open in 1933. The same year also saw the release of King Kong and the publicity stunt of a human dressed as an ape rampaging on the frontage of the Regent.
On 16th July 1936 it was announced that another southern company called County Cinemas had acquired all the Poole picture houses, those in Devonport, Derby and Plymouth, as well as the Palace and Regent in Aberdeen. In 1939 County Cinemas merged with the larger Odeon chain. In July 1940 the "Regent" sign came down to be replaced with one that read "Odeon". As part of this powerful national circuit, the cinema could rival any in Aberdeen for showing major features.
[Information primarily sourced from Silver Screen in the Silver City (1988) by Michael Thomson] The mobile library van outside Aberdeen Central Library
3835 By 1948 Aberdeen Central Lending Library had issued a total of 388,528 books and the City Librarian reported that it could "barely cope with all the readers which crowd it at its busiest time".
He proposed the introduction of a mobile library service to cater to the growing population in what the Press & Journal newspaper called "new housing colonies" in areas such as Rosehill, Hilton, Middlefield, Stockethill, Kaimhill and Garthdee.
His recommendation was accepted and an order was placed with Aberdeen Motors Ltd. for Aberdeen City Libraries' first mobile library - an Austin 30 H.P vehicle.
Over the years, the mobile library service grew and consisted of four vehicles at its peak. Northfield Library
3836 This photograph from 1967 shows children reading books in Northfield Library, Aberdeen.
Northfield Library opened in October 1955 as part of a plan formulated by the Library Committee to extend the provision of branch libraries into new housing areas.
In January 1950, building began on the Northfield estate, the first major housing development in post war Aberdeen. By June 1952, 800 families had moved to the area and were served by the mobile library which made evening visits to Marchburn Drive and Deansloch Terrace. These sites were very busy with over 9,000 books issued and people often queued to use the service.
At a meeting of the Public Library Committee in January 1953 it was agreed to ask Aberdeen Corporation to erect a library building on a site in Northfield.
The construction of a new branch library began in the autumn of 1954. On 12th October 1955, the G. M. Fraser Branch (named in memory of the late City Librarian) was officially opened on Byron Square by Mr. Thomas Johnston, former Scottish Secretary.
The success and popularity of Northfield Library inspired the committee to open a similar unit on the adjacent housing estate of Mastrick. The first section of the new Mastrick Branch Library opened on Greenfern Road on 18th October 1957, with the second section opening in 1961. 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. John Duguid Milne
4372 A photographic portrait of John Duguid Milne (1822-1889), an Aberdeen advocate.
On 20th March 1883 Milne read a paper titled The success of free public libraries in industrial towns, and the necessity for a free public library in Aberdeen to the Philosophical Society of Aberdeen. The paper was also published by the society as a pamphlet shortly afterwards. A copy of this paper is held by Aberdeen Local Studies.
Milne draws together the experiences of free public libraries from England and around Scotland. He also points to the example and popularity of John Anderson's library in Woodside, which had opened in 1881.
In the section 'Who should move for a free library?' Milne writes:
"The Free Library is not especially for the wealthy, nor even for the well-to-do, but for the people, for the industrial classes; and it is for the industrial classes themselves to say if they want it. They have also the power in their hands, as they form a majority of the ratepayers." (page 17).
Milne was the director and legal advisor of Aberdeen's Mechanics' Institute. He ends his paper by stating that should the Public Libraries Act be adopted by Aberdeen, the Mechanics' Institute was prepared to hand over to the Free Public Library their whole stock of books and their substantial premises on Market Street.
Milne's paper, and the offer within, was likely a determining factor in the initiation, and ultimate success, of Professor Alexander Bain (1818-1903) and Baillie George Walker (1821-1910) putting forward a motion for the adoption of the Public Libraries Act at a meeting in the Music Hall on 25th March 1884. This meeting took place around a year after the first reading of Milne's paper.
Opening in March 1886, the Mechanics' Institute building did become the first location of Aberdeen's new Free Public Library and its collection of books formed the core of its stock. If you look at some of the older items in the collection of Aberdeen City Libraries today, stamp marks for the Mechanics' Institute can still be seen. Treasure 8: Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management
178 During 2015, Scotland celebrates the year of Food and Drink and this theme is continued as part of the Celebrate Aberdeen weekend in August. Keeping the theme in mind we would like to reveal "The Book of Household Management" by Mrs Isabella Mary Beeton, one of the most famous cookery books ever published.
Isabella Mayson was born on 12 March 1836 in London and it was whilst studying in Heidelberg she took to pastry making which she continued to practice at a local confectioners upon her return to England. In 1856, she married Samuel Beeton, a well-known editor and publisher and began to write articles on cooking and household management for the English Woman's Domestic Magazine.
In 1861, Beeton's Book of Household Management' was published. It was an immediate success, selling over 60,000 copies in its first year of publication and nearly two million by 1868.
Isabella died young at the age of 28 on 6 February 1865 of an infection following the birth of her fourth child but Samuel Beeton went on to publish a 2nd edition in 1869. In 1888 there was a major revision, with 27 new sections which included menus, table decorations, directions for using tinned meats and a section on American, Colonial and Continental cookery.
Aberdeen City Libraries hold a copy of this entirely new edition and it is numbered "five hundred and fifty-eighth thousand". It is 1644 pages in length with 13 beautiful colour plates and 68 full page illustrations. It includes a section on menus for all seasons with menus in both English and French. It is an absolute treasure and a tribute to Mrs Beeton that a version is still reproduced today. Treasure 18: The Illustrated London News
189 One of this month's treasures is an extract of The Illustrated London News. This issue, dated from the 14th of November 1936, shows the General Francisco Franco, "the leader of the attack on Madrid and, from the first, ranked as head of the anti-government forces"... and dictator of Spain from 1939 to 1975.
Newspapers are indeed a great source of information on historic topics. What is particularly remarkable about The Illustrated London News is that it was probably the first pictorial weekly newspaper. Founded by Herbert Ingram, a newsagent from Nottingham, the first issue was published on the 14th May 1842 and sold for 6 pence. Ingram had the idea to include pictures and woodcuts within the paper in order to sell more copies. And it worked! The first issue met with immediate success, selling 26,000 copies during the first days and printing 65,000 more copies during the same week.
The Spanish Civil War broke out on the 17th of July 1936. During more than two years, nationalists and pro-government forces fought in Spain. At the same time, in Britain, Chamberlain and his conservative government defended strong neutrality and choose to keep the country far away from the war.
However, the "civil war" was a domestic conflict in name only. During more than two years, and even after the nationalist victory in 1939, it attracted the attentions of many governments and individuals. The Illustrated London News is a witness of the conflict and gives also some sense of the British representation of the Spanish Civil War. Even if it tried to keep its impartiality, its judgments and the way it conveyed the information was viewed through the eyes of local interest and popular opinion.
The newspaper portrayed the majority public opinion, which was non-intervention. As such, it tried to show both the nationalists sides and the pro-government opinion.
From July 1936 to April 1939, 549 Scots joined the International Brigades and fought to defend democracy in Spain. 134 lost their lives in Spain.
The International Brigade Memorial Trust is a British charity which aims to keep alive the memory and spirit of the over 50,000 individuals from Britain, Ireland and the Commonwealth who volunteered to defend democracy and fight facism. We hope this treasure acts as an additional commemoration for those who went to Spain.
Treasure 55: Punch
230 The first edition of the satirical magazine Punch was published on 17 July 1841. The title being derived from a conversation between the founders who claimed that - just as the alcoholic drink of the same name - the magazine would be nothing without Lemon (Punch's first editor was named Mark Lemon).
Despite a difficult start of low circulation figures, the success of the magazine was ensured with the decision to publish an annual edition, or Almanack. Copies of these soared and shortly after the magazine was taken over by the printing firm of Bradbury and Evans whereupon it entered its golden age.
Modern satirical magazines - such as Private Eye or the French publication Charlie Hebdo - often purposefully push the boundaries of good taste in order to land a searing political blow of maximum impact. In the Victorian age, Punch attempted to capture the mood of the public in tasteful, yet no-less provocative terms.
Punch frequently used illustrations to highlight contemporary problems in a stark visual manner. So much so in fact, that it can claim to have changed the English language in the process. The original definition of the word cartoon meant simply a preliminary drawing for a work of art - similar to "sketch" - with no additional meaning. However, the word took on the additional connotation of being applied to humour with the publication of Punch's 'Cartoon No.1 - Substance and Shadow'.
The enduring popularity of the magazine is in many ways, inextricably linked to its own downfall. With changing appetites for publications and satire, Punch desperately needed to keep re-inventing itself, but seen by many as a national institution, change was far from easy. Eventually the magazine succumbed to the pressure of low circulation and finally ceased publication in 2002, leaving behind 160 years of humour and wit.
Punch's lasting legacy is a snapshot of opinion on some key historic events from the preceding decades - notably including coronations, scandals, wars, budgets, coalitions and many other subjects high on the political agenda. Treasure 78: Northfield and Mastrick Libraries
289 Both Northfield and Mastrick Libraries opened during the month of October in 1955 and 1957 respectively as part of a plan formulated by the Library Committee to extend the provision of branch libraries into new housing areas. From photographs, plans and news cuttings in the Library Archive we can take a look at the early history of both libraries.
In January 1950, building began on the Northfield estate, the first major housing development in post war Aberdeen. By June 1952, 800 families had moved to the area and were served by the mobile library which made evening visits to Marchburn Drive and Deansloch Terrace. These sites were very busy with over 9000 books issued and people often queued to use the service.
At a meeting of the Public Library Committee in January 1953 it was agreed to ask Aberdeen Corporation to erect a library building on a site in Northfield.
The construction of a new branch library began in the autumn of 1954. On 12 October 1955, the G. M. Fraser Branch (named in memory of the late City Librarian) was officially opened on Byron Square by Mr. Thomas Johnston, former Scottish Secretary.
The success and popularity of Northfield Library inspired the committee to open a similar unit on the adjacent housing estate of Mastrick. The first section of the new Mastrick Branch Library opened on Greenfern Road on 18 October 1957, with the second section opening in 1961.
View the Treasures from our Collection interactive exhibition on the touchscreens in Central, Airyhall, Tillydrone and Mastrick libraries to find out more about the history of Mastrick and Northfield libraries. Treasure 90: Torry and Ferryhill libraries
302 Both Torry and Ferryhill Branch Reading Rooms opened on 19 December 1903 as part of the General Extension Scheme to provide a library presence in what were regarded as outlying areas of the City.
In November 1901 the Council Finance Committee sanctioned the acquisition of a piece of ground at the corner of Victoria Road and Grampian Road where Torry Library would be built. A site was secured at the corner of Fonthill Road and the Hardgate in August 1901 for Ferryhill Library.
Both libraries were supported by Andrew Carnegie who, having previously donated money for the building of the Central Library, promised £1750 for each of the Branch reading rooms.
It was the aim of the Library Committee that the Branches should be "educative and attractive in every sense" and with this in mind the walls were hung with reproductions of works by artist such as Constable, Turner, Joseph Farquharson and others.
The success of the new branches was very apparent from the statistics. In the first nine months of opening, attendance at Torry numbered 31,567 with 63,711 at Ferryhill. Once the delivery stations were set up, book issues (including those for Old Aberdeen) totalled 13,530 volumes of which over 10,000 were fiction. By 1939, Torry and Ferryhill were well on their way to becoming fully established branch libraries.
Take a look at the early history of the libraries in the Treasures exhibition on the interactive screen. 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." |