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Bydand Motor Transport Co. Ltd
1051 Bydand Motor Transport Co. Ltd. were one of a number of small bus companies which sprang up in the 1920's, and were based at the Western Garage on Great Western Road, Aberdeen. Many service men had learned to drive in the army during the First World War, and vehicle manufacturers were keen to supply new markets. Bydand announced in the 'Aberdeen Press and Journal' on 23rd May 1925 that they were to introduce a 'Deeside Motor Bus Service'. They offered a regular weekday half hourly service of buses between Aberdeen (Wallace Statue) and Bieldside with less frequent late buses and a Sunday service between Mannofield and Bieldside only. Buses were also to run between Aberdeen, Culter and Banchory. The fare from Aberdeen to Bieldside was 4p; Aberdeen to Culter was 8p; Aberdeen to Banchory was 1 shilling and sixpence. Within a few weeks, Bydand were extoling the virtues of their service in an advert headed 'Safety First'. The company made much of the fact that their buses started from His Majesty's Theatre and passed other theatres enroute. It was even possible to reserve a seat on the Banchory Bus when booking seats at His Majesty's Theatre. During the summer months Sunday Mystery Tours were advertised - a 60-70 mile trip for 5 shillings return. The 1930 Road Traffic Act introduced various restrictions and many small companies were taken over by the expanding company of W. Alexander and Sons Ltd. The 13 Bydand buses were transferred on 3rd October 1932. Bus accident on North Deeside Road, Cults
1053 This is a photograph of a double decker bus belonging to W. Alexander and Sons Ltd, which overturned on the North Deeside Road opposite Wellwood, Pitfodels on 3rd October 1935. The bus was on its way to Aberdeen with a nearly full load of passengers, when the front wheels locked, swerving the bus into the right side of the road. The driver, Alexander Davidson, tried to pull the bus round but it mounted the kerb and struck a stone wall, causing it to overbalance and topple onto the roadway. The driver was able to open the emergency window at the back of the bus and the passengers escaped. Only three children were badly injured with cuts; others, including the conductress, only had minor scratches, bruises and shock. 373-377 Union Street
2784 William Brown & Sons, cabinetmakers, at 373, Refuge Assurance Co., Ltd., at 375 and James E. Henderson Ltd., photographers, at 377 Union Street in around 1937. 73-79 Union Street and Market Street
2796 Montague Burton, Ltd., tailors, at 73-79 Union Street in 1937. Burton occupied this site from 1923 to 1980 (but numbered 81-83 up to 1932).
Above the shop name can be seen the sign for Maison Louis, a ladies and gents' hairdressers, located there from 1933 to 1938.
To the left of Burton's, on Market Street, was Knowles & Sons, fruit growers and importers, founded by Mr. Charles Knowles in 1889 in the New Market buildings next door. When sold in 1947, the company included Union Street and Market Street shops, the Joint Station fruit stall, a wholesale business, nurseries at Airyhall and a Kirkwall branch. The Market Street outlet remained there under the same name until the early 2000s.
The sign and façade of the New Market can be seen further down. 103-105 Union Street
2802 The entrance to Telfer & Co., wholesale warehousemen, at 103 and A. C. Little & Sons, Ltd., customiers and furriers, at 105 Union Street in 1937. The exposed part of Union Street as Correction Wynd runs underneath can be seen on the right of the image. 95-99 Union Street
2804 Lumsden & Gibson, grocers, at 95, James Grant & Co., Ltd., furniture dealer, at 97 and Manfield & Sons, boot warehouse, at 99 Union Street in 1937. 181-183 Union Street
2824 The Picture House cinema at 181, Peter Mitchell, tobacconist, at 181B and Paterson, Sons, & Marr Wood, Ltd., music sellers, at 183 Union Street in 1937. 52-54A Union Street
2852 William Walker & Sons, wine merchants, at 52, Suttie's Temperance Hotel at 54 and R. S. McColl, Ltd., confectioners, at 54A Union Street in 1937. Aberdeen Cinemas: Regal / ABC / Cannon
3396 An Aberdeen Journals Archive photograph of the Shiprow entrance to the Regal cinema in February 1961. The cinema is advertising showings of Saturday Night, Sunday Morning with Albert Finney, Linda with Carol White and Alan Rothwell, and Pathé News.
The Regal was opened on Monday 26th June 1954 by Associated British Cinema (ABC). The opening of this substantial cinema was the conclusion of a long and much delayed enterprise.
This Shiprow site was previously the location of Aberdeen's first permanent cinema, Dove Paterson's Gaiety. It had later become the Palladium and had laid shuttered for close to seven years when the owner put the site up for sale in early 1937.
Bert Gates of Aberdeen Picture Palaces (APP) put in an offer and made plans to build a very large cinema at the location. Michael Thomson in Silver Screen in the Silver City (1988) suggests that had this plan gone ahead it would have made the local company a force with which to be reckoned.
Gate's plans were thwarted however when another offer for the property from ABC (Cinemas) was accepted. ABC were a major cinema operator throughout the UK, at the time second only to the Rank Organisation, which owned the Odeon and Gaumont chains. ABC's arrival in Aberdeen would offer stiff competition to local companies such as APP. Both in terms of having the best venues and having the best films to show in them.
ABC's arrival in Aberdeen did not go smoothly, however. It was not until 1939 that the cinema's plans received official approval. War was declared not long after construction had begun and in 1941 the project was stopped by government restrictions that halted the construction of non-essential buildings where roofing had not already been started. Only the outer shell had been built at Shiprow and the building would subsequently lie incomplete for over a decade.
After much campaigning, including by local MP Hector Hughes, the government finally gave its consent and on 28th October 1953 ABC announced that work on the Regal would recommence. The plans for the cinema were modernised and construction was quickly finished.
The completed Regal was an impressive, modern cinema with a seating capacity of 1,914. Its inaugural film was The Knights of the Round Table and the opening gala was attended by stars Richard Todd and Anne Crawford.
[Information primarily sourced from Silver Screen in the Silver City (1988) by Michael Thomson]
Image © Aberdeen Journals Ltd. Aberdeen Cinemas: Picture House / Gaumont
3405 This image from the collection of the Aberdeen Journals Archive shows the staff of The Gaumont dressed in Tudor costume on the day of the Scottish premiere of the Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn drama, Anne of a Thousand Days.
The national premiere of the Richard Burton and Geneviève Bujold picture took place at the cinema on 25th May 1970. The couple in evening wear are Lord Provost James Lamont and his wife. Along from them, also in evening wear, is the cinema's manager Alex Greig.
Image © Aberdeen Journals Ltd. Aberdeen Cinemas: Picture House / Gaumont
3406 An Aberdeen Journals Archive photograph showing the exterior of the Gaumont Cinema at 181 Union Street in October 1972. Promotion for Doomwatch, the British science-fiction film, Cabaret, starring Liza Minelli and The Concert for Bangladesh can all be seen.
This image dates from when the Rank Organisation, the cinema's owners, applied to Aberdeen City Council for permission to demolish the venue and redevelop the site for shops and office space.
As detailed in Michael Thomson's book Silver Screen in the Silver City (1988) the Rank Organisation had a special department that considered cinema sites they owned that could be profitably redeveloped by the company. Aberdeen was experiencing a pre-oil property boom and the early 1970s saw the closure and redevelopment of a number of cinemas.
The final night of the Gaumont was Saturday 6th October 1973. The last film to be shown as The Lovers with Paula Wilcox and Richard Beckinsale. This photograph was used in the preview of the cinema's final night in the Evening Express of the day before.
The majority of the cinema was demolished not long after. The façade of the upper floors was retained as it was listed as of architectural and historic interest. The site laid empty for some time due to the financial recession of 1974-75 and subsequent uncertainty over its occupancy. In 1976 the site was redeveloped as a Job Centre and shops.
[Information primarily sourced from Silver Screen in the Silver City (1988) by Michael Thomson]
Image © Aberdeen Journals Ltd. Aberdeen Cinemas: Picturedrome / Cinema House
3412 A photograph of the Cinema House on Skene Terrace from the Aberdeen Journals Archive collection.
This cinema operated successfully for many years at this location. It was in January 1971, with Where Eagles Dare - the Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood action adventure, that the venue showed its final film. Its closure, just a few months short of its 61st year, was blamed on the film industry's lack of support for cinemas and its location out of the very centre of town will not have helped.
This photograph dates from April 1970 and so shows the building nearing the end of its time as a cinema. The promotion outside the Cinema House is for showings of El Dorado, the Howard Hawks western with John Wayne and Robert Mitchum. At the time the cinema was operated by the Donald family's Aberdeen Cinemas Ltd. Company.
Next to the Cinema House in this photograph can be seen a branch of Lombank Limited, which specialised in credit finance and leasing facilities for commerce, the motor trade, industry and agriculture. This office, originally a branch of Lombard Banking and Lombank, opened at 44 Union Terrace in late 1960.
[Information primarily sourced from Silver Screen in the Silver City (1988) by Michael Thomson]
Image © Aberdeen Journals Ltd. Aberdeen Cinemas: Picturedrome / Cinema House
3413 This photograph shows the Picturedrome/Cinema House building in the mid-to-late 1970s, after it had ceased being a cinema. As with many cinemas at the time, it was converted into a bingo hall. In 1981 it was rechristened Casino Bingo.
In the Evening Express of 22nd December 1986 it was announced that Coral Social Clubs of Nottingham had purchased the Kingsways on King Street and Casino Bingo on Skene Terrace. Both were former cinemas owned by James F. Donald (Aberdeen Cinemas) that were then operational as bingo halls.
The chairman of James F. Donald (Aberdeen Cinemas), Richard Donald, confirm the sale of the venues and expressed sadness to see them go, particularly the old Cinema House hall that had been in the family firm for over 50 years and that he had managed as a 14-year-old. Both venues were retained as bingo halls by Coral Social Clubs, which later became known as Gala Bingo.
In 1995 the Cinema House building was redeveloped and opened as a 350-capacity live entertainment centre. It was named the Playhouse after the old Donald owned cinema located at the west end of Union Street.
The new Playhouse offered live music, cabaret and dancing. At the time of opening a spokesperson for the owners, Balgownie Development Company Ltd., said "We're offering a full night's entertainment where they can come in have a meal and enjoy a night of cabaret and dancing all under the one roof". Interior changes were kept to a minimum in the redevelopment to retain the atmosphere (Evening Express, 21/10/1995, p. 4).
1995 also saw the opening of the Stage Door Restaurant in the North Silver Street side of the building. The eatery was from the same team that operated Aberdeen's Courtyard Restaurant and retained a number of design features from its time as a cinema. The restaurant had an impressive large bowed ceiling and theatre related wall illustrations. This space was later occupied by a computer gaming and esports hub called Engage Gaming. In 2020 this company changed their name to Reset Gaming and moved to premises on John Street.
After the Playhouse, the main part of the building was occupied by the Forum from 1998 and operated as a well-known concert and events venue. Most recently it was a venue called The Assembly, which sadly closed down in 2019. Aberdeen Cinemas: Regent / Odeon
3418 An Aberdeen Journals Archive photograph showing the Odeon on Justice Mill Lane in 1973. The cinema is advertising screenings of Ohh... You Are Awful a comedy vehicle for Dick Emery.
Odeon had acquired control of the venue in 1939 when they purchased previous owners County Cinemas. The cinema's name had changed from the Regent to the Odeon in 1940. This photograph shows the cinema shortly before it was "tripled" to become the first multi-screen film centre in the north of Scotland. This was the process of converting a traditional single large auditorium into three screens of varying sizes.
This was the modern method of cinema development that had been introduced throughout Britain by the Rank and ABC-EMI chains. The Rank Organisation had acquired the Odeon company in 1938. The tripling of Aberdeen's Odeon cost £65,000 and was fully completed on 8th April 1974.
The Odeon had a long and successful time as a cinema. The 1960s saw it showing long runs of hit films like Cleopatra with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton and The Sound of Music. The cinema was also known for its Saturday morning children's show known as "The Mickey".
Being part of a nationwide chain, and its central location, enabled the Odeon to survive through the 1970s whereas many of Aberdeen's independent cinemas, unable to adapt, closed down and were either demolished or converted to a different use.
Michael Thomson in Silver Screen in the Silver City (1988) states that the cinema had a close reprieve from Rank Organisation rationalisations in 1981. This enabled the cinema to celebrate its 50th birthday with a special gala evening on 13th March 1982. The film shown was a provincial premiere of On Golden Pond, starring Peter Fonda and Audrey Hepburn. The cinema's original manager, J. K. S. Poole, was a guest of honour.
Two new 215-seater screens were opened at the cinema in March 1991 at a cost of £350,000. Their opening was marked with a screening of Dances With Wolves. There were just two cinemas in Aberdeen at the time, the other being the Cannon at the other end of Union Street.
The Odeon continued up until the modern multiplex era. It finally closed down 13th June 2001. It was subsequently converted into a health centre and is currently occupied by Nuffield Health Centre.
[Information primarily sourced from Silver Screen in the Silver City (1988) by Michael Thomson]
Image © Aberdeen Journals Ltd. Aberdeen Cinemas: Astoria
3430 An Aberdeen Journals Archive photograph of the Astoria in around 1943. This super-cinema in Kittybrewster was opened in 1934 and was located at the end of Powis Terrace, at the start of Clifton Road and at its junction with Great Northern Road. This photograph looks towards Clifton Road from this location.
The film being shown at the time is Air Force with John Garfield. The premises of Birrell, confectioners, and George A. Davidson, provision merchant, can also be seen in the image.
Michael Thomson in Silver Screen in the Silver City (1988) tells the story of the cinema. The Astoria was primarily the brainchild of Bert Darley who had quit Poole's, proprietors of the Palace and Regent, and started up a new company called the Aberdeen Astoria Cinema Ltd. with various local businessmen and financial backers.
The giant cinema, designed by Thomas Scott Sutherland, was intended to serve the growing population of Kittybrewster, Powis, Woodside and Hilton. Construction on the £45,000 building proceeded quickly and it was opened on 8th December 1934 with screenings of a film called I Give My Love.
Thomson states that the Astoria's emphasis was on "spaciousness, relying upon simplicity of form to create a pleasing impression of clean-lined functionality." The space of the site allowed Scott Sutherland to enlarge on ideas first used at the Regent. The concept was again a tall central section, incorporating three main windows, with smaller side portions on either side.
The Astoria, along with the Capitol, was one of only two Aberdeen cinemas with a theatre organ. Both were equipped with top-of-the-line Compton organs at the time of their opening.
In March 1936 James F. Donald (Aberdeen Cinemas) Ltd. acquired a controlling share interest in the Aberdeen Astoria Cinema company. Richard Donald replaced Bert Darley as the manager at the Kittybrewster venue.
The programmes of the Astoria and the Kingsway on King Street were regularly linked, both being Donald cinemas. In the 1950s they showed Cinemascope films such as King of the Khyber Rifles and Beneath the Ten Mile Reef.
The cinema's last film was The Moving Target, with Paul Newman and Lauren Becall, shown on 13th August 1966. On the 29th of that month the venue reopened as a bingo hall. This was at the height of the game's popularity, however not even it could save the Astoria. At the end of the year the Donalds the site for redevelopment as a shopping complex. Demolition on the cinema was begun in April 1967.
Michael Thomson explains that all removable fittings and materials were salvaged. Additionally, the Compton organ was transferred to the school hall of Powis Academy. It served the school well for many years before unfortunately being destroyed in a fire during the night of 20th November 1982.
[Information primarily sourced from Silver Screen in the Silver City (1988) by Michael Thomson]
Image © Aberdeen Journals Ltd. Blaikie's Quay
3509 This photograph is taken outside Robert Millar & Sons, Ltd., wood merchants, that were located on the eastern end of Blaikie's Quay, not far from the gates of Victoria Dock and the beginning of Provost Matthews' Quay.
Horse and railway drawn wagons can be seen on the cobbled quayside.
This photograph was taken in the early 20th century. Robert Millar & Son's premises on Blaikie's Quay dates from around 1893. Blaikie's Quay
3510 This photograph faces east along Blaikie's Quay with piles of timber near the timber yards that were located at its eastern end.
A sailboat can be seen alongside the premises of Robert Millar & Sons, Ltd., wood merchants, further in the background.
This image was likely taken around the early 20th century. Robert Millar & Son's built its premises on Blaikie's Quay in around 1893. Commercial Road
3513 Image taken looking west from the graving dock alongside Commercial Road illustrated in the Aberdeenshire LXXV.11 Ordnance Survey map published 1902.
This image depicts multiple steamships undergoing maintenance in the dry dock.
To the right of the image the lettering on the back of the Robert Millar & Sons, Ltd. building can be read, which confirms the location shown here.
Commercial Road and this graving dock were on the northern side of Albert Quay and to the south of these timber related businesses, which faced north on to Provost Blaikie's Quay and Victoria Dock. Aberdeen Harbour
3528 A photograph looking south east towards the Upper Dock across the junction of Guild Street, Trinity Quay and Market Street.
Multiple trawlers are moored in the dock. Onlookers can be seen alongside the docked boats. An unidentified steam vessel larger than the rest can be seen in the far left in the background.
The first ship on the left of the row is the steel fishing trawler Curlew (A906). This ship was built in the Panmure Yard belonging to Dundee Shipbuilders Co. Ltd., in 1897. In 1903 this ship was registered A906 in Aberdeen. The Curlew was wrecked in 1922 in Aberdeen Harbour.
Seen behind the Curlew is most probably the steel fishing trawler Strathairlie (A39) built by Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen in 1905 for Aberdeen Steam Trawling & Fishing Co Ltd. This vessel later served as a minesweeper from 1915-1919 for the Admiralty Service.
The second boat in the row is the wooden fishing trawler Alnwick Castle (KY120) built by William Jarvis in Anstruther in 1895 for The Forth Steam Fishing Co. Ltd. The ship was initially named Copley but was later renamed to Alnwick Castle in 1899. The ship was later broken up in 1922.
The third boat in the row is the wooden fishing trawler Merganser (A740) which was built by James N. Miller & Sons Ltd., in the St. Monance shipyard in 1894. It was registered as A740 in Aberdeen by Henry Alexander circa 1901 and later broken up in 1923.
The final boat in the row on the far right visible in the image is the iron fishing trawler Evening Star (A406) built by J. T. Eltringham & Co in the South Shields shipyard in 1891. Initially named Ella, it was renamed to Golden Monarch by W. H. Dodds in Aberdeen during 1915. It was renamed to Evening Star by W. Hutchinson in Aberdeen during 1920. The boat sank in 1927 in the Firth of Forth.
Based on the above boats, this photograph may date from the very early 1920s. Matthews' Quay
3537 A photograph taken from Point Law looking onto Matthew's Quay and Albert Basin with a small amount of the Fish Market visible on the far left.
The photo depicts steam trawlers moored at Point Law with merchant vessels alongside Matthew's Quay. Construction work of what is possibly a warehouse can also be seen taking place on Matthew's Quay. To the left, the rear of Robert Millar & Co., timber merchant, is visible on Commercial Quay.
Seen in the photo is the Cadella (LH248). The Granton Trawlers website states this boat was built by Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby in 1913 and initially named Pearl. In 1922 it was renamed to Cadella and in 1946 it was registered as LH248, as shown here. It was broken up for scrap in 1957.
Seen to the left of Cadella is the Lynburn (A470). It was built by Cox & Co. Engineering, Falmouth. during 1919 for the Admiralty Service and was initially called the Henry Cory. It went through multiple owners in different parts of the UK but eventually ended up in Aberdeen in the possession of Woodburn (Fishing) Ltd. where it was re-registered as Lynburn A470 in 1947.
The presence of the aforementioned vessels dates this image to on or around 1947. Malcolm Miller
3813 This photograph shows the ship the Malcolm Miller docked in Aberdeen Harbour with a crew onboard.
The boat is moored at Jamieson's Quay in the Upper Dock. The Harbour Office on Regent's Quay and the tower of the Citadel at Castlegate can be seen in the background.
The Malcolm Miller was a schooner built by John Lewis & Sons Ltd. for the Sail Training Association. It was a 300-ton vessel with a sail area of over 7000 square foot and had engine propulsion for use in narrow waters.
The ship's launch on 5th October 1967 was reported in the Evening Express newspaper of that day. The Malcolm Miller was officially launched by Lady Miller, and it was named after the late son of Sir James, former provost of Edinburgh, and Lady Miller.
During its time as a Sail Training Association vessel the Malcolm Miller provided nautical experiences to many youngsters. It had a sister ship called the Sir Winston Churchill.
The vessel has an entry on the Aberdeen Built Ships website that details its later history.
This image comes from a collection of slides donated to Aberdeen City Libraries by Aberdeen City Council's publicity department. The Beach, Aberdeen
3831 A postcard image showing Aberdeen beach. The sand, promenade and surrounding area are crowded with people. Bathing machines, also known as bathing huts, can be seen on the sand. The hill of Balnagask and Girdleness Lighthouse are visible in the distance.
This image and postcard likely date from the early 20th century. The postcard was published by William Ritchie & Sons, Ltd. (WR&S) and is from their Reliable Series. Union Works
4399 A mid-20th century photograph of the Union Works in central Aberdeen. This images looks south east across College Street from a high vantage point and has railway tracks, Poyernook and the hills of Torry in the background.
The factory likely dates from around 1862. A notice from the Aberdeen Herald newspaper of 17th May 1862, page 4, records Alexander Pirie & Sons moving from the Adelphi to their new premises of Union Works, Poyernook.
From the 1860s onwards, the works were owned and operated by Alexander Pirie & Sons, then Pirie, Appleton & Co. and finally Wiggins Teape (Stationery), Ltd.
At the time of this photograph, the works were likely operated by Pirie, Appleton & Co. This image may been sourced from a promotional brochure for the company. In addition to the Union Works, they also had factories at Chadwell Heath in East London and in Dublin, Johannesburg and Cape Town.
As with many significant local enterprises, the operation of Pirie, Appleton & Co. is described in mid-20th century Official Handbooks created for the Corporation of the City of Aberdeen. The volume from 1954 states that the company specialised in manufacturing commercial envelopes, including their successful "River Series."
The company had also recently introduced a quality note-paper to their range called "Mitre Club," which is described as a brand of social stationery. They additionally manufactured different types of account and manuscript books, including a system of loose leaf binding known as "Swing-o-Ring." Other products include "printers' cards, paper collars, commerial heading, filing folders, and record cards." (pages 166-167).
In this image, a large sign can be seen on the north side of the factory building that reads "The mark of good stationery" with an Aberdeen terrier. This black Scottie dog, closely associated with the city, was adopted as a trade-mark of the company in the mid-20th century.
Wiggins Teape and Co. had amalgamated with Alexander Pirie & Sons in 1922 (see Aberdeen Daily Journal, 30th March 1922, page 4). Alex. Pirie & Sons and Pirie, Appleton & Co. were subsidiary companies of Wiggins Teape.
The Union Works site closed down not long after 1969 when Wiggins Teape began construction of a replacement factory at Dyce (see Evening Express, 4th September 1969, page 7).
The site was sold and the works were demolished to make way for the multi-storey office block, St. Machar House. Built by Sir Robert Alpine & Sons for Neale House Properties (Aberdeen) Limited, to a design by architects Mackie, Ramsay & Taylor, construction was well under way by Autumn 1975 (Evening Express, 2nd August 1975, 'Business Bureau' page 6).
Below the southern end of St. Machar House, the rest of the old Union Works site is occupied by the College Street Car Park, built by Arup and Partners (Scotland), with consulting architects Baxter, Clark & Paul, and opened on 4th July 1991. Union Works
536 An illustration of the Union Works factory on College Street, Aberdeen. This drawing, which looks south across railway tracks outside the Joint Station, is sourced from a book called A Descriptive Account of Aberdeen Illustrated (published by W. T. Pike & Co. in around 1894). This book provides an account of the history and then current operation of Messrs. Alexander Pirie & Sons, owners of the Union Works at the time.
The factory likely dates from around 1862. A notice from the Aberdeen Herald newspaper of 17th May 1862, page 4, records Alexander Pirie & Sons moving from the Adelphi to their new premises of Union Works, Poyernook.
From the 1860s onwards, the works were owned and operated by Alexander Pirie & Sons, then Pirie, Appleton & Co. and finally Wiggins Teape (Stationery), Ltd.
In the late 19th century, the time of the above mentioned book, Messrs. Alex. Pirie & Sons also operated Stoneywood Works at Auchmill, their first and largest site, the Woodside Works and various offices and warehouses around the world. Both Stoneywood and Woodside Works were located on the River Don.
As indicated above the illustration, Union Works primarily produced envelopes and enamelled papers. This would be done with paper created in the firm's Donside factories. A Descriptive Account states that Messrs. Pirie were employing nearly 1000 people at the College Street site and between one third and one half of all envelopes in Britain were being made there. The book additionally asserts that the firm were the first to introduce envelope making machines into Scotland.
The avenue shown in this illustration to the left of the factory runs from Guild Street in the north all the way down and around the south side of the works to the junction of Wellington Road, South College Street and Marywell Street.
The production of envelopes, plus other paper products such as note paper, was continued well into the 20th century by Pirie, Appleton & Co.
The Union Works site closed down not long after 1969 when Wiggins Teape began construction of a replacement factory at Dyce (see Evening Express, 4th September 1969, page 7).
The site was sold and the works were demolished to make way for the multi-storey office block, St. Machar House. Built by Sir Robert Alpine & Sons for Neale House Properties (Aberdeen) Limited, to a design by architects Mackie, Ramsay & Taylor, construction was well under way by Autumn 1975 (Evening Express, 2nd August 1975, 'Business Bureau' page 6).
Below the southern end of St. Machar House, the rest of the old Union Works site is occupied by the College Street Car Park, built by Arup and Partners (Scotland), with consulting architects Baxter, Clark & Paul, and opened on 4th July 1991. |